According to research, a persons mindset has an integral part to play in the growth of an individual and his environment. A solid mindset means one is ready to serve rather than to be served. Going beyond the borders to please others and be innovative starts with a mindset rather than strategy or mere talent. How you view yourself affects how you will lead your life and could be a major determinant in the pursuits you make and the accomplishments you eventually attain. Mindset is not really fixed but one of growth and constant progress.
The importance of mindset to leadership can be seen through the several elements that surrounds it.
“A leader is a man who makes decisions. Sometimes they turn out right and sometimes then turn out wrong; but either way, he makes them.” — Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co., Leaders are Made
1. You have a commitment to succeed
“Contrary to the opinion of many people, leaders are not born. Leaders are made, and they are made by effort and hard work.”— Vince Lombardi
What holds leadership is an unwavering commitment to not only lead but to perform and succeed. How committed you are to your role as a leader speaks volumes to those who you lead. Commitment is not simply about motivation, but it is also about passion and drive to excel and succeed. This could push you to go above and beyond what is required in many cases.
2. You are adaptable
“Leadership, like swimming, cannot be learned by reading about it.” — Henry Mintzberg
In every human there is an ability to adapt since this stems from our survival instincts. Yet our decisions should surround choices that will make us more creative and propel us to meet every challenging situation. When you have a good mindset, you are able to adapt and become flexible to meet the odds against you.
3. You are a peak performer
“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”— Kenneth Blanchard
You cannot excel simply based on strategy. You also have to ‘walk the walk’ and ‘talk the talk.’ If you want your team to do great work, you also have to take the lead in whatever initiative that is required. Why? Because good is no longer enough in today’s world. Competition is stiff and to guarantee success you have to push harder than every other person around you.
4. You are able to deal with the struggles
“Rough waters are truer tests of leadership. In calm water every ship has a good captain.” — Swedish proverb
You can only understand how effective your mindset can be during struggles and pain. Meeting and sometimes exceeding expectations requires some mental toughness. Sometimes one has to alter his/her life to attempt a new course of action. This means resilience in the face of adversity and taking a risk because that is the only way out of a hole.
5. You are accountable
All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.” — John Kenneth Galbraith
You take charge and consider yourself accountable for the failure or the success of a group. If others fail you have also failed. Staying above such waters means you are ready to take charge and you are prepared to fulfill all the responsibilities assigned to you.
6. You have a vision
“Leadership requires the courage to make decisions that will benefit the next generation.” — Alan Autry
No matter how successful your present situation is, you are always looking ahead and preparing yourself for what is ahead. You anticipate and reinvent yourself to meet with what the future holds. Leaders are not myopic. A myopic leader will be consumed. This is why it is important to always be focused on what is ahead.
Featured photo credit: http://www.flickr.com via flickr.com
