How to Become A Leader?

Jomar Dizon Dela Cruz

I got this one during the leadership training I attended last March 2020. The first thing to do to become a good leader is to identify your motivation. What motivates you to achieve your goal? This can be the very reason why you are working so hard. What or who inspires you to go to your workplace confidently and whole-heartedly. After identifying your motivation, unmask your flaws. Although it is already a cliché, nobody is perfect. Everybody commits mistakes and has flaws. What is good thing about a leader, he learns from failures. He does not stop after failing. Instead, he bounces back and moves forward having in mind the learnings from his failure.

Be with experts. Surround yourself with people who will help and guide you to reach your goal. A leader was once a follower, a beginner. Listen to the pieces of advice from your colleagues. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or even admitting mistakes. We have leaders to guide and inspire us when we are out of line. Learn form the experts, from their experiences.

Welcome feedback. Appreciate feedback. A good leader takes feedback constructively. Taking feedback constructively is a good trait of a mature and open-minded leader. Appreciate feedback from your colleagues, especially from the seasoned or experienced colleagues. Charge it to your experience.

Do not settle for mediocrity. If you are doing something, give your best. Exert effort. Do not just perform for compliance. Instead, perform with excellence. Do everything with love. If you love what you are doing, you will surely produce a good output, a good service.

Invest in your growth (professional growth). Attend seminars and trainings that will help you hone your skills. Pursue post-graduate studies. Grab all the opportunities while you are young, while you have the energy. Having all these as you pursue becoming a leader, remember this: “In the end, depend solely to God. As others depend on you as a leader, to whom are you going to depend with – the answer is God – our Ultimate Leader!”

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The author is Teacher III at Malino National High School