The Benefits of Leadership in the Workplace

Why creating a ‘culture of leadership’ in the workplace is good for business

A company’s culture is said to be defined by the successes of not only an organization as a whole but of every employee within it. You, and every employee in your organization, make an impact in your own way. No matter your role, you influence those around you, affecting the environment and atmosphere of the organization.

Leadership, in essence, is influencing to create change.

Every person in the organization is a leader creating change. Influence is happening in each moment, and the first person you influence is yourself.

More often than not, we aren’t fully aware of how we impact the overall environment our organization and those we lead.

Leadership begins with ownership.

This is why self-awareness is foundational to effective leadership. When you cultivate self-awareness, you make discoveries about your impact. You start noticing:

• where your time is focused

• how your words impact others

• how your inner world shapes your results.

If you are striving to lead a more effective and efficient team, start by cultivating a 'culture of leadership' in yourself. Reflect on the tenor of your thoughts and decisions in the past 24 hours. Are they proactive or reactive? Self-awareness is the first step to getting out of autopilot and steering the ship.

Self-efficacy matters. When you believe that you have the power to make a change, everything changes. The heart of a leadership culture is believing that you have the power to create the outcomes you are aiming for.

Where does this ability come from? The power to create change flows from your strengths and values. When you know who you are and what is important to you, you find the inner confidence to take charge of your life. Leading others begins with leading yourself, and you can’t do that until you identify your distinctive strengths and values.

When you do this, you will find your voice.

Knowing your values gives you a compass for making decisions, as well as the authenticity and confidence to affirm the values of others. This is why culture is important. A culture of shared values does NOT mean that everyone in the organization has exactly the same values, but that individuals come together around common values while bringing their unique perspective and values to the table.

Leadership is casting vision for the future. Vision could be what you want your schedule to be like, or the dynamic you want to build in your team, or your expansion goals for the quarter. Leaders are those who envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities. Set aside time each day to stop doing “stuff” and allow yourself to dream about what could be.

This compelling vision will motivate, clarify, and fuel your efforts. Not only that, but your enthusiasm and excitement for the vision will also ignite passion in others to pursue this exciting highly attractive future.

However, every meaningful venture encounters obstacles, whether they be internal roadblocks or external realities. At times these challenges can seem unalterable.

Leadership is having the resilience to keep moving forward. Growth happens by consistently generating small wins and learning from the process. Be willing to experiment and take risks. Failure is not a setback, it’s a part of accomplishing your vision.

A leadership culture is one of courage. Courage means that you step forward to create the results you want.

Ultimately, this is influence.

If you align with your values, focus on your compelling vision, and pursue it with courage, you will authentically draw others into the magnetism of your mission. They will trust you and want to be a part of making that vision happen, and more importantly, they will want to create vision and impact for themselves.

And how does a leader make an impact?

They inspire.

They create.

Thy act.

They communicate with vision and mission.

They encourage you to embrace your calling and to own up to the person you want to be.

As a leader within your company, people watch you closely.

That’s a fact. It’s unavoidable. So, focus on how you use your influence and authority. Communicate, encourage, and allow others to embrace opportunities to grow and improve their work.

If you do this, you'll cultivate a culture that allows your team members to feel safe enough to push themselves and take the risk to perform better than they ever have before.

A leader encourages and brings out the best of their team by understanding that each team member is there to contribute their own unique impact to the organization as a whole.

If you allow your team members to become leaders in their own right, allow them to embrace their strengths, and take ownership within their respective roles, you’ll empower them. And before you know it, they themselves will become more deliberate with the actions they take within the workplace.

The leadership and communication skills you have worked so hard to hone and practice will become your team’s new standard. It will become their culture. This 'culture of leadership' starts by creating an“we are all influencers” mentality. When others feel like their work holds purpose and that their time is valuable, they are going to contribute more. They will do more and encourage others to do the same. It will not be a matter of who wins, but of how we will win. And the how is the culture.

Isn’t that the kind of leader you want to be?

Sure it is.

So remember, great leaders don’t become great leaders by commanding others. They do so by influencing others to aspire towards their own goals. By focusing on cultivating 'a culture of leadership', you will find yourself leading even when you least expect to.

Because leaders create leaders. They drive and entice action because they hold the unique ability to communicate a clear vision and bring others to realize their true potential.

If you would like to discover your leadership brand and learn how to leverage it effectively, please reach out for a free consultation.