LEADING WHEN YOU ARE THE YOUNGEST

At a quick glance it may seem like a person taking the lead should look like the actual leader right at first sight! Most people picture him as this person with a big body, an expensive suite and this bossy look and way of speaking.

Its easy and natural for people to associate power with appearance.

Ha! Very funny.

And so sometimes, you are a leader but its just that you don’t really look like one. in fact you look really young, and you constantly have this feeling that your people look at you with disbelief and they really can’t stand the fact that you have to be in charge. Some are so old school that they don’t believe you could ever lead them they way they want to be led.

If you are not careful, the thoughts and feelings they have towards you will slowly affect how you see yourself and how you eventually lead them. So my message today is to tell you;

You are not defined by what people think of you. You are defined by what you think of you.

Here is a picture that illustrates that:

A cat looks in the mirror and sees a lion

Hold on for a sec, think about it this way; It is a true fact that this cat is really a cat. But if this cat looks itself in the mirror and sees a lion, imagine how it thinks about itself. Furthermore, imagine how it behaves: how it walks, how it eats, how it sleeps and even how it hunts for mice. It will carry itself relevantly to how it believes inside and not how others see it on the outside. Right?

You need to be like that cat! Of course you are young, of course you can’t have the experience and probably the knowledge and the expertise that the elder people have. But you can always learn, You can always observe, you can always listen, you can totally ask questions. You can be the best leader ever.

This can only happen after you start believing in your damn self. Avoid allowing people to intimidate you, don’t allow people to talk you out of being the best leader you can be even if you are the youngest. Just have deep faith in yourself, so much faith such that the very same people who are doubting you start seeing you as competent and able and trustworthy. Because you really are. You are smart, and strong, and bright, and you have what it takes to lead with dignity and excellency while being your authentic self. You should believe in yourself with all your heart and soul and mind. Only then, will your people take you seriously.

But here is the thing; believing in yourself, that’s just the beginning! Yeah I said it, that is just the beginning. You need to understand that people need a reason to believe in you as their leader. Everyday they need proof, assurance, a reminder that reassures them you are rightfully deserving to be their leader. Without this, your people will only follow because they have to, and that is a dangerous position to be in as a leader.

Leaders and their people have levels of trust. And with every level, comes a lesson and a major area of improvement. Adopted from the 5 levels of influence by John C Maxwell, here are 3 of 5 important situations and circumstances that will help you to intensely improve as a young leader in your sphere of influence.

1. People follow you because they have to. This is the level of influence known as Position, Its merely because of your tittle.Your people really don’t feel or see that you are deserving to be their leader. The best thing you can do at this level is quickly learn to know your people and they you. Allowing you to forge into the next level.
2. People follow because they want to. This is the level of influence built by relationships. Relationships create an atmosphere of permission. At this point people are okay with you being their leader. They should appreciate you because they have gotten the opportunity to know you as a person. As a leader you need to be accessible, make time to talk to your people. Hear them out; what are their dreams, what are their ambitions, what do they want out of life. Let them hear you out; who are you, what you want to do, what are you thinking when it comes to them. It is profoundly significant to really know your people, because this is the foundation of effective leadership. When you know them, you know what motivates them, what disappoints them, what makes them tick and what you can do to be their best leader.
3. People follow because of the results they have seen. This is the level of influence built by the production. Results. The big and small wins. This is really important. After some time your people are expecting to see results, because when they see results it allows them to believe in you. To actually believe despite the fact that you are young, you are steering a course that is worthy, that is promising that really leads to somewhere. And I have by far learned that people want to be led, they want to be assured that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you can deliver results, you are at a place where your people can trust you because they have really sincerely seen what you are capable of.

Take it easy on yourself. And always appreciate the lessons you get along the way. The privilege to lead is servant hood in disguise. What an honor!

May you faithfully lead with dignity and pride. Yes you are young, but always remember: Good things come in small packages ;)

Thank you for reading. And thank you for your claps in advance. Please share this article on Twitter, Facebook and even to your contacts.

This article was originally published at https://leadingwhen.wordpress.com/

Until next time

Lynne.