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Leadership development 101

“Swim in your own lane.”

A manager at my organization gave me this advice during my days as an auditor. It’s something I never forgot.

Since then, I’ve taken it to heart as I continue to develop as a leader, content creator and business owner. That manager taught me��not to get distracted��by what other people are doing but to be the person I choose to be and work hard regardless of any negativity.

This is powerful in terms of��authoring one’s destiny. I realized that I get to define the type of leader I am. Not my previous bosses. Not my parents. Not my neighbors. It comes down to who I want to be — and the perception that goes with it.

In my experience,��developing leadership skills on your own terms��provides a significant advantage. It’s no secret that we stand on the shoulders of giants. However, you have your own skills and talents. You can take what you learn from great leaders and apply it in your own innovative way.

I know I have. I decided early on that I didn’t want to be a business leader who was only concerned about the organization's bottom line. Not a chance. Instead,��I want to be a servant leader��who comes alongside others and helps them. I choose that every day.

Leadership training in real life

There is nothing in this world that prepares you for being a parent.

I’m sure most parents would agree with that statement. There’s no book, training regimen, five-step blog post or weekend course that can mimic the shock and awe that happens with having children.

What do we do instead?��We adapt. Then, we adapt some more.

We respond to crisis after crisis after crisis (even if to outside eyes those crises seem insignificant). We adjust to lack of sleep and continue with our “on-the-job training.”

We’re tasked with leading our children from birth until we leave this earth. And we grin and bear it all — because it’s our duty and privilege to do so.

Tell me, how does that��not��describe what it takes to be a truly great leader? Parenthood, similar to true leadership in any era, is about��sacrifice for the sake of others.

That’s just one example of leadership development in your personal life. But leadership is not the exclusive domain of parents. You can develop these same skills if you run a side business, serve on the board of a nonprofit or devote your free time to helping your neighbors. These are examples of real-world training opportunities. In all these instances,��you are leading in place.

Business leadership basics

How does your life experience apply to your leadership skill set in an organization?��In my opinion, it’s��all��������𱹲��Գ�.��

Think about��honesty, hard work, collaboration and always being teachable. These are all great personal qualities but also��transferrable skills��and characteristics. These skills are as important in the boardroom as they are in the family room (especially on game night).

Beyond that, great leaders should aim to be consistent. As much as possible,��show up the same way in life as you do in business. Even better, focus on developing your integrity and influencing others in a positive way.

Having that kind of leadership mindset — one that embraces self-reflection — can set you apart from others.��And people pick up on it. Authenticity might be an organizational buzzword and something we all say we’re striving for, but it’s that way for a reason. We crave it, maybe because it’s sometimes hard to find.

When it comes down to it,��business is about relationships. It’s the bonds you form with your colleagues and customers that help them to see you as an effective leader and keep them around for a long time.