Guest Blogger | Julie Morris | Julie Morris, Life & Career Coach
When we think of true leaders, many things come to mind — the way leaders build teams and morale, the way they spur others to action, even the way they make you feel about yourself and others. As a business leader, you’re in a prime position to make a difference in your community. Your role, contacts, and influence can all work together for the greater good — if you know how to apply those skills in that direction, of course. If you would like to take your leadership to the next level so you can work for the betterment of your community, check into the following resources.
Identify Key Traits
We’ve already looked at some of the concepts often associated with leadership. The next step is to examine key traits great leaders possess and think about how they apply to you:
- The ability to negotiate ensures a great outcome for everyone.
- Being able to handle rejection teaches you to improvise and explore other avenues.
- Crisis management enables you to proactively move on from mistakes and see when, where, and how to alter course.
- The courage to take risks opens you up to more opportunities and options.
- Communication allows you to keep an open mind and better resolve conflicts.
Practical Skills Stem from Service
With those traits identified, what actions will you take to grow? You might think your leadership skills are best honed at the helm of your business. It’s through volunteerism that good leaders often become great.
- Leading volunteers teach you about influencing others and helping them to understand and align with your vision.
- Corporate policies that encourage employee volunteerism frequently lead to better productivity and happiness in the workplace.
- Involvement with volunteer projects helps you develop your supervisory, leadership, and networking skills.
Making It Happen
You might be thinking you’re far too busy to include volunteering in your business regimen. However, here are some strategies for making it work.
- Identify your main motivation — perhaps you are looking for opportunities to grow, build connections, or invest some of yourself into your fellows.
- Consider where you would like to dedicate some energy — perhaps you aim to diversify your network or a particular cause is tugging at your ideals. By prioritizing your motivations, it’ll help drive your decision-making.
- Rather than trying to engage in a variety of opportunities, select one or two that you feel will be most meaningful to you, and put your energy there.
- You can always volunteer virtually, too; check in with groups that require background checks, like pet rescue and adoption services, or other organizations that require other types of electronic communication to function.
Business and community might strike you as two separate realms. However, you can merge the two in your leadership journey, and as a result, both will benefit.
Ready to reach new heights, personally and professionally? Connect with Dan at Loichinger Advantage for proven leadership growth opportunities. Call (608) 354-3524 for more information.
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Julie Morris is a life and career coach. She thrives on helping others live their best lives. It’s easy for her to relate to clients who feel run over by life because she’s been there. After years in a successful (but unfulfilling) career in finance, Julie busted out of the corner office that had become her prison.