I’ve heard about how my grandparents were leaders and how my father (whom I never met because he died when I was a month old) seems to get along easily with people.
Since grade school, I have always found myself leading groups. It felt like I’ve known what it’s like to lead my whole life, even at seven, as if it runs in my blood.
I did not start good at it (and I can’t say I’m that good at it now, but I’m sure I am better than I was).
All the environments and experiences I was exposed to helped me become what I am today.
My values were first shaped within the safety of a loving family, centered on the life and being of Jesus Christ. Growing up as a born-again Christian, I was taught to follow Jesus’s example of navigating human relationships.
Then, the rest of my interactions in and out of the house were always assessed based on whether they were aligned with Jesus’s teachings and the guiding principles of the Hebrew Bible.
I am not a perfect person. No, far from it! I am not even holier than you are.
But I can ascertain that my life is shaped by the way the Hebrew Bible defines a Christ-centered lifestyle. And that includes every leadership role I find myself in.
I have learned many things about working with others and even more so about myself. Perhaps the first lesson I’ve learned is that before I can lead others, I need to know how to lead myself first.
But how to become a leader?
From What does it mean to be a leader:
- Learn to lead yourself.
- Accept that it’s okay not to have all the answers.
- Remember your strengths, moral values, and core beliefs.
- Engage in radical self-inquiry.
- Recognize that the steps toward becoming a leader are never-ending because we are always evolving, always growing, always learning.
From 8 Essential Qualities of Successful Leaders:
Leadership is a process of self-development, she says. “No one can teach you how to lead; you need to be willing and able to learn how to lead. Mostly we learn from our experiences and facing adversity. Stepping outside of the spaces where we feel safe — is a powerful teacher.
Linda Hill
Harvard Business School professor
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