Good leaders often become great leaders; however, good leaders do not just turn into great leaders in the blink of an eye. Changes need to happen, and they need to be embraced at all levels to allow you to realize and fulfill your full leadership potential. Not all leaders can make a difference, especially those who are not proactive. So, how can you start being more proactive, and why should you? Keep reading to find out more.
Looking At What Type Of Leader You Are at the Moment
To begin with, you need to establish what type of leader you are at the moment. When you have ascertained what type of leader you are, you can then begin to work on improving what you have to offer. If you do not establish your leadership type/s early on in the process of development, then you will struggle to drive forward in a direction that is beneficial to both you and your career. To establish what type of leader you are, you need to look at yourself and your roles from an outsider’s perspective.
Seeing how you have handled situations and how you make your decisions will allow you to see where you have room for growth. When you look at your leadership style, you must remember that you may not fit into one box, you may well embrace several aspects of each style, and this is fine because it shows your versatility and adaptability as a leader.
Deciding Where You Want to Go With Your Next Leadership Role
When you look at your leadership style and your current or previous roles, it helps you to understand where you need to go next. No two roles offer the same, so it is essential to establish where you see yourself in your next role and why. You cannot be a proactive leader if you are in an ill-fitting role. Thinking about what direction you want to go in will ensure that you only pursue posts and roles that are suitable to your values, needs, and direction as a leader.
Why You Need to be More Proactive in a Leadership Role
When you are proactive as a leader, you do not wait to make a change, and you certainly do not wait to make an impact or difference. Strong and driven leaders are proactive and highly adaptable. If you are not taking a more proactive stance or route within future leadership roles, then you will notice that you will fall behind your counterparts and competition. If you were to just sit back and let things happen within a leadership role, then you would never get to make an impact or visible difference, which, ultimately, is what good leaders and great leaders alike set out to do.
Self-Improvement and Self-Development is Key
Enhancing your leadership potential means focusing on self-improvement and self-development. If you struggle to make changes and developments within yourself, you cannot make a difference to groups of people or to whole organizations. Being open to constant self-development and improvement and establishing your areas of weakness show that you are a progressive and proactive leader. Being proactive in all areas of your role will ensure that you future-proof yourself and your career.
Studying for a DBA
Within self-development and self-improvement, it is essential that you focus on enhancing your education as much as possible. Settling with your level of education is no good. Once you have achieved your master’s in business or within management, it is time to begin pursuing an online DBA, which will allow you to further specialize and focus on research areas and topics that are important to you as a leader. When you advance your studies, you show others within your business that you want to make a difference. Advancing your education, knowledge, and awareness shows others that you want to and that you have the capabilities to implement positive changes and overcome any challenges.
Qualities and Attributes of a Great Leader
As well as focusing on improving your education, you also have to focus on improving the qualities and attributes you have to offer as a leader. Good leaders are born, but great leaders are created, and usually out of lots of hard work. So, with this in mind, just what does it take to be a great leader, and what qualities and attributes must you possess to get the best out of yourself and those around you. These are the top skills:
- Attentive and Good Listening Skills – Being seen and heard is important when you are a proactive leader, but listening to what others have to say while remaining attentive is crucial for any great leader.
- Commitment to grow and develop – Continuous growth and development are essential components for a great leader to have and to embrace.
- Excellent Communication – Being able to convey where you want to go and why is essential. Leaders need to be clear, open, and confident at all times.
If you can work on developing these skills, you are on your way to becoming a great leader.
Setting Achievable Goals and Pushing Your Career Forwards
When you are pushing yourself forward, it is important that you set career goals and aspirations. It can be difficult to realize your potential if you are not pushing yourself. Setting goals and realizing ambitions will help you achieve what you want. Plus, it will ensure that you become a strong, proactive leader that can make an impact through the changes implemented at all levels. When it comes to setting goals, try breaking larger goals down into bite-sized chunks. This way, they become both attainable and achievable.
Seeking Out New Opportunities
As a proactive leader that embraces change, you will always be on the lookout for more and possibly even for better. Being open to new ideas and opportunities and even seeking them out shows that you are proactive and targeted at all levels. Staying aware of changes within your chosen marketplace and industry essentially means that you stay ahead of the curve.
