There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to define leading. Perhaps every leader has their own. I will share mine in the following article. Identifying how to lead your team and what values you want to follow is essential in business development. In which direction do you want to take this journey?

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Who is a leader?

"I am not a saint unless you define sainthood as a sinner who is constantly improving." - said one of the most outstanding leaders I know, Nelson Mandela. The Nobel Peace Prize winner emphasizes that a leader must be flawed. It is more important that they know their weaknesses and constantly strive to improve. I believe authentic leadership requires the courage to admit mistakes, learn from them, and show others how great things can be achieved despite obstacles.

Being a leader is about responsibility. It's your job to give your people the tools they need to do their jobs well. It's about providing the conditions for development and the space for innovation. A leader is someone who finds answers to questions and solves problems.

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And who isn't a leader?

According to John C. Maxwell, a well-known leadership guru, a leader knows and shows the way. But in today's dynamic times, do we have the ability to see the way? I sincerely doubt it. A leader is not omniscient. Of course, to lead a team, you must walk at the front of the team. But that means courage to make mistakes, find solutions, and inspire discovery.

When leading a team, it is worth remembering that you are not made of steel, and neither is your team. You are all on a journey together that involves constant learning. That's what running a business is like.

Imagine you are trying to introduce a new tool to automate some of your work. Integrating it with other software and learning how to use it correctly will take time for the team. The first, second, or third use will be flawed and thoroughly effective. You must test the tool, learn how it works, and adapt it to your organization's processes. This is the way of trial and error. This is my understanding of leadership.

A non-leader often shies away from guiding their team's progress and innovation, opting to keep things as they are due to a fear of change. This avoidance extends to neglecting emotional intelligence, crucial for fostering team growth and creating an environment where learning from mistakes is encouraged. Additionally, such individuals may resist adopting new technologies or processes that could improve efficiency, showing a hesitancy to meet changing business demands.

Give people the space to learn and to make mistakes. Learn together. That's the way to develop people and businesses.

Emotional Intelligence

In his work, Daniel Goleman has identified five critical components of EQ that are relevant to leadership:

Self-awareness means understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and the impact you have on others. This ability allows you to manage your emotions and behavior more effectively, which is particularly important in challenging situations.

Self-regulation: is the ability to control impulses and emotional responses. It allows you to remain calm under pressure and make informed decisions. If you experience difficult emotions (and we all sometimes do), you should know how to deal with them.

Motivation: Your passion and commitment can inspire others and help you overcome challenges. Ask yourself why you do what you do. What are you trying to achieve? Share your values with your team.

Empathy: Understanding other people's emotions is essential for effective team management, relationship building, and conflict resolution. Try to be open to your employees' perspectives, especially their reported difficulties.

Social skills: Are you able to talk to your employees? Do you know how to give feedback to others in a constructive and non-harmful way? This is extremely important to build a sense of security and commitment in the team.

The modern leader is open-minded, actively seeking and discovering. They don't wait for good results to land on their desk - they take action. If you want your business to grow, you have to grow too as a leader, but even more importantly, as a human being.