The critical role of peers.
As a leader, you also need proximity with those alongside you in the journey of leadership. Are you leading a team for the first time? Look for a leader who is in that same stage. Are you managing a major project? Seek out peers who have a similar responsibility.
When I was first leading a team, I gathered five others in a similar stage, and we connected once every other week to share what was going well, what was a mess, and how we personally were doing? We empathized, spoke the truth, encouraged, and shared ideas.
I wasn't their boss. We were all peers. None of us were required to attend but we all showed up consistently.
Why?
If you've spent much time in leadership, you know it can be both challenging and lonely. As young leaders we knew if we went alone we wouldn't go far, so we decided to go together.
It can feel lonely as a leader. I can easily experience imposter syndrome or be overly critical for not reaching my unrealistic expectations. Cultivating a community of peers helps normalize and de-catastrophize what I'm experiencing. There is something relieving about knowing others are experiencing the same thing. It can breathe life into you as you take on another day growing as a leader.
4 Reasons to build a community of peers
There is something relieving about knowing others are experiencing the same thing. It can breathe life into you as you take on another day growing as a leader.
At times a group like this can feel like the blind leading the blind if you are all new at what you’re doing.
But you can still learn a ton from each other. Mentors provide a helpful perspective as someone who has done it before but this group is doing it now. In a VUCA world, experience from ten years ago may have limited application.
Seeing others in the midst of solving similar problems may inspire you with new solutions and give you the confidence to try something out of the box.
You want your life to have meaning and impact.
What if your everyday work and life not only felt natural and intuitive but also aligned with your priorities and positively impacted those around you?
Here are some steps to find others to journey with:
We’re all on a journey in our leadership. As you consider who you’re journeying with, take time to reflect on who you’re guiding and who you’re following.
Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.
Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:
Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.
There are several different styles of team leadership, including:
Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.
There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:
Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.
A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:
Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:
Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:
Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.
Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.
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