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If you’ve been rising in the management ranks, getting promotions and on track to the next level, it might feel as if leadership comes naturally to you.
But, as a strong leader, you know there is always room to grow. In fact, elevating your leadership skills is a powerful and crucial step in advancing your career.
A Sr. director at a global health care company, quoted in the 2024 Harvard Business Global Leadership Development Study, puts it well: “The number-one thing our business leaders need to do differently is to recognize that the things that have gotten them to the place they are—that they’re very good at—will not get us to the next level. [We all need] an internal introspection on not just our strengths and weaknesses, but on those things that we don’t like to do—and embrace the changes.”
Though having a trusted mentor you admire is incredibly valuable as you grow your career, you can also use tools for self-advancement—specifically, self-reflection and self-leadership—to guide yourself.
The question is, Where to start?
Self-evaluation is challenging—that’s why they are called “blind spots.” We aren’t entirely objective regarding our strengths and weaknesses, making us unaware of crucial traits holding us back in critical areas, such as communication skills and decision-making.
Here’s the good news: You can elevate your skills through five key practices to improve leadership skills that can be done on your own, starting now.
1. Enhance self-awareness
Blind spots can seriously derail any career. They can make all the difference between your next promotion—or demotion!
These traits—whether poor listening skills, inconsistent communication, or something else—can negatively impact relationships, effectiveness in the workplace, and overall success in the business world.
Do this: Use the Johari Window. This tool uncovers strengths and blind spots through a visual framework with four quadrants. Spend some time analyzing what you perceive as your strengths and weaknesses, and solicit feedback from others. It’s a valuable team-building tool, leading to improved communication.
2. Reflect on your impact
Reflection on past decisions is a key component of becoming a more effective leader. It often clarifies strengths and weaknesses in decision-making and identifies areas for improvement.
Do this: Look into the Leadership Mirror (Korn Ferry). This is part of the Korn Ferry Assessment of Leadership Potential (KFALP). It provides steps you can take for self-assessment of leadership style and behavior. It helps you understand how your actions and communication impact others, ultimately promoting growth and effectiveness in leadership roles.
3. Confront internal challenges
We all have internal monologues of self-doubt and worry that run through our heads throughout the day.
That “self-talk” is a natural part of human cognition. It can be helpful for reflection, improvement, and preparation. However, excessive negative self-talk can also create obstacles, undermining confidence.
Do this: Combat negative self-talk with this four-part system…
- Notice the thought.
- Name it as negative self-talk, creating distance between yourself and the thought.
- Ask yourself whether the thought is true and what evidence supports that conclusion.
- Reframe the thought to a constructive statement that is growth-oriented.
4. Adopt a growth mindset
Shift from a fixed perspective to a proactive mindset that encourages continuous improvement.
Do this: Ask yourself what actions you can take to drive tangible change and journal your actionable steps. Read books on a growth mindset, including Atomic Habits by James Clear.
5. Embrace servant leadership
Model the behaviors you wish to see in your team, creating a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. Consider: Am I genuinely leading by example?
Adopt Appreciative Inquiry, a positive approach that focuses on building strengths. This method encourages open communication with your team to identify what works well.
Do this: Use this straightforward four-step process…
- Discovery (recognizing strengths)
- Dream (envisioning a brighter future)
- Design (developing actionable plans)
- Destiny/Deliver (executing those plans)
By fostering teamwork and collaboration, Appreciative Inquiry can inspire innovation, improve workplace culture, and empower individuals, making it an effective tool for personal and professional growth in any environment.
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If you strive to be a better leader, the power is in your hands. Elevating your skills involves self-reflection and changing your mindset. Start now, big rewards will follow!
More Resources on Organizational Leadership
Servant Leadership 2.0: Empowering Teams Through the ‘Yes Approach’
Leadership Legacies: Distinguishing Your Goals From the Expectations of Others
Five Tips for Leaders to Effectively Implement OKRs
Four Skills Every Marketing Leader Needs to Gain Influence and Effect Change
