Developing Personal Leadership Skills

The economy is feeling hardships in today's marketplace. It is touching the lives of people around the globe, making now, a good time to take a closer look at our personal skills agenda. We can all do something positive to impact change. One of the best places to start changing is with our self. Yes that is right. We might not be able to change the world's economic woes but we can make great strides in a positive way by looking at our own personal lives. One of the things each person can do to start making a positive impact in our situation is to work on developing better personal leadership skills.

There are many ways in which to develop better personal leadership skills. The biggest factor here is practice. Practice makes perfect. The more times we try to do something the better we will get at it. Just talking about something is not taking action. Focus on the end result. You have to put in to practice whatever it is you want to learn to do better as your end result. Make the practice of improving your personal leadership skills your goal. Then put your energy in to reaching that goal.

When you put positive leadership goals into daily practice you begin to set examples. This is reflected by those people you come into contact with on a regular basis. Your friends, family, children, neighbors and others who you may not even think are paying attention to what you do, are taking notice. People are paying attention to you on a small scale, on a large scale and everything in between.

Everything you do in the public eye is being watched by somebody, all of the time. You are therefore setting examples with your actions. This is how you are setting examples, and affecting everyone around you. Strive to think about how your actions are impacting others. Be mindful of what you do, where you do it, and how you do it because your actions are actually the things that are developing your leadership skills. Did you ever think about it like that?

Start Developing Personal Leadership Skills By Taking Small Actions

Below is a list of characteristics that should always be considered in your mind's eye as you seek to develop leadership skills. It would be good to think about each one of these leadership characteristics and learn ways to improve your personal behavior for each character.

Take small actions as you go about your daily agenda in ways that will bolster these values within yourself. Smile at people more. Lend a helping hand to someone without being asked. Take action. Be the leader you see yourself as being in all that you do. By taking small, conscious actions will will slowly create a habit that leads you toward becoming a natural leader. The more action you take faster you will learn to become a better leader.

1. integrity
2. compassion
3. humility
4. sincerity
5. positivity
6. passion
7. commitment
8. determination
9. confidence
10. courage
11. sensitivity
    

What is integrity? The dictionary calls it an uprightness of character, honesty, the state of being complete or undivided, the condition of being sound or unimpaired. I believe most would look to the key word "honest", as a basic understanding of integrity.

How does compassion fit into leadership? Compassion is a value placed on your actions. A good leader will use compassion when it is deemed forthright. Compassion is mercy toward the suffering or distress of another, with the desire to help or spare. Building and honing compassionate thought processes will help develop better personal leadership skills.

Humility in leadership is a must. Projecting a modest sense of your own merit is very important. Be humble. Most people do not like loud, boisterous or obnoxious behavior and are less likely to follow such a character.

Try your best to always be sincere. Sincerity can strengthen your leadership in times of negativity. Be mindful of hypocrisy and deceit, be faithful and loyal to the best of your ability. Always practice honesty and purpose of character.

Positivity shines light in darkness and unsteady times. Good leadership demands a positive attitude at all times. Practice being upbeat in all circumstances. A positive person can help motivate others when the going gets tough. Positivity goes hand in hand with compassion.

These three elements of leadership are characteristics of the best leaders. These are the things that make a true leader stand above the rest. Passion stirs the blood and soul of others. It makes people want to follow. It lights the fire in other peoples spirit.

Commitment is shown by repeatedly taking actions for the same cause, reason or outcome. A committed leader will not waver from their ultimate goal. They will be steadfast and strong in their belief. A person with great leadership skills will display strong determination in trying to manifest the results they are seeking to obtain their goals.

Determination is a value placed on the character of strong leadership. It marks a leader with drive, will and undying faith for they believe.

Your determination shows in the way you do everything. At work or at play, determination shines quietly though for all to see. This determination is something most people will cling to. It is the thing that creates a desire to join forces. It erases hopelessness, fear and uneasiness. A determined leader will stand out amongst the average. Determination is a must factor for those who expect others to follow.

Confident leaders do not boast and brag. They walk softly, head up and eyes searching forward. They know what they are seeking and they know how to find it. Be knowledgeable in your confidence. Make sure you can back up what you act on. Be educated about any subject that pertains to the desired goal you are striving for.

Confidence and determination will strengthen your courage. Courage is a value of character that helps leaders get people to do that which they might fear. It is the one characteristic that can bring change change and acceptance when the norm is outdated. Courage to reach out, seek and find solutions when nothing else seems to work is something to employ in advancing personal leadership skills. Use your courage with care.

Leading With Love

I personally believe that leading with love in your heart will always produce a positive outcome. Love has a way of climbing mountains, breaking down barriers and making positive changes. Love has the power to carry a leader far beyond what they might have imagined as possible. Use love to help solidify the true leader you carry within yourself.

As you practice refining all of the above character values in your personal leadership skills, hold love in your heart.