If you have participated in Youth4Youth Ultimate Leadership Training you know what separates a leader from others is that a leader has vision. You also know you are not born a leader, but you are trained to be a leader and that is why I recommend we train daily.
Here are four easy ways to help you train daily and develop your leadership skills:
1. Read. Always have one or more books you are reading that are uplifting, inspiring or positive. It’s not the amount you read it’s the quality of the information and when you read it. Start your day with a page or two and I highly recommend ending your day with a page or two. The purpose is to always be pointing your mind in a positive direction, while increasing your leadership skills and creativity.
2. Take lots of notes. Taking lots of notes makes learning easier. Not only does it increase our memory and understanding, notes identify what was important and easily allow us to expand our thoughts and ideas.
3. Set Goals. Your goals MUST be in writing. Make sure they are achievable, measurable and specific and have a date when you will accomplish each goal. READ your goals daily. (Ideally, do this first thing in the morning and just before bed. Hmm…sound familiar!) SEE yourself (leaders have vision) as how you would be when you achieve your goal. FEEL the feelings you will feel when you have reached your goal. BELIEVE it’s possible and then let it go and go about your day.
4. Step out of your comfort zone. We all live within a box called our comfort zone. As a leader you will want to find one opportunity each day to step out of your comfort zone. It may be asking a question in class or speaking up when you see someone being treated unkindly by others. You may volunteer to do an assignment, read in front of the class or help someone who doesn’t understand something. The more we expand our comfort zone the bigger our box becomes. The idea is to make the world your box! Then, no matter where you go or what the challenge is, you are willing to go for it with confidence.
Your leadership development happens over time. Have patience, practice these easy steps and one day you will realize you are the one making the path and leaving the trail for others to follow. And if others see you as lucky…you will know in your heart — The World Rewards Action! © 2008 Larry Tracey All Rights Reserved
Larry Tracey, writer of this article, is an author and founder of Youth4Youth. Y4Y teaches success, leadership and promotes school safety by treating everyone with respect. His latest book, The Secret of the Can, is available at:
www.TheSecretOfTheCan.com
