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There are many ways to become a leader in your industry. But the root of all great influence comes down to one thing: are you the kind of leader others want to follow? This is a question I asked myself, especially when we started our successful clothing company. It was only through my own reflection that I realized there are certain traits I too must possess to become a great leader in my industry. Not all leaders are perfect from the start. Leaders strive to be as effective, influential, and knowledgeable as possible.
Becoming a true leader can be difficult because the challenges you face along the way can be daunting and more difficult than people expect, but that's why you need to hone your leadership skills to handle adversity and lead others.
However, if you follow the same principles outlined in this article, you will find that your leadership capabilities will improve and you will be able to move from personal to corporate influence as a new leader and ultimately achieve your new status as an industry expert.
Related: Master the 5 Leadership Skills that Will Increase Your Results 10x
How to improve yourself
Many people think that industry knowledge makes them a successful leader. But it's actually a lot simpler than that. It's about knowing where you are lacking and having the courage to develop those skills. A person must truly understand what it is within themselves that they need to develop. That involves looking at every aspect of their life and understanding what they need to improve. It all comes down to a few key areas:
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Take care of your mental health: Mental health is not just about getting rid of anxiety and depression, it is also a matter of daily mindset. Having and nurturing an innovative mindset is a catalyst for organizational change and this has been proven at almost every career stage. So, if you set the mindset first, the rest will easily follow.
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Practice optimal health and create healthy habits. The most important thing I've discovered as a business leader is the importance of optimal physical health. For me, this means having a morning routine to start my day right. I exercise, have a nutritious breakfast, and meditate. Creating a routine and sticking to it consistently will help you see great benefits.
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Develop and create resilience in the following areas: I believe that resilience is one of the traits that every leader should have today because without resilience, no leader can overcome the difficulties that may come their way. The journey to true leadership is like climbing Mount Everest. It is a long and difficult journey, but you have to face all the difficulties and become stronger because of it. Having resilience makes you a stronger person and helps you overcome even more difficult situations. A resilient leader grows, learns and ultimately becomes a better leader and a better person.
Related: 12 actions you can take to become a better person and leader
How your leadership can have a positive impact
Whether you are a manager, executive, or even the CEO of a company, you may start to notice that people are listening to you and valuing what you have to say. This is when the benefits of leadership development start to kick in. Here are some tips to ensure that your leadership skills have a positive impact on the environment:
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Learn about your industry: You need to keep learning. Influential leaders set themselves apart by staying up to date with the latest happenings, trends, and news happening in their market and industry. Do your homework and stay up to date, and you'll see a huge shift in your influence as you become an expert.
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Speak up and contribute: One of your most important jobs as a leader is to speak up and contribute – to share your knowledge, share ideas with the group, and create solutions to problems that may arise. When you speak up and contribute the knowledge you have gained, you will see a big difference in how people perceive you and how much progress you make.
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Develop your emotional intelligence: Honing your people skills will only strengthen the foundation you've built as a leader. Honing your people skills will allow you to network more effectively, build stronger connections for joint ventures, and even delegate tasks more effectively. When this happens, your productivity increases. Whether you're a manager or the head of a company, you'll be able to create greater influence.
Related: Why you need emotional intelligence to succeed in business
Measuring your effectiveness as a leader
You can be influential without being effective — and for all the wrong reasons. But if you've become a strong, influential leader through your own personal development, you probably feel effective. But it's important to know how effective you really are. Here are some ways to measure your effectiveness as a leader, and how to improve it if you find yourself in a more challenging position.
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Are you leading by example? One of the questions people should ask themselves as leaders is whether they are leading by example. Are you contributing in ways that you would be effective if you were an employee? Are your people following in your footsteps and creating positive change? These are things people need to ask themselves because they are among the most important skills of an effective leader. To be influential and effective, reflecting and measuring the impact you've made on your company should be a top priority.
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Is your team staying productive? Another important question is whether your team is staying productive. Are you experiencing problems or challenges that you can't solve? Are you losing interest and not contributing, thereby unintentionally creating challenges for your team? These are all issues that need to be addressed. Having your influence positively impact others helps people make more effective decisions and creates effective teamwork.
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Is your organization effective at solving problems? Another important issue is that organizations may find themselves in a situation where the effectiveness of problem-solving is declining. This could be due to a variety of issues. It could be due to issues with team dynamics. Still, as a leader, you need to ask yourself if this is something you can influence. You need to find out if there is a way you can help your employees to be more open-minded and collaborative. This is where leading by example can help. As long as you lead by example, problem-solving and team cohesion should not be an issue.
Why leadership development is the root of industry impact
Impact in your industry doesn't happen overnight. As I've experienced in my career, it comes after you've developed yourself a lot more as a leader and given people the tools to not only influence you, but also increase the effectiveness of your company. The benefits you will experience as a result of your leadership development will be astronomical, not only for yourself, but for your company and industry.
By focusing on developing themselves and being a positive and effective influence, companies can become leaders in their industry. True leaders grow within these organizations and people begin to see them as the experts in their industry. When this happens, it is a sign of true success for any leader.
If you are serious about becoming a leader, follow these tips, get serious about how you can develop yourself and impact the progress and productivity of your organization, your team, and ultimately your industry, and you will truly understand what it takes to be a leader in your industry.
