How to Develop Leadership Qualities in Others

Leadership qualities are the most valuable commodity any organization has. If you have great leaders, you will have a great organization. Leadership development, then is crucial to the success of your business, organization, and community.

Great leaders know that their own leadership qualities are not enough to carry the day. Success requires all hands on deck working as a team.

Follow these steps to help develop leadership qualities in those around you.

Instructions

1. CREATE A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CULTURE

   A culture of leadership development values leadership qualities and desires to help the entire community improve its leadership. Leadership development has to be woven into every aspect of the organization's life for it to be a culture of leadership development and growth.

2. REWARD LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AS SUCCESS

   Rewards for results are most often present in the business world, understandably. But one results is often overlooked...personal growth. Reward leadership development efforts and lessons learned by taking risks. If you punish risks, you limit success and stunt leadership development.

3. PAY PEOPLE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

   If you preach leadership development as an attempt to create a culture, but expect people to always learn on their own dime you are fighting an uphill battle. Give people paid time for leadership skills.

4. CREATE REGULAR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

   Put leadership development on your personal and organizational calendars. Schedule a regular meeting for growth and development in leadership qualities. Have leadership skills seminars put on by an expert in the area. Bring in guest speakers to outline key leadership concepts. Every few years pay a leadership consultant to analyze the leadership culture.

5. MENTOR PROMISING LEADERS

   There is no greater way to promote leadership development than one-on-one mentoring. Leaders cannot be shrink wrapped and mass produced. Many leadership concepts and principles can be learned by a large group at once. But the application of leadership concepts requires wisdom, and person by person guidance. Give promising leaders your time, your energy, your encouragement, and your honesty. It will pay off.

   See tips and warnings below.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose one to three key mentees for the coming year and focus on them.

• Keep a list of the best leadership material you have read to pass on to others.

• Give books and seminars as gifts to others.

• You will have some mentees who disappoint you, or even break trust. Don't give up on leadership development because of a few bad apples.

• Don't expect immediate gratification in leadership development. It can take a decade to grow a leader. How long did it take for you?