There are many different ways to be a leader. Clarity on your individual ‘style’ gives courage to bring yourself – and your value – to what you do.
I was reading an extract of a book on style as it relates to interior design and what jumped out was the parallel with leadership style.
Our experiences growing up, at home, at school, socially, and in our work life have all imprinted on our approach to the world. Even when two people have similar experiences, their take on those experiences is very individual.
Just as our stories and experiences shape where and how we see beauty in our surroundings – like in interior design – the same can also be said of how our stories, our feelings and thoughts about our experiences, and our values have all shaped the ‘style’ that we present as a leader at work.
Congruence and consistency are two key aspects of good leadership …
– when other people have some certainty about how you will behave and can see that your behaviour is genuine, then they can trust their perception and understanding of you. This underlying trust is a crucial aspect of building relationships with other people.
When we understand ourselves well (our underlying values, our views and perspectives and what pushes our buttons) and when we are consistently aware of our behaviour in-the-moment, then we are better placed to choose our preferred behaviour in a situation rather than be swayed by what is around us. Consequently, we are more likely to be perceived as congruent and consistent.
Huge benefits can be gained by increasing your self-awareness of your ‘style’ and how you present to others. For example:
- Do the work to clarify your own values (dig deeper than the values your parents or others thought you should have)
- Reflect on your behaviour in different situations and what you have learned over the years about yourself
- Identify what things really push your buttons, and
- Actively seek information from a range of other people (and be grateful for the answers you receive) to better understand how you are perceived.
All this information adds to the picture we have of ourselves and allows us the opportunity to further strengthen the things that serve us and others, and to change the things that don’t serve.
It can take courage to be your true self and to stand up for your views, especially when it feels contrary to the loudest or most popular voices.
