10 Leadership Rules We Should All Live By
Written By Cristina Villalón
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Cristina Villalón is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal at Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón. She directs both the Interior Design and Visual Merchandising divisions while overseeing all decisions made on a day-to-day basis at the firm.
TRUE LEADERSHIP IS A SKILL THAT REQUIRES INTENTIONALITY, PRACTICE, AND COMMITMENT.
Over the years I’ve learned that leadership is not a title or a position of hierarchy. Great leaders are not born, they are developed. You need a thirst for knowledge, a dose of humility, and an open mind to understand there will always be more to learn and that you can always grow as a leader.
Here are the leadership lessons that I’ve personally learned during the last two decades as a company leader:
1. LEAD WITH PASSION
When you lead with passion, you inspire others to believe in your mission as well. I have poured my heart and soul into using my business as a platform for social good in this world. It’s my passion. My mission is to inspire other leaders to do the same in their companies.
2. SERVE OTHERS
If you are given an opportunity to lead, remember you are there to serve others, not yourself. As Simon Sinek says, leaders eat last. Your position is a privilege and it’s important to focus on helping others grow and perform to the best of their ability. The best and most effective leaders are servant leaders. They know they are there as a vehicle for a larger purpose.
3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
Don’t surround yourself with yes people who think exactly like you and never question you, because your ingrained beliefs are also your blind spots. It’s important to surround yourself with different perspectives and points of view and be open to seeing things how others see them. When you do, you can approach situations with greater clarity, empathy, and compassion.
4. DEVELOP YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The single most important thing you can develop in your life is your emotional intelligence. Nothing will help you perform better in your career or as a leader than developing skills like self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, and relationship management. Life is all about relationships. Relationships will open doors for you. Make sure you are building bridges, and not destroying them.
5. CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP
Nothing can be accomplished alone. You need a motivated and committed team willing to innovate and continually improve to compete in this ever-changing fast-paced world. To encourage innovation, you need to promote an environment where people are not afraid to speak out, take risks, and fail. An environment where offhanded ideas will be built upon rather than torn down.
6. PUT PEOPLE FIRST
Leadership is about people. To be an effective leader, you need to learn how to communicate, listen, and empathize. Put people’s needs first and remember that we are all human. How do you bring out the best in people? You make them feel seen. You recognize their efforts. You highlight the behavior you want them to repeat. You help them identify their talents. You encourage them, give them autonomy, and let them shine.
7. HANDLE OPPORTUNITIES RESPONSIBLY
With great power comes great responsibility. You have a responsibility to make something of yourself, to leave this world better than you found it, and to be a voice for those that don’t have one. Use your power for good. Unite instead of divide, create instead of destroy, and speak out when you see something is wrong.
8. LISTEN
There are always multiple sides to a story. When leading organizations, businesses, or institutions, inevitably conflicts will arise. Before jumping to conclusions or taking sides, have the courtesy and emotional maturity to reach out and listen to all parties, analyze critically, and then form your own conclusion. When you make assumptions without validation, you will often land on the wrong course of action.
9. LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Finally, lead by example. You set the tone. People are watching. It doesn’t matter what you say, it matters what you do. Show don’t tell.
10. MAKE IT MATTER
The bottom line is that leadership matters. What each of us does and doesn’t do, matters. Don’t be apathetic. Start where you are and do what you can with what you have. Be a force for good in the world and in your community. It needs you!