So far, the ACCELERATING your business through LEADERSHIP series has focused on actionable items to increase your efficacy. This week, I’m going to take what looks like a lateral step. Stay with me, though, because this is just as important, even though we’re taking the focus off what you’re DOING to see how those actions add up to how you’re perceived as BEING.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Once in a while, it is important to take a step back and look at our businesses, our teams and ourselves. When your nose is to the grindstone, it can be all too easy to forget to look up once in a while and take in the big picture, but this is so very important. It’s how you make sure your energy and planning are all going in the right direction. But it’s also how you make sure you’re being the kind of leader that you want to be.

SET AN EXAMPLE

There’s an easy test to make sure you’re on track with your discipline and willpower, and it’s worth doing regularly as a check-in. Look around at everything you’re doing, how you’re prioritising and spending your time… and ask yourself one question:

What would happen if everyone acted just like me?

You are setting the tone, the vision and your business ultimately reflects on you. What example are you setting?

There’s always something we can do more of, or less of, or some little adjustment we can make to our attitude. If you’re entirely honest with yourself, this is a valuable tool and highlights where you have room to improve. Keep your standards high, for your own sake, and for anyone who is watching you, and you’ll be a leader and a role-model. Excellence inspires excellence.

Think about your own heroes and mentors, how hard they work and how much they inspire you to greater and better things. I think, ultimately, there’s no more worthy pursuit than becoming your own hero, and strong leadership is an essential part of that.

I’d love to hear from you regarding this series of posts, how you’re enjoying it, what your take-away has been so far. You can contact me using my easy form as always. This was part three of our six-part series, so be sure to subscribe to the mailing list so you don’t miss a single post – and remember, you can claim your free report ‘The Five Essentials of Sales’ at The Business Accelerant.