If you want to become a highly effective leader, you must become highly effective in your growth.
We have talked a lot about climbing the leadership ladder, and my role in writing my articles is to help you get to the top of the ladder, if you so wish. In order for you to get to the top, you need to be able to lead for your team, and also lead yourself.
1. Doing More Than Is Required
To become a highly effective leader you need to do more than just climb to the top of the leadership ladder. Getting to the top will make you a great leader but not a highly effective leader.
Don’t get me wrong, getting to the top of the leadership ladder, and becoming a great leader is an amazing achievement for anyone. Great leaders are highly respected because they are great at building relationships, trust, and treating their people with respect. Great leaders achieve great results too.
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However, when it comes to developing their people, they very rarely go the extra mile, and do more than what is actually required. To become a highly effective leader, when you get to the top of the ladder, you must then climb back down, and help your team climb to the top too.
Low performing leaders feel threatened by almost everyone in the organisation, especially their team members. So, that is why they will never develop them, because they fear that one of them will become better and take their job. An insecure leader’s objective is to ensure that everyone in their team stays exactly where they are.
The thinking is, if they don’t get better or worse, then they won’t be a threat. When in reality, if you don’t get better you will become worse, because of the amount of frustration it builds within you. If an insecure leader must fill a vacancy within their team, so they will interview a number of candidates.
Then, they will most likely choose the person they think will not threaten them the most. They want them to just fill the job and do the absolute minimal to get the job done.
I have worked with, and met many great leaders who had a strong character. They knew what they were doing, and were very secure in themselves. However, the development of their people (including me) needed to improve.
The leaders I’m referring to did not want to develop themselves further than what was required. So why would they want to develop their people further than required?
2. Focussing On The Growth Of Your People
When you are a great leader but you are not focussed on your own or your team’s growth, then everybody is missing out on opportunities. Instead of focussing on growth, a great leader will focus on goals and targets.
They don’t think they need to grow anymore, and are content to just plod on in their careers. What they don’t realise is what they are leaving on the table, and how much time they are wasting by doing that.
The world of business, and indeed the whole world needs these great leaders to turn this around, and focus on their growth. We need them to want to get to the next level.
It doesn’t matter whether they are a team leader/supervisor, manager, director, managing director, or CEO. We all need them to want to do it and not be forced to do it.
It doesn’t matter what your position or title is, it’s about your intentions after you become successful. For you to become successful, you are mainly focussing on you. However, if you want to go beyond greatness then you need to go beyond success, and not settle for it.
3. Going The Extra Mile For Your People
To go beyond success, you need to climb back down the leadership ladder and help others to climb up to the top. If you help them do that then they too will become successful. That is what true success is.
Are you willing to go beyond your own success? Are you happy with just climbing to the top of the leadership ladder and staying there?
Are you willing to help others become just as successful, if not more successful than you? I want you to make the decision of whether you are content with being a great leader, or do you want to go that extra mile and become a highly effective leader?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a great leader and being successful, in fact it is a great achievement that not many will achieve. However, I know that you are better than that, and can do more to become an amazing highly effective leader.
But, to do this you will need to put in the hard work. By that I mean working on yourself in your own personal time. It is a sacrifice that needs to be made.
4. What Sacrifices Are You Willing To Make For Your People?
When I became a Chartered Engineer, I got to lead my own teams. When we were achieving great results, I thought that was it for me. I didn’t need think I needed to develop myself anymore.
I thought I could just focus on the job at hand. But, at that time I didn’t realise the opportunities I was missing out on, and how I could improve my leadership a lot more.
I worked with some great teams. We achieved great things. I liked working with them, and they liked working with me. To me, that was all I needed to do. I and the team thought that we worked well as a unit, so I thought I was a great leader.
When we finished for the day, I wouldn’t do anything to work on myself or develop my leadership abilities. I just went home, socialised, and watched TV. Or, I would do something else, but it had nothing to do with development.
I thought that being able to do what I wanted, and not be bothered by anyone from work after hours was success. I was wrong.
To be a highly effective leader, you need to look beyond what you would think success was. A highly effective leader looks at success as the beginning of what they are truly committed to, their purpose. A great leader looks at success as the end, and that all they need to do now for the rest of their career is coast.
A great leader thinks that they just need to stay on the same path until they retire. Luckily for me, early in my leadership career, I became interested in learning more about leadership.
I started watching videos online, reading books, or taking courses. I changed my way of thinking from achieving goals/targets to achieving growth/development.
I made the decision that I didn’t want to just stay where I was, I wanted to develop myself. I wanted to be like the people who were on the videos, and writing the books. I wanted to make as bigger difference in the lives of as many people throughout the world as I could. Is that what you want?
To do this, I had to make some sacrifices. I gave up things that would be wasting my time, and that included people who were not helping me grow. Before I decided this, the people I am talking about I spent a lot of time with as friends.
But, I realised that when I decided to work on myself and become a highly effective leader, I would be talked out of it by these people. They were hindering my growth rather than helping it.
There are 24 hours in one day, so I had plenty of time to grow myself. I made sure that I used this time to the best of my ability. So, every weekday after work and every weekend. It didn’t matter what it was or how much it was, as long as I did something to develop myself every day, I was winning.
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I worked on myself 365 days of the year, even on days I didn’t want to, or didn’t feel up to it. That’s how you know you are always taking a step forward and not back.
I started reading everyday (reading is not my favourite activity). I watched leadership and development videos online. I listened to podcasts, webinars, and I attended conferences. I did this to ensure I was developing in the area of leadership every day. That’s how I knew I was on the right path to becoming a highly effective leader.
My productivity, my relationship building and my leadership vastly improved. All this because I took the decision to work on myself every day. The team’s I have worked with have achieved excellent results, and they have decided to work on themselves every day too.
I hope you are willing to do the same.
Do you want to make a living? Then do a good job
Do you want to make an amazing life? Then work on yourself.
I welcome hearing how this post has influenced the way you think, the way you lead, or the results you have achieved because of what you’ve learned in it. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me by commenting below.
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All the best,
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Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for your comment and your extremely kind words. I am so happy that you found the article valuable, and that you want to return to it for future reference.
If you need anything further then please do visit my other articles, but if you have any questions then don’t hesitate to ask or get in touch.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Before I started my own business, I’ve spent a lot of time and money investing in my self and my personal development. Once I started my business, I was already prepared for a lot of situations that were waiting for me down the road. My opinion is the success in business in 20% skills and 80% mindset and that everyone should spend some time working on their mindset first. Thanks a lot for sharing this post!
Hi Ivan,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found the article valuable.
Thank you for sharing your opinion too. You do need a strong mindset in business and I’m pretty sure that you have that if you are working on it 80% of the time.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Hi Tom, I’m into self-development and so your post really talks to me. It reminds me a bit of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People where working on yourself, becoming the best you can be is the best way to lead and inspire others to do the same. Lead by actions, not by words.
Regarding business/leadership literature, what books do you recommend? And do you have any favourite business-related TED talks that you could share?
Hi Murray,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really happy that the article spoke to you and your self-development.
The 7 habits of highly effective people is a great book by Stephen R. Covey. Have you tried out any more of his materials on leadership?
Books by Simon Sinek: Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last and The Infinite Game. These are very popular but are great if you are starting out reading leadership books.
Books by John Maxwell: 21 irrefutable laws of leadership, Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn, Put Your Dream To the Test and many more.
There is a book called Shoe Dog that is written by the creator of Nike. This is an amazing book that teaches you great leadership principles.
A book called Permission To Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed is an excellent book on leadership.
Try these books out and let me know what you think of them.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Yes it was very enlightening sometimes when I am at work I feel like I am not getting the training some of the other team members are getting and it does get frustrating. Making me wish my boss would give me a little more responsibility as well to move forward.
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really pleased you found the article enlightening.
Don’t wish for your boss to give you more responsibility. Make it happen by addressing this with him/her. Show him/her that you are capable of more responsibility and that you want to be challenged more.
If you want to discuss this further then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Tom
Your post was amazing to read and so fun. I will surely return to your site to check out for more posts. Just so fun to read.
Hi Morgan,
Thank you for your comment and your kind words. It’s great that you found the article valuable.
Please do come back and engage even more. If you need any further help in your leadership or personal growth then don’t hesitate to contact me.
All the best,
Tom
Tom,
your post is passionate and to the point. It addresses all the key points for anyone to be an effective leader, including avoiding negative people that will only punch wholes to any idea or dream.
I agree, being a leader is encouraging others to be leaders, but they have to want to.
Very well done.
Hi Kyriakos,
Thank you for your comment. Really pleased you found it valuable.
It is my commitment to help create more highly effective leaders in this world. Are you willing to become a highly effective leader?
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
I used to run an university club and I feel like this is really great advice. Thank you for sharing this. I feel like people often forget that being a leader doesn’t just mean you’re on top, you must actually lead and help everyone improve. You can’t just expect everyone to stay in the same spot and not better themselves.
I will definitely remember your advice in my future leadership roles.
Warm regards
James
Hi James,
Thank you for your comment. It’s great that you can use the information in the article in your future roles.
When you eventually take up your next leadership role and you need any help or advice, then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Very interesting article, in-depth and useful to readers.
Love the structure of this too, kept me interested and wanting to read on which for me is a key tactic, congrats 🙂
Thanks for writing and sharing this with us all!
Hi Jason,
Thank you for your comment. It’s great that you found the article interesting and kept you reading.
It is my commitment to keep people reading but also to be learning.
What was your key points that you took away from this article?
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Having landed on your page whilst searching about personal growth (a topic I am very interested in), I found myself enjoying reading about growth as a whole and how yours affects others. Your comment about being willing to climb back down the ladder is a powerful one, and one I’m sure will make others think twice.
I have been lucky to have had some fantastic leaders in the past, who taught me very much about what you are sharing and I very quickly learned how much more successful these people were as a team and on an individual basis. This is how my own personal development journey started.
Your posts are incredibly well written and share some valuable tips, I will be sure to be returning.
Thank you
Hi Emma,
Thank you for your comment and your kind words. It’s great that you were searching about personal growth and it is a topic you are very interested in.
With what you have learned from the great leaders you have worked with, make sure you pass on what you learn to others. Creating more leaders and influencing them is a commitment of mine. Thank you for sharing part of your journey with me, it really is appreciated.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Hey Tom,
This is a very insightful post. It’s true that leadership is really all about developing relationships with the people on your team.
There has to be trust, and the leader has to be secure in their own abilities in order to be generous enough to share what they know.
Some people in leadership roles I have met actually covet their knowledge, and seek to protect themselves from being upstaged all the time.
This is weak leadership.
Thanks for sharing your experience in this area. I found this article very helpful.
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really pleased that you found the article helpful.
Trust is the foundation of leadership, and without it then there is now way you can influence. We must have trust before we can lead.
So-called leaders who shy away from sharing their knowledge are not leaders. They are in it for themselves.
Make sure that isn’t you.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
I’ve never worked in that sort of corporate environment in the past, but what I find really positive about this and a couple of your other articles that I looked at quite recently, is that some of what you say applies every bit as much to daily life as it does to a business workplace.
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your comment. It’s great that this article still resonates with you. The leadership principles I discuss are for all forms of life, not just in business.
Keep reading my articles and pass on what you learn. Let’s create more leaders and influence them to do the same.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom
Many people don’t understand the difference between a boss and a leader. Great post about leadership qualities and attitudes!. I’ll be checking out your posts!
Hi Juan,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really happy that you found the article helpful.
Please do keep returning and reading more of my articles. Pass on what you learn to others.
All the best,
Tom
Hi Tom
Great article about leadership, how i wished those whom i worked for and with before can learn a thing or two about real leadership and not the type of leadership they were practicing which is bordering on politicking.
as a great leader, one should be able to train up the subordinates and able to help him in his work and business, a leader who fails to groom a successor is failed leadership.
if a leader fear his position will be taken over by his subordinate, then he is not a leader, he is just a manager.
if a leader does not thrive to improve himself, he will sooner or later lose his edge.
Are you going to write about what make a good leader and what qualities a good leader must have/
thanks for a good article.
best regards
Chee Shi
Hi Chee Shi,
Thank you for your comment. It’s great that you found the article helpful.
I am definitely going to be writing about the qualities of a leader. You will find the qualities of a leader in all my articles so what you read and learn, make sure you pass on to others.
Keep returning, keep engaging and keep leading.
All the best,
Tom