Early in my career, I was progressing through a company. I felt euphoric with each success. And, there was opportunity ahead for more progress and success. It was within my grasp.
With each step of progress, Impostor Syndrome built like storm clouds on the horizon. Eventually, that storm reached its destination. It flooded my life.
The result: I left that amazing job because of the crushing weight of Impostor Syndrome. I was defeated.
It would take a few years, but I began to see Impostor Syndrome differently.
I came to see it as a thorn in my flesh to keep me humble and to keep me growing. My Impostor Syndrome was a tension I needed as a catalyst to grow in specific areas of leadership.
It was a revolutionary tension that revolted against the status quo of my ways of leading.
Joseph Fabry has written that humans are the only animal that will create tension for themselves. We set up obstacles to jump over and find rocks to climb, simply to experience the euphoria of overcoming difficulty.
Perhaps impostor syndrome was “given” to me as a difficulty to overcome for more growth in leadership. And when I say “overcome,” I don’t necessarily mean to get rid of it, but to succeed in spite of it. 💜🙏🏻
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From Manager to Leader: Cultivating the Skills for Success
In the realm of business, the terms "manager" and "leader" are often used interchangeably. However, these two roles couldn't be more distinct when it comes to their approach and impact. Managers are primarily task-oriented, focusing on administration, coordination, and implementing systems. On the other hand, leaders are people-oriented, inspiring action, providing support, and fostering a shared sense of purpose. While managers ask themselves how and when, leaders question why. To elevate your career and make the transition from manager to leader, you need to cultivate a set of unique skills and qualities. In this article, we will explore the strategies and mindset shifts required to unlock your leadership potential.
Learning the Ropes: Mastering the Basics of People Management
When you first step into a management position, there's a learning curve associated with adapting to your new role. It's crucial to familiarize yourself with the fundamentals and gain proficiency in managing teams effectively. Once you've acquired the necessary knowledge and skills, it's time to take a step back and reflect on the kind of leader you aspire to be. Understanding your leadership style and envisioning how you can inspire and empower your team will set the stage for your transformation.
From Management to Leadership: A Journey of Growth and Development
Leadership is not solely an innate trait; it can be cultivated and nurtured over time. While some individuals naturally possess leadership qualities, anyone can acquire the necessary skills and attributes to become an exceptional leader. By embodying confidence, honesty, effective communication, delegation skills, creativity, and intuition, you can inspire and motivate those around you to deliver their best work. If you find yourself lacking confidence in taking this transformative step, seek guidance from the top leaders in your organization. You will discover that many of them were not inherently born leaders but rather developed their leadership abilities through experience and self-improvement."
Key Strategies to Foster Your Leadership Growth
Assess Your Current Management Style: To enhance your leadership game, it is crucial to gain a deep understanding of your current management style. Reflect on how you manage your team or department, identify the strengths and weaknesses of your approach, and determine what makes a great leader in your eyes. Additionally, take note of the specific support your team requires to thrive.
Seek Guidance and Support: Don't hesitate to reach out to your manager or the HR department for guidance and support. They can provide valuable advice, mentorship, coaching opportunities, or recommend learning resources tailored to your development as a leader.
Embrace Personality Assessments:Consider taking personality tests such as DiSC or Hogan's Assessment. These assessments provide insights into your behavioral style and help you understand the dynamics within your team. The more you comprehend your own behavioral patterns, the better equipped you will be to lead and collaborate effectively.
Focus on Your Strengths:Rather than trying to imitate someone else's leadership style, concentrate on leveraging your unique strengths. Identify the areas where you excel and find ways to enhance them. Simultaneously, evaluate aspects of your leadership that can benefit from improvement and dedicate efforts to develop those skills.
Invest in Your People:Great leaders prioritize the growth and development of their team members. Evaluate each individual's potential and aspirations and identify ways to nurture their personal and professional growth. Empowering your staff not only contributes to their success but also strengthens your position as an effective leader and benefits the overall organization.
Take Incremental Steps:Leadership growth is a gradual process; you cannot become an instant leader overnight. Instead, focus on continuous self-improvement by working on one aspect of your development at a time. Consider finding a mentor who can provide guidance and serve as a sounding board throughout your journey.
Embrace Feedback:The most effective leaders foster a symbiotic relationship with their team members, creating an environment where feedback flows freely. Seek out feedback from your team and other stakeholders, and approach it with an open mind. Embrace constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth and learning. Reflect on the feedback you receive, identify areas where you can improve, and implement necessary changes. By actively seeking and valuing feedback, you demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional development, which inspires others to do the same.
Unleash Your Leadership Potential
In the world of business, the distinction between managers and leaders is profound. While managers focus on tasks and processes, leaders prioritize people and inspire collective action. Making the transition from manager to leader requires a conscious effort to cultivate essential skills and qualities.
By understanding your current management style, seeking guidance and support, taking personality assessments, focusing on your strengths, investing in your team, progressing one step at a time, and embracing feedback, you can unlock your leadership potential. Remember, leadership is not solely reserved for a select few; it is a journey of growth and development that anyone can undertake.
As you embark on this transformative journey, keep in mind that leaders are not created overnight. It takes time, dedication, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Embrace the unique qualities and strengths you possess, while also being open to learning from others. By becoming a leader who inspires and empowers those around you, you will not only elevate your own career but also foster a culture of success within your organization.
While all managers have the potential to become great leaders, it is through deliberate actions, self-reflection, and a genuine investment in your team that you can truly unleash your leadership potential. So, take the leap, embrace the challenges, and embark on a journey that will transform you into an exceptional leader.
Also read: Coach vs. Captain: What it takes for a fruitful relationship
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How much of Robbs victories do you think comes from the fact he had a really excellent staff of front line officers (with himself being one of the best)? His tactics seem very reliant on the ability of his subordinates to emulate his own methods of shock attacks, since his special move is splitting up his army for near simultaneous actions at multiple points. He personally needs to be great at identifying the weakest point for the soldiers he directly commands, but so does the Greatjon, the blackfish, and any other commander leading the other fragments as far as I can tell.
Personally, I would hesitate to describe a medieval army led by feudal lords as a "staff of front line officers."
To answer your question: the only one of Robb's men I think that really describes is the Blackfish, who Robb calls "my eyes and ears." While I don't agree with those who think that the Blackfish was the brains of the operation and Robb was a mere figurehead, the Blackfish has a certain set of skills that go above and beyond the norm for a highborn man's military education. In particular, his specialization as a leader of scouts and outriders made him absolutely invaluable at the Whispering Woods, an important although less decisive officer at the Battle of the Camps, and the one man Robb trusted to hold the Riverlands for him in his absence.
When it comes to the rest of his lords - Greatjon Umber, Maege Mormont, Galbart Glover, Helman Tallhart, etc. - most of them are pretty conventionally competent. They can command a detachment in advance or retreat, follow orders when it comes to where and who to attack, and so forth. There is an element of interchangeability there, however. Apart from the Greatjon having something of a reputation as a juggernaut who's all about charging straight ahead, you could switch around commanders when it comes to something like Nunn's Deep or the Pendric Hills and I don't think anyone would notice.
Robb really only has difficulty with two officers, and it doesn't really come down to their "ability...to emulate his own methods of shock attacks." Edmure I've talked to death, so I'm not going to get into it here, but that came down to a matter of ability to follow orders rather than interpret them in a favorable light. And then there's Roose, where it's a matter of straight-up disloyalty and treason rather than ability - Roose is very good at killing Stark loyalists and can execute adroitly on quite devious plans when it benefits him personally.
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