THE ART OF BECOMING A GOOD LEADER
This past week I’ve noticed a big reaction to my post about the unsexy reality of being an entrepreneur. Many people are interested in learning about the ugly truth of becoming successful; so I decided to expand on the point I made about leading.
Often successful people begin to feel stagnant in career, or perhaps challenged at work. When this happens, they start to question themselves where they went wrong.
Leaders will often to rise to their positions relying on a particular set of ethics and characteristics. But in time, every executive reaches a point when his or her performance suffers. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
In her new book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness, my dear friend, Lolly Daskal presents a framework for employing the virtues of your leadership style. In this page-turner, Daskal explains how leaders embody seven archetypes and how each archetype has powerful abilities and hidden impediments:
1. The Rebel- driven by confidence; and the Imposter- plagued by self-doubt. The rebel sees something that isn’t right in the world and then does everything in their power to correct it. Great examples of rebel leaders include Rosa Parks, Elon Musk, and Gloria Steinem
2. The Explorer- fueled by intuition; and the Exploiter- master of manipulation. The explorer knows when to rely on their analytical mind, and when to rely on their natural mind. Great examples of explorer leaders include Jeff Bezos, Sara Blakely, and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
3. The Truth Teller- embraces candor; and the Deceiver- who creates suspicion. The truth teller is driven by a sincere desire to help and will speak out courageously when their honesty serves others, even at the risk of offending people. Great examples of truth-telling leaders are Ronald Reagan, Indra Nooyi, and Winston Churchill.
4. The Hero- embodies courage, and the Bystander- a coward if there ever were one. The hero is fearless. He doesn’t hesitate to act while others stand by. Great examples of courageous leaders are Justice Anthony Kennedy, Malala Yousafzai, and J. K. Rowling.
5. The Inventor- brimming with integrity, and the Destroyer- is morally corrupt. The inventor is a visionary, continually innovating and improving processes and products. The integrity of their ideas is paramount, and they refuse to settle for anything less than excellence. Great examples of inventor leaders are Walt Disney, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Blake Mycoskie.
6. The Navigator- trusts and is trusted; and the Fixer- endlessly arrogant. The navigator is a trusted leader who steers people toward pragmatic, workable outcomes, uncomplicated solutions, and powerful results. Great examples of navigator leaders include Michael Bloomberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
7. The Knight-loyalty is everything; and with the Mercenary- perpetually self- serving. The knight is a loyal protector, champion, and defender with unwavering beliefs. Great examples of Knight leaders include Mother Teresa, Herb Kelleher, and Jill Abramson.
What kind of leader do you classify yourself As for me, I’m still evolving as a leader. This book is helping me shape myself as an entrepreneur and avoid sabotaging my own success. If you’d like to improve yourself, leader, I suggest you pick up The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness. It’s one of my favorite reads.
Phromsavanh is a passionate serial entrepreneur creating business solutions in the industry she knows best — fashion. She is an innovative brand builder with multifaceted expertise in retail, marketing, strategy, business development, and consumer behavior. Phromsavanh is an acclaimed Keynote speaker and enjoys speaking on topics that include — entrepreneurship, minority women in business, leadership, women’s empowerment, E-commerce, shopping habits and personalization, fashion, retail, and motivational ideas for carving a non-conventional path. Contact Monica to have her speak at your company event or conference soon.
