Leadership is More than a Motivational Speech

While leaders are often a large source of inspiration for their team, they do more than just give motivational speeches. Leadership means showing up even when you don’t feel like it, encouraging others even when you don’t feel encouraged yourself, advocating for your team when no one else will, and so much more. Becoming a leader shifts your focus from yourself to your team, and looking out for their best interests should be at the forefront of all of your decisions.

When you step into a leadership position, you cannot just think of yourself anymore. You need to consider how your actions affect the rest of your team, and you need to be intentional about everything you do because there will always be eyes on you. Leadership is not just a title; it’s a responsibility and a way of life.

Many people think that becoming a leader allows more freedom and less work because they can delegate tasks to others, but being a leader means putting in more work than anyone else. You bear the responsibility of accomplishing organizational goals, maintaining positive relationships among team members, fostering a culture that people want to be a part of, making split second decisions, and being the calm in the storm. Being a leader is not always easy, but it is fulfilling. Your impact can go far beyond your organization, and it gives your work a greater sense of meaning.

Some people are natural leaders, while others have been trained and conditioned to become effective leaders. The journey to becoming a leader may differ, but the purpose is always the same; to align people in a collective direction in order to accomplish a common goal. As a leader develops themselves, they are also working to set up their people for success. Great leaders spend their time building up their people, but poor leaders spend their time focusing just on themselves. Who on your team needs encouragement, clarity, or recognition right now? Challenge yourself to dedicate a few minutes each day pouring into someone else’s growth.

-Meghan Slaughter