It being New Year’s time again, Bill George recently blogged about “Five Resolutions for Aspiring Leaders.” He talked about things you can do to develop yourself, beyond what you do in your direct job: such as finding a mentor, setting up a mastermind type group with other emerging and aspiring leaders,volunteering in the community in a leadership role, and traveling beyond your nation’s borders.
If you are serious about growing your leadership potential, these are all excellent ideas.
A mentor is like a scalpel, someone with whom you can address specific questions and problems you face.
What George calls a “leadership development group” provides you with an ongoing team of colleagues who will challenge you to risk and grow and hold your feet to the fire, all the while supporting you on your journey. (Note: Check out my Sept. 7/11 post, “Accelerate Your Growth with a Mastermind Group.”)
Civic and charitable organizations are always looking for people to volunteer for leadership roles on their board or on key initiatives. This is a great way to test your mettle at a higher level of responsibility than you may have in your current job. The learning you gain is totally transferrable to your career. Many municipalities and counties have community leadership organizations. For example, I have been active for years in Leadership Fairfax, Inc.
Travel, of course, forces you to deal with diversity and–if you opt to get around on your own, rather than through a charter tour company–function outside your comfort zone.
You don’t have to wait for your next promotion to grow your talents. How about making 2012 a year of continuous personal leadership development going on in the background.
