The pursuit of mastery – the drive to be the best, to have an extraordinary technical or other competence – creates an intriguing challenge for business leaders. (See “The Mystery of Mastery” post 6/11/15)
Encouraging and enabling their personnel to develop the highest level of expertise in a given discipline is a fundamental responsibility of leadership. But in a world that grows increasingly dynamic, where change is constant, with no finish line in sight, how does a leader pursue his or her own mastery? What defines leadership mastery and how is it pursued?
Leaders must translate the needs of an ever-changing market into actionable goals for their businesses. So, their pursuit of mastery is a continuous process of learning how to adapt to change while sustaining focus on their organization’s purpose. Leadership mastery is about leveraging curiosity, initiative and problem-solving to expand knowledge, innovate and break through barriers to produce value for customers. These leaders ask “why not” instead of “why,” and then inspire others to join them in pushing beyond what they know today.
Pursuing leadership mastery involves 3 factors:
- Know Yourself. Each of us has unique talents or preferences; success comes easier if you leverage and reinforce your own strengths, while remaining aware of your weaknesses. Know your core values and the behaviors you expect related to each value. There are a variety of tools available that enable you to assess your skills and tendencies. Secure a 360 assessment in addition to a self-evaluation so that you gain a comprehensive understanding about how you see yourself and how others perceive you.
- Develop Yourself. Assessments identify gaps between your leadership vision and your current performance. Develop a plan to close these gaps and strengthen your skills. Your natural talents will take you only so far; you must strive to expand knowledge and skills. Knowledge comes from study and skills come from practice. Leaders hone their skills through observation, practice and experimentation, often relying on a coach to guide them. As skills are mastered, let your environment and circumstances help you identify new sources of knowledge and new skills.
- Devote Yourself. The pursuit of mastery is a never ending quest. You will constantly be evolving, adapting to changes that you cannot control. Embrace the quest by remaining open to new ideas and consistently honing your skills.
How do you inspire others to do their best?
Which of your skills could use more practice?
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