Leadership is an action, not a position. When done right, leadership development transforms individuals, teams, organizations and society.
Successful habits are key to great leadership whether coaching a team, managing a startup or moving up the ranks of a Fortune 500 company. Leadership expert Lisa Skeete Tatum shares four ways that set successful leaders apart in an era dominated by change and disruption.
1. Priority Sequencing. I don’t like the term work/life balance because I don’t believe “balance” is achievable—I focus on priority sequencing and remembering what is truly important. I make sure I schedule family time and events into my calendar, giving them the same importance as business meetings. There are 10,080 minutes in a day, and we should take at least five minutes for ourselves. Take time each day to invest in yourself, whether it’s a having a morning ritual of meditation, providing yourself with space to think, capturing your accomplishments or reading something to expand your knowledge and perspective.
2. Cultivate a personal board of directors. Your network is one of the most important assets you have. Moreover, the workplace at times can be a bit isolating. Develop a strong personal board of advisors—a personal dream team in your corner. A strong personal board of directors should have six types of members—a mentor, sponsor, connector, point expert, close friend and an executive coach.
3. Win first. Commit to your goal and then figure out how to make it happen. So many of us start with a logical approach to meet our objectives and as a result, we cap our potential because we are guided by what we think is probable in terms of a successful outcome. Get illogical and don’t impose boundaries on your possibilities.
More: 5 Tips for Negotiating Your Best Salary
4. Negotiate. It’s imperative that we advocate for ourselves. We have to know our worth and make requests. The consequences go beyond leaving significant money on the table. First, it is often difficult to close the salary gap once you have fallen behind. Second, we must be able to ask not only for salary, but also for additional opportunities and/or promotions. Besides possibly not sufficiently advocating for yourself, not negotiating on your own behalf may lead to questions about your ability to manage, especially as you move up in your organization.
Lisa Skeete Tatum is co-founder and CEO of Landit, a technology platform created to increase the success and engagement of women in the workplace. The platform offers a turn-key “one size fits one” solution that enables companies to attract, develop and retain high-potential diverse talent.
Tatum will present “Why Everyone Needs a Personal Board of Directors” in the Leadership Studio at 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders, a four-day educational event Jan. 6–9 in which the business events industry learns how to create meaningful and engaging events.
