Beyond a Title: Exploring What Successful Leadership Really Looks Like
by Oluwatobi Oluwagbemi
When we hear the term ‘leadership',’ we often think of someone high up in the staffing ranks with a fancy title, like Chief Executive Officer. We think of someone that makes decisions for others. I used to think that leadership was about big positions, big titles, and big paychecks. But now that I am older and more mature, I realize that each of us has potential to be a leader, and leadership can take many forms. I want to use this blog as a way to encourage readers to discover what form(s) of leadership they find appealing or most align with, and find something in their community to do in which those particular style components can be applied to contribute to the betterment of that community.
Personally, I am a servant leader, and I use my leadership skills to serve others. I always want to get work done on time and I love to work with a team of effective people. I lead with integrity and I serve with compassion. I count myself lucky to have the opportunity to serve in several leadership positions that allow me to utilize my skills as a servant leader, one of which is serving on the young women’s cabinet chosen by the Governor of Minnesota - a role that has greatly helped me grow as a leader.
Knowing the leadership style that best suits my skills and experience has been hugely helpful, and I want to share a few other pieces of advice for others who are looking to gain more general leadership experience:
1. Network, network, network: It is important for anyone trying to get more experience in leadership, no matter what level, to initiate connections and build a strong network of individuals who support your work. Leadership is about who you know, not just what you know. What you know is, of course, very important, but who you know can open even more doors and opportunities you may not have otherwise sought out. Research shows that 70% of jobs are by means of knowing someone or having some existing connection to the job or organization, not solely having the qualifications for the job.
I have attended some conferences that have greatly helped me network, such as the African Immigrant Professional Development Conference, and I strongly encourage others to attend conferences that are relevant to their field and interests, too. Networking as much as possible, no matter how repetitive or tiresome it may feel, is absolutely key!
2. Don't be scared to fail: Failure is a given part of success. We all make mistakes, and we all have regrets. However, these do not deem you a failure as an individual or employee. As a society, we need to get away from the idea that failing is a bad thing. Thomas Edison tried over a thousand times before he was able to successfully create the light bulb! And strangely enough, he was fired from two prior jobs for being unproductive. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey was fired from a job because she was “too emotional.” She went on to build an international empire with thousands of people working for her. I think that being a leader means not being afraid of failing and having the strength to get back up, learn and progress from your mistakes, and be okay with knowing you’ll fail many more times. Failure is a key part of life, and true leaders are able to embrace it and learn to accept it. Leaders need to never fear failure.
3. Don't be scared to ask for help: Some leaders think they have to know it all and do it all. People often think that leaders have to be experts at everything and know all there is to know about their area of work or interests, but that is surely far from the truth. Rather, being a leader is about being able to collaborate on projects and ideas, take advice, and proactively learn from others. Two (or more) heads are better than one! The reality is that we don’t all excel in all areas, and each of us lacks certain skills. We therefore need others with those skills to complement those we do have. One thing I have found to be tremendously helpful over the years is to learn to become comfortable with seeking assistance and advice from those most inclined and willing to give it. I now actually enjoy doing so, as I find it fosters connection and growth on both ends!
4. Dedicate time to supporting others: Paying it forward is essential in all forms of leadership. As we ask others for help we must also be willing to lend help to others. We as leaders must support the goals, passions, dreams, and even shortfalls of others. An example I’m familiar with is the important relationship between a mentee and a mentor. In developing leadership skills, the mentee must also find ways to contribute to the success of the mentor. Many people think that mentorship is just about learning from the mentor but effective leadership implies the mentee also supporting or teaching the mentor in some way(s).
5. Create a LinkedIn page: Leadership is about putting yourself out there, even if you feel unsure or intimidated. LinkedIn is the largest professional networking platform for professionals who can use it as a tool to connect with others with shared professional interests.I want to connect and network.I recommend that you add a headshot to your profile to add a personable aspect, and also take time to connect with people you know first and then ask your first-degree connections to introduce you to any second-degree connections you’re interested in networking with. LinkedIn also has many courses that you can take that can be beneficial to developing leadership skills, focusing on various topics like technical tools, interviewing, mentoring, leading others, and best practices for resume building and cover letter writing.
6. Be open-minded: This is an indispensable skill to always be finessing on both professional and personal levels. Successful leaders must be empathetic to other peoples’ struggles, and be willing to genuinely listen and have an open mind to others’ thoughts, feelings, and ideas. There are plenty of individuals in leadership roles who actually tend to be close-minded, which undoubtedly negatively affects the quality of their relationship with those with whom they work and interact. This skill cannot be overestimated enough; it is very critical to the success of any leader. Leaders should open their hearts and minds to people from different walks of life, different cultures, different backgrounds, different perspectives and different general outlooks on life. Leadership means forgoing the easier practices of generalizing, avoiding or discounting, and rather actively embracing differences.
To sum up my thoughts and advice on the very broad and complex topic of leadership, I believe it comes down to really thinking about the types of qualities we want to see in the people who hold various positions of power in our organizations - those who are making decisions and taking actions that can and will impact the lives of others in critical ways, whether directly or indirectly. We all hold the potential to be a leader in different ways, and there is no doubt we can make meaningful change in the world if we take it upon ourselves to learn how to further grow and apply the leadership skills that we most want to see in others.
