How To Be A Leader In Your Professional and Personal Life

Some people are under the assumption that in order to be a leader you have to have a title or you have to have a job description that assigns you "leadership". To talk about leadership, we first need to define three terms that may be confused with leadership and they are: authority, power, and influence.

People in authority are typically in a position where they have been given or earned a specific legal right to direct or supervise other people or a specific set of events. These would be teachers, firemen, managers, your boss, etc. This category also includes topic experts you look up to because of their knowledge, such as authors, motivational speakers, and even wedding planners.

People with power generally are in possession of something that others desire, such as money, social standing, reputation, strength, etc. and they use that to exert various levels of power over others who want what they have.

People who influence or inspire others understand that motivation must come from within. They share their knowledge with others to help guide and inspire people to change themselves, to reach their potential, or to improve a specific set of circumstances that are undesirable.

The most effective, long-term way to be a great leader is through influence and inspiration. That doesn't mean that people with authority or power cannot lead and it doesn't mean that people that aren't great leaders can't accomplish anything. It simply means that to be truly effective long-term, a leader should consider how to influence and inspire others rather than merely rely on authority or power.

So, how can you be a leader in your professional and personal life?

1. Know Yourself - A true leader must know themselves well. You should have a clear idea of your own goals and values, what you need versus what you want, and a clear vision of where you want to go next in your life. Your values are often reflected in your behavior. If you are unclear in your values, you will be more likely to react from raw emotion. This type of reaction will be inconsistent and often confusing to you and to others.

2. Be Authentic in All You Do - This will come extremely easy for you if you take the time to know yourself well first. Every conversation, behavior, and action you take should be aligned with your vision of yourself. It will be difficult for you to be authentic in your communication, behavior, and decisions if you don't know yourself or have clear values and goals. Look for sincere opportunities to thank and praise others for work well done or for going above and beyond. This rings true for personal and professional life as well.

3. Communicate with Respect - Communicate calmly and with respect for the person you are talking to. It goes without saying that you should do this in the workplace, whether in a meeting or at the water cooler. But we also need to evaluate the way we communicate with friends, family, our spouse, and even children. We often get in the habit of communicating disrespectully with those who love us and who really deserve our most respectful communication. If you must correct someone, do it privately and constructively rather than punitively. Give your spouse, significant other, or your children the same courtesy.

So to be a leader in the workplace, decide what method of leadership you have, whether authority, power, influence, or even a combination of all three. Spend time getting to know yourself and work to constantly clarify your vision for yourself. Strive to act authentically and communicate with both respect, soon you will soar to new heights, both in your personal and professional life.