How to Lead Yourself to Lead Others

Successful leaders know that to effectively lead others you must first know how to lead yourself.  Living your life with humility, maturity, self-awareness and being open to learning and positive change helps you lead your own life and lead your organization.

Have you heard the old adage, “Knowledge is power?” No matter where you are in your career you need to keep learning. It doesn’t matter if you’re starting out at the bottom of the ladder or if you’ve planted your flag on the top-most rung, take the time to read, attend an industry conference, or participate in a roundtable discussion.

Learning is not enough.

Once you have the knowledge, share it with those whom you lead. Gain trust and respect and increase your executive presence as a leader. Be a role model to those under you, who look up to you in admiration for guidance and advice.

Even mentors have mentors.

You are never too old to learn from someone else. Find a person whom you respect. Get in touch with them and mutually share your time, experience and wisdom.

Be open to feedback.

Don’t close yourself off to those under you. Be approachable and ask for feedback. Don’t just hear when people talk; actively listen to what those under you are saying.

Lead with respect.

Treat others with respect and set a high bar for others to follow. Dress professionally, identify your core values, and lead by example.

Learn how you can proactively create a culture of learning within your organization, where knowledge and training is valued along with performance. Only if you learn how to lead yourself can you lead others.

Joel Garfinkle is an executive coach who has worked with clients from Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Citibank, and many other top companies. Contact him today and let him help you reach your full career potential.\