Sharing the Wisdom

How do you show up as a leader – whether at work or in your own life?

I had always thought that leadership was something solitary. If you’re a leader, you stand head and shoulders above the crowd, alone, on your own. Your vision shows others the way forward. And as an independent professional or entrepreneur, it’s up to you to do it all:  develop the concept, create the marketing materials, go to all the marketing calls and networking events, in addition to doing all the work, whether you’re an attorney, accountant, physician, or coach.

In recent years, experience has taught me that it’s really quite different. And this is a lesson I have to keep learning and re-learning.

A perfect example is this blog.

For nearly a year, I have wanted to start a blog. But I was overwhelmed at the prospect of figuring out, alone, how to go about it. What should I write about? What should I name the blog? How could I set it up so it looked professional? It was overwhelming to deal with, so it never happened. Then one day, a friend offered me some help and an opportunity to get started.  This was one of those “Aha!” moments, as I realized once again that I didn’t have to do it myself.  Finally, the blog is under way — and I’m no longer overwhelmed.

Being a leader doesn’t mean having all the answers. It doesn’t mean standing alone with no support or partners. That way lies burnout. It does mean having the wisdom to partner when you need to.  It means leveraging your unique skills and perspectives to help others find their way and inviting others to do the same for you. It means continuing to move forward, no matter how small the steps. So much time is wasted feeling that you must do everything yourself, when there are so many resources available to help. Even the Lone Ranger couldn’t have been successful without the help of Tonto.

Your true power as a leader lies in the example you set for others about how to partner and how best to leverage the skills of those around you.  As a leader, you enlist their energy in helping strengthen your endeavor.

So the next time you face a challenge, think first:

• Who can help me with this?
• Who has done this before?
• Whose ideas do I like?

That really is taking the leadership role – both in your life and in your business. That’s where your true power lies.

Susan

http://www.susanbraverman.com/