Leading From the Inside Out
One of the most important things a new leader can do as they begin their leadership journey is to learn to lead from the inside out. Leading from the inside out means you:
have a clear understanding of your values and leadership philosophy
are aware of your own personal strengths and areas for growth
have high emotional intelligence and,
understand what it takes to lead a team effectively and successfully.
When you lead from the inside out, you build self-awareness and invest the time and energy needed for continuous growth.
Put ego aside and focus on the important aspects of leading others in a healthy and safe work environment. Be aware of the impact your behavior has on the team you support and the importance of showing up as your best self. Outstanding leaders are highly self-aware, have a high emotional intelligence and act with crystal clear clarity when working and leading others.
With that in mind, here are 3 ways that can help you lead from the inside out:
Invest in a formal or informal leadership training program - Many new leaders have been promoted into leadership positions without any type of leadership training. Investing in yourself, especially early on in your career, will help you to become a more confident leader with a clear understanding of your leadership purpose and vision. At LumiLead, we have developed a 12-week program that supports new and aspiring leaders that spends time specifically focusing on oneself and the impact it has on your leadership style and your team.
Self-Assessments - There are many self-assessment tools available such as the EQ-i 2.0, Strengths Finder, Myers Briggs Type Index, DISC to name a few. These assessments may or may not provide you with new information but it is how you use these results to reflect on your leadership style and executive presence on your team. Think about how this information can help you in your role as a leader. Are there areas you need to dial up or dial down in order to support your team.
Feedback - A great way to see if your actions align with what you intend as the leader, you can ask a colleague for feedback. You can even take it one step further and ask for a 360 Assessment in which you select individuals on your team to provide anonymous feedback in key areas. This is typically facilitated by an independent person in order to allow the feedback to be anonymous.
Want to learn more. Check out our 12-Week Leadership Development Program.
