Something that has been studied and proven consistently is that leadership is best developed through practice, not study. Going through training, reading a book, and similar activities can equip you with new tools for your leadership toolbox, but if you never practice with those tools you won’t be able to use them effectively. In fact, leadership experts Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes (“The Leadership Challenge” and “Learning Leadership”) claim that for most leaders it isn’t a matter of not doing the right things, but simply not doing them enough. Challenge yourself and your teams this week, this month, and this year to put leadership tools into practice. When you learn something new or are reminded of a leadership principle, force yourself and your team to use it in the coming days and to report back on your experiences. Putting to practice new learning reinforces the teaching and allows you to learn how to use it in the real world. As they say, practice makes perfect. What are you practicing this week?
Helping leaders grow, one Moment at a time