Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
For leaders, personal and professional development is crucial for reaching new goals and continually forging a path people will follow you down. Here are 4 self improvement actions all leaders must take:
1. Enhance Communication Style and Technique
In the now largely virtual world we’re living and working in, the ability to read body language, pick up the flow of information and build strong relationships has lessened. Therefore, leaders must learn how to properly over-communicate. They must be able to adapt and continue to build strong teams and ensure each team member is clear on their role in the mission to success.
2. Actively Improve Self-Awareness
Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership — perhaps now more than ever. Simply put, emotional intelligence is one’s ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle their own emotions and those of others. In times of uncertainty, panic is contagious. But so is staying calm, confident, and communicative.
3. Develop Skills in Motivating Self and Others
External motivation is fleeting. As a leader, you must be able to stay motivated yourself, and then coach others in self-motivation. Benjamin P. Hardy says,
“Success is based on choice. Success is based on having and maintaining a motivation worth fighting for. It’s based on believing what others might call a fantasy. It’s based on leveraging your position and maintaining the momentum of every step you take.”
4. Invest Time in Mentorship and Coaching
True leaders must be life-long learners who are never satisfied with the status quo. Always be seeking wisdom, feedback and accountability that puts you in a constant state of improvement. Be prepared for change and seek out new challenges. As Benjamin Franklin wrote,
“Change is the only constant in life. One’s ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.”