Inner Debate: Am I Leadership Material?

I have led a few, I have led hundreds, certainly led thousands during my many career experiences as an executive.  I have been a federal government senior executive, a state level executive, an executive for a non-profit, leader of professional organizations, a community leader and a leader within my family.  Yet I still occasionally have this inner debate, “Am I leadership material?”.

I never ask this question out loud or discuss it with others but the question occasionally creeps into my mind.  This question specifically surfaces after a lengthy performance conversation with a staff person who is really difficult to work with and even more difficult to support.  This is when I reach deep down inside to better understand who I really am.

I have always known how important it is to know yourself.  My inner self always tells me to be nice but honest with those whom I lead.  I need the staff to be successful in order for me to be successful.  I also make it a point to never burn bridges along the career path.  You never know when you and that person may cross paths again.

A good leader knows himself and knows the people he or she leads.  I am very observant and involved as a leader.  I make note of staff successes and staff failures and try to give immediate feedback.  Confidence in myself, my decisions and the manner in which I convey those decisions are critical leadership skills for me.  I am respectful of others and welcome diversities of thought.  A well coined current leadership phrase is, “If you are the smartest one at the table, you are probably at the wrong table”.  I know I am leadership material but I do not want to be a “good” leader, I want have the confidence and knowledge to be a “great” leader.

Amy Cuddy provides a fantastic discussion of confidence and knowing yourself on TED talks and in her book “Presence”.  Take a few minutes to listen to her or to read the book.