Sacrifice

What are you willing to sacrifice to be a leader?  True leadership requires sacrifice.

Leadership can be exhilarating.  Watching other people be successful and accomplish amazing things is energizing.  Helping people overcome previous obstacles is incredibly rewarding.  Turning people from fear or despair to courage and confidence is a reward in itself.

Leadership is not all rainbows and candy canes.  Where there is joy and satisfaction there is sacrifice.  Work goes into being a good leader, and effort goes into leading others.  What are you willing to sacrifice to be a great leader?  Time, control, credit?  The list goes on.

There is a time commitment to leadership.  Strong leaders put time into understanding their team.  What makes each individual tick, and how do they react to certain situations and problems?  Leaders spend time with their folks teaching, listening, and helping.  There is also time away from other things such as family, friends, and hobbies.  (Friends and family will understand your commitment as long as you stay open and honest and continuously communicate with them.)

Are you willing to sacrifice control and trust your team?  Leadership is not about ruling over your team or dictating orders.  It is about trusting your team, trust then verify.  No one likes a micromanager, and why lead a team if you just want everything done your way; you could just do it yourself.  Training your team and embodying your team culture will help your folks understand the direction.  After that, it is up to you to trust them to hit the target.

Are you comfortable in the shadows of other people?  Can you sacrifice the attention and glory to give it to your team?  Leaders take all the blame and give all the credit.  This is a sacrifice many leaders do not realize.  Many believe that they were promoted and placed in a leadership position because it is all about them and they receive the accolades.  As soon as you are placed in a leadership position, everything shifts to the team.  Are you able to put pride aside and spotlight the team members?

Leadership has its positives especially if you have the compassion for other people and their success.  Leadership also has its sacrifices.  To name a few: time, control, and credit.  Are you willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be a great leader?