Developing leadership qualities is a personal, inside journey and is undoubtedly one of the most powerful things you can do in your lifetime.
Becoming a purposeful leader who delivers with passion and commitment isn’t something you do because you have to but because you want to.
You see, we are all leaders. You may lead your family, your local football club, your department of 5 people, your start-up business of 2 people, your business of 100 people, or even a global enterprise made up of 1,000’s. Leadership is influence, and it starts with you.
7 key traits of a purposeful leader
- Visionary – Think BIG
- Passion Breeds Authenticity
- A Winning Mindset
- The Pragmatic Optimist
- Goals-Orientated
- Data-Driven
- Culture is Everything
1. Visionary – Think BIG: It begins with a vision
If you don’t start by dreaming BIG, you’ll never move beyond mediocrity. Find your success definitions (BIG picture purpose) to drive focus into everything you do. Set the bar high and reach those goals. If you live like all your dreams have come true, you’re already winning.
Remember, where focus goes, energy flows.
2. Passion Breeds Authenticity: Passion led you to where you are now
If you’re the real deal and not trying to be something or someone you’re not, people will want to be around you and work with you. Having the courage to be true to yourself in a world which is consciously/unconsciously trying to influence you to be someone else is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. But it requires vulnerability, honesty and transparency.
Be an original, not a copy.
3. A Winning Mindset: It’s simple, success is 80% mindset and 20% strategy
Your mindset is the most potent delivery system within you. Sure, you’ll face challenges daily and problems weekly whilst operating in a world full of negativity, but your one unassailable key to success lies in your ability to shut those messages out.
A winning mindset enables winners to be confident they will achieve their goals. True leaders catch people doing it right.
Keep failing once and recover quickly.
4. The Pragmatic Optimist: Is your glass half full or empty?
The pragmatic optimist is a healthy tension between being pragmatic – you’re grounded in reality – and the optimist – you have a healthy positivity. Leaders with a glass half full, not half empty, have a can-do/will-do mentality.
Have a glass half full.
5. Goals-Orientated: Natural leaders start with the end in mind
Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible and how to turn your success definitions, vision and purpose into reality. If you want to be happy, set goals that command your thoughts, liberate your energy and inspire your dreams.
Positivity isn’t about dreaming and hoping for an outcome; it’s about dreaming and then working out a plan and working that plan to get to the dream.
Translate your positive intentions into tangible results.
Lead with an attitude of ACTION.
6. Data-Driven: Data and real-time insight are a leader’s competitive advantage.
Measuring the right things – Measures that Matter (MTM) – allows you to make proactive, informed, empirically validated decisions about delivering accelerated, sustained, and profitable business growth. Decision-making is based on data and facts rather than opinions and emotions.
Let the data drive your quality decision-making.
7. Culture is Everything: Behaviour breeds behaviour
Leaders who buy into their workplace culture are already one step ahead of their competition.
Competitors will try and copy your products if they’re good enough. They’ll copy your style and branding and even try to poach your greatest asset, your people. But there’s one thing they cannot copy: your culture.
Your culture is the very thing that makes your organisation special, distinct, and unique. It’s your edge and advantage.
Behaviour breeds behaviour.
