Lead May 3, 2018

Often, when we start out in our careers, we don’t think about the leadership that will be involved. Instead we focus so much on the reason we first went into our profession, like serving people, creating things, or even the money. We don’t realize how much of our role will require leading those around us.

Or, perhaps we started in a job with very few leadership responsibilities, but now we’re looking to make a change. And the new path we are considering requires leading others—maybe even more than we ever saw ourselves doing. Either way, at some point in our lives, we all have to figure out what it looks like to grow our leadership.

Leadership is something that has been important to me since I was in high school, and first realized that leaders have the potential to greatly help those around them. Not only that, but they also have the opportunity to change the world—even if it is only their small corner of it. But in order to do these things, a person has to fully embrace the responsibility of their role. And they need to always be growing in order to best meet the needs around them.

Since high school, I have had many opportunities to lead others. I have lead employees, interns, volunteers, and students. I have also been able to help mentor and coach others as they’ve begun their own leadership journey. Empowering and encouraging others in their leadership is something I am very passionate about. That is why, here on the blog, we talk a lot about it. It is also why, we’re taking this whole month of May to talk about leadership.

This month, I want us to look at some very important aspects of leadership—including why leaders fail. But I also want to try and equip you with some lessons I have learned over the years, about being a leader. For this reason, every Thursday this month, I will share one of my leadership tips. If you are just beginning your leadership journey, it is my hope that these will give you some practical help in fully embracing your current role. Or, if you’ve been leading for a while that they will assist you as you begin empowering others to lead.

Today, I start by sharing the very first Leadership Tip, I ever posted on the blog. Enjoy!

Leadership tip #1: Bring your people along for the ride!

Over the years I have known many leaders who struggled to delegate or give certain tasks away, which hindered their ability to grow both the organization and the team they were leading. Usually this struggle was born out of fear (what if they fail? I may lose my job/position, it will hurt our mission, it will hurt them, etc.). One of the best ways to get around this dilemma, however, is to actually do the task you want to give way, with the person you want to take it on (at least the first time). Ask:

“Who can I bring along on this?”

“Who, with time, might bring this task/event/project to another level?

And “Who may bring different talents or abilities to this, that I don’t possess?

Have the person (or people) who comes to mind, work on the project with you. It may take a little extra time, but in the long run the task will be off your plate. Also, the benefits are many: You will be able to make sure the project is done well, the person you choose will feel valued and empowered, you will have the chance to build your relationship with that person, and if you lead well, that person will have a greater buy-in to both your organization and your leadership. I believe it is what Michael Scott from the office would call a “Win, Win, Win.”