The traditional concept of leadership is a representation of those at the peak point of hierarchical structures like those we see in the workplace, government, and sports. For some people, the feelings of power and control associated with this is what makes this position attractive, whilst some people have the desire to lead others for altruistic purposes, to the benefit of a wider group.
Being in that ‘top spot’ is often seen as being at the pinnacle of success. However, many people aren’t interested in leadership of the conventional sort. This might call to mind the image of the meek, wallflower type that spends lunch alone and never says anything in meetings but that isn’t always the case.
If we look past our pre-conceptions of who is and isn’t fit to be a leader, it becomes clear why people wouldn’t be interested. It is not a lack of self-confidence that’s the issue for many people. Leadership is often associated with an overwhelming sense of responsibility and little room for mistakes. After all, there is no time to flounder when other people are looking to you for guidance.
Even confident and self-assured people may not want to be responsible for others and focus solely on their own development. But everyone can apply the principles of leadership in their own lives. Creating a structure and routine, critically reflecting on your own work, and giving yourself the support and encouragement that you would give others are tenets of leadership that you can apply to the many workers in your brain, a little microcosm of the workplace.
This thought process is particularly beneficial for those who are self-employed and have to take on several different roles depending on their business needs. However, this is easier said than done. It can be difficult to stick to deadlines and schedules when there’s no-one to enforce them on you, leading to things being left to the last minute, being completed poorly or not completed at all.
This is why becoming a leader of ‘Team You’ can be more powerful and valuable than the traditional leadership role. You’ll develop excellent time management skills, discipline and self-control while weathering the highs and lows of independence and you have to take significant responsibility for yourself. Monitoring yourself, being able to identify when you’re not working at your best and ‘critiquing’ yourself, identifying points of improvement all without speaking unkindly to yourself.
This advice applies to those in a typical workplace as well as the self-employed. Even if you’re being instructed on what you should do and when you should do it you can still work within those parameters to act as a leader for yourself. This may seem contradictory to the traditional idea of leadership but the principles of leadership and the actions that you take as a leader remain (mostly) the same whether you’re leading a group of 20 or a group of 200, and just because someone is being lead doesn’t mean that they can’t be a leader. These two identities can and do co-exist within one person, so nothing is stopping you from claiming both while working by yourself.
Although leading other people is not for everyone, that doesn’t mean that only certain people carry the power. Everyone can become a leader in their own lives and make the changes they would want other people to make for themselves. Becoming the driving force behind your own actions, and not outside pressure, is what leads you to success, whether that be as part of a team or on your own.
The key to applying values of leadership to the workplace without having the experience of being a team leader at work is to recognise our strengths. This means taking the skills you gain when acting as leaders outside of work and bringing them to the workplace.
For example, you may be a leader within your family who sets an example for their children, a leader within the community that your neighbours turn to for advice, or a in a religious organisation who manages the practical tasks needed in a place of worship. Although the monetary renumeration that typically goes hand-in-hand with leadership isn’t a part of these roles it still requires you to guide people to success, give feedback and help to provide structure.
To the untrained eye this work may not be perceived as work that impacts your business life (and to some it may not be considered work at all), but with a shift of perspective it becomes clear that work that helps to develop skills like organisation, time management and empathy without the drivers of money and status is the best work experience a leader can get, creating someone who leads with good intentions, patience and compassion.
— Becky Olaniyi
- This article originally appeared here.
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