Leadership- a Reality Check!

So Leadership is one of the MOST IMPORTANT soft skills, and it's imperative to talk about it, 

be it for getting promoted at your workplace, or for securing a valuable position in the society.

Everyone talks about what to do to become a leader, but no one talks about what to do AFTER someone becomes a leader? How to do justice to a leader's position. How to begin your leadership journey, AND make sure it's a long one!

Don't worry, I have got it covered!

So I have always stirred the ship, whenever I worked in a group.

But I wasn't always good at it. 

Consider these 2 incidents of my life-

1. Class 6th-We had a group project. One of my team mates screwed up at the last minute. I panicked, and started crying. A third person stepped into my shoes and handled it. I failed that day as a leader. 

2. Class 10th- My team mates screwed up again. And I publicly scolded them, because I didn't want to take responsibility for the part they messed up. I got full marks in my individual rating, and I was okay with it. That day, I was worse. 

Both the times, I didn't have my team's back. And even after all these years, I am honestly ashamed of it. 

But you know, leadership grew on me. I gained conscience and now I know how to lead a group.

Wanna know why I am saying this?

Because these 2 incidents are the only times I ever lost in a group.

What happened to others? Well before Class 10th incident, I can say all the other times I won. 

But after that, I am proud to say

I NEVER LET MY TEAM LOSE.

I came through for my team, I had their back.

What changed?

I realized, that being a leader is more than having your name taken up first.

It's about doing your individual part first, then helping others do their parts too.

When I say I didn't let us lose, 

I meant I helped them do their tasks as well, sometimes even did them myself, while making sure the person learns how to do it so that he wouldn't need me next time. 

Leadership is about team work too.

It's about listening to others, while thinking on your own, and taking the right decision.

It's about not taking all credit yourself, but giving due credit to everyone who deserves it.

Leadership is being at the same ground, while being a shelter for your group too. 

In a team, there is no ME. It's always US. That means a good leader would take a bullet for his team too, if needed.

Being leader is taking credit if you win, but also taking responsibility if you lose, and not play the blame game in front of the world. You and your team are united, while you lead and take them forward.

It's not easy. And it's something that takes time. 

So start now. If you want to be that inspiring and successful leader that everybody idolize, becoming a leader isn't enough, you have to earn the respect to continue to do so.

What you can do? As a leader :-

1. Communicate with your group, being at the same level. Don't belittle them due to your superior position. 

2. Keep a check on everyone's work and urge them to learn and work on their own, but help them whenever and wherever they want.

3. If they have better ideas than you, LISTEN AND IMPLEMENT. Do right by your group, and don't take it on your ego.

4. Be open to ideas, but still exert an influence on your group, that implies you are the one in lead. Keep that authority evident, while being humble.

5. Be considerate and empathetic. The project might be super important to you, adding weight since you are a leader, but please consider others' circumstances too. 

6. Protect your group, whenever needed. Because they look up to their leader as their savior, and you got to stand by them, no matter what.

These are a few of many MANY points I can jot down on the topic.

But this would give you a good insight. Do right by the authority and people's faith in you!

And emerge as the leader you always wanted for yourself in the first place! Happy leading!