News

What Are The Secrets To Great Leadership?

What Are The Secrets To Great Leadership?
by Kathleen Taylor-Gadsby

Leadership training is prevalent in companies today. Whether the training is classroom based, on-the-job or experiential, it tends to focus on the “what” of the job. However, leadership is so much more than learning the skills to perform within the outlined job description. I believe great leadership is, above all, knowing and leading from our true selves. When we are able to do this, the “what” of the job falls into place.

To lead from your true self, consider these questions:

What gets you up in the morning?

In other words, what motivates you? What is your life’s purpose? While you may never fully answer this question in your lifetime, you will undoubtedly recognize some of the elements of it. My former client, a young teacher, is a great example of understanding and then living your life’s purpose. She is so clear on her role in children’s lives that it shapes every conversation she has with them, every activity she chooses for them and every battle she engages in to ensure that they not only know that they are valuable and gifted humans, but that they respect that in everyone else.

What gets you up in the morning? Do your words and actions in the workplace align with your purpose? If not, ask yourself these questions: Are you clear on and fully aligned with your purpose? Are you in the right role or company? What else may be inhibiting you?

What are you great at?

We are all gifted with talents and strengths. These attributes are where we do our best work. They are the way in which our purpose is delivered. When I was laid off in 2013, I had been working in hospitality/human resources for 20 years. I really enjoyed my work and I also knew that leaving it provided me with an opportunity to consider how I could utilize my strengths more fully in the next phase of my life. This is how I got to this invigorating place of coaching and teaching. (In case you’re wondering, I say “invigorating” for a reason: When you are living “on purpose” and using your strengths, you feed your own energy as well as others’.)

Read full article on Forbes.