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Presented by Lisa Bishop
What makes a great leader? If you are like me, you have worked for great leaders and not-so-great leaders. If you are a leader, you probably have found yourself in both of those categories. I want to equip you with 5 habits of an extraordinary leader. Leadership is influence and how you lead impacts others.
The first habit of an extraordinary leader is the habit of being a learner. Being a learner not only means seeking the technical skills necessary for your job or role, but it also implies you actively and consistently pursue personal character growth.
Proverbs 19:20 gives us a clarion call when it says,
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
Good leaders, even leaders who have led for 20 years or more, have a posture of being coachable and teachable. One way you can position yourself to learn and grow is by asking for and humbly receiving feedback.
Whether you lead in the workplace, home, your community, or your church, intentionally ask others to share their observations about your leadership, what you do well, and where you can improve. The truth is you simply cannot grow without feedback. We all have blind spots. They are called that for a reason. Several years ago, I solicited feedback from a few coworkers. The feedback I received from one co-worker cut pretty deep. But I was and continue to be truly grateful for her candor. It caused me to see how I was unintentionally impacting others and as a result, I made a massive shift in the way I led.
If something were limiting your leadership, wouldn’t you want to know about it—even if it stings a bit? A few words of caution. When you ask for feedback, even if you do not agree with the person’s perspective, keep your defenses at bay, express your gratitude for what they shared, and sit with the feedback long enough to sift through it and pray about it. Ask God what he might be highlighting to you that could help you. And when you receive feedback, do something with it. There’s little worse than receiving feedback and then not doing a darn thing to improve on what was pointed out. People will be frustrated, and you will lose credibility.
Who can you ask to give you feedback? Pick a person or two you trust will tell you the truth and be grateful for the growth it brings.