Elevating your leadership skills is a powerful and crucial step in career advancement. However, outstanding leadership is not just about guiding others but also about using self-reflection and self-leadership to guide yourself.
In the 2024 Harvard Business Global Leadership Development Study, a Senior Director at a Global Health Care Company says it succinctly, “The number one thing our business leaders need to do differently is to recognize that the things that have gotten them to the place they are—that they’re very good at— will not get us to the next level. [We all need] an internal introspection on not just our strengths and weaknesses, but on those things that we don’t like to do—and embrace the changes.”
Jackie B Grice, a respected Business Strategist and Coach, emphasizes that authentic leadership begins with self-leadership. She offers valuable insights on how to elevate your skills through five key practices:
5 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills
- Enhance Self-Awareness: Use the Johari Window to uncover your personal strengths and blind spots, which can lead to improved communication within your team. Ask yourself: What’s one leadership blind spot that may be affecting my team?
- Reflect on Your Impact: Engage in the “Mirror Moment” exercise to evaluate how your leadership style influences your team’s performance and identify areas for improvement. Ask yourself: If your team’s performance was a reflection of ME, what changes would I make?
- Confront Internal Challenges: Identify and address personal obstacles like imposter syndrome or overcommitment that may hinder your leadership effectiveness. Ask yourself: What personal challenge could be influencing my leadership?
- Adopt a Growth Mindset: Shift from a fixed perspective to a proactive mindset that prioritizes customer trust and loyalty, encouraging continuous improvement. Ask yourself: What actions can I take to drive tangible change?
- Embrace Servant Leadership: Model the behaviors you wish to see in your team, creating a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. Consider: Am I genuinely leading by example?
To further enhance your leadership skills, Jackie also encourages adopting Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a positive approach that focuses on building strengths. This method encourages open communication with your team to identify what works well, following a straightforward 4-step process:
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Discovery (recognizing strengths)
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Dream (envisioning a brighter future)
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Design (developing actionable plans)
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Destiny/Deliver (executing those plans)
By fostering teamwork and collaboration, AI can inspire innovation, improve workplace culture, and empower individuals, making it an effective tool for personal and professional growth in any environment.
Jackie B Grice is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-owner of a successful transportation company, she has always felt a deeper purpose beyond business. Growing up as the youngest of nine in an entrepreneurial family, she was inspired by her father’s creativity as an upholsterer, transforming the old into something extraordinary.
