Unlock Your Leadership Potential

June 1, 2024

Unlock Leadership Potential

Hi, team! It’s your friend, Mary, with the “I” in Team series where you can find, be, and build your positive influence. If you’re an emerging leader, you will face unique challenges and opportunities as you grow into your role. Finding your influence, being a positive leader, and eventually building high-performing teams is how you will unlock your leadership potential. But where do you start? Here are some top tips to help you navigate unlocking your leadership potential.

1. Cultivate Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is understanding your strengths, weaknesses, habits, reactions, emotions, communication style, and leadership style. To gain self-awareness, engage in regular self-reflection, seek feedback from peers and mentors, and use tools like personality assessments (such as DiSC Workplace and Kolbe). For example, you might ask colleagues for feedback on your recent project management approach to identify areas for improvement.

2. Develop Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and use your emotions positively and constructively. It also involves understanding others' emotions. By improving your emotional intelligence, you can better manage stress, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships with your team. Practice active listening and empathy to enhance this crucial leadership skill.

3. Communicate Effectively

Clear and transparent communication is essential for being a positive influence. As a leader, convey your visions, goals, and expectations clearly. Foster a culture where your team feels safe speaking freely with you. Encourage open dialogue by regularly soliciting feedback and showing appreciation for your team’s input.

4. Use S.M.A.R.T. Goals to Develop Objectives

S.M.A.R.T. goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) are the quickest and most efficient way to develop and reach your short-term and long-term objectives. Engage in strategic planning by using S.M.A.R.T. and encourage your team to contribute to this process. Maintain a focus on results and hold yourself and your team accountable for performance. Set clear goals, measure progress regularly, and adjust as needed when roadblocks arise. It’s better to adjust than to give up.

5. Seek Mentorship and Coaching

To truly unlock your leadership potential, find mentors who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights based on their experiences. Additionally, consider working with a coach to develop specific leadership skills and navigate challenges more effectively. Mentorship can offer new perspectives and accelerate your growth.

6. Build Strong Relationships

Networking and relationship-building are essential to creating a high-performing team. Establish strong connections with colleagues, mentors, and other industry professionals. Foster a supportive team environment by showing genuine interest in your team members’ personal and professional growth. Strong relationships form the foundation of trust and collaboration.

7. Foster a Positive Work Culture

Creating a positive work culture is crucial for team success. Promote collaboration, inclusivity, and positivity within your team. Recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements. Remember, fostering a positive work culture starts with you as the leader. Your attitude and behavior set the tone for the entire team.

8. Empower Your Team

Empowering your team means treating them with respect and trust. Delegate effectively and inspire them to be autonomous by giving them more responsibility. Encourage their input and involvement in decision-making processes to foster a sense of ownership and accountability within the organization. Empowered teams are more motivated and productive.

Bottom Line

By implementing these tips, unlocking your leadership potential becomes a structured and achievable process. If you want to dive deeper into these concepts, consider purchasing our books. The “I” in Team series was created for emerging leaders to assist them in developing the skills and mindset necessary to lead effectively and drive their teams and organizations toward success.

First Book: Individual Influence: Find the “I” in Team

Second Book: Positive Influence: Be the “I” in Team

Third Book: Responsible Influence: Build the “I” in Team

Unlock your potential and lead your team to success with the insights and strategies shared in our series. Happy leading!

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Hello, team! Mary here, continuing our journey through the I in Team series, where we challenge and empower you to Find , Be , and Build Your Influence. One of the most common things we’re asked to help our clients with is toxic workplace recovery. This directly connects to the culture of the team, and while rebuilding that culture takes time and intention, it is absolutely possible. In fact, with the guidance of our I in Team approach and S.M.A.R.T. Management system, we’ve successfully helped more than 19,000 teams evolve into high-performing, values-based cultures. If you’re ready to take the lead and breathe life back into your team, we’re here and ready to support you. Practice Emotional Intelligence One of the most impactful steps you can take on your toxic workplace recovery journey is to practice emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you). Toxic environments are often the result of emotional disconnection, poor communication, unnecessary competition, and a culture that avoids constructive feedback. Begin by shifting your perspective: respond with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and use “I” statements. These habits model two traits, emotional regulation and empathy, that influence how your team interacts and solves problems. Start small. For example, set a personal goal to give one piece of sincere praise or recognition per day. This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, and it starts to reinforce positive emotional exchanges. Over time, this contributes to a psychologically safe environment where people feel seen and supported. Foster Open Communication Once emotional intelligence begins to take root, toxic workplace recovery is just around the corner. Open communication becomes more natural because when team members are aware of their own and others’ emotions, communication becomes seamless. The number one rule? Listen. Really listen. Without listening, communication is incomplete. Try implementing monthly influence partnerships—team pairings that rotate so members can get to know each other beyond surface-level roles. This creates connection and, when done with consistency (Timely), fosters trust across your team. Another way to build open communication is by creating a structured feedback loop. Clarify how and when feedback should be given—perhaps during weekly one-on-ones or monthly review meetings—and make sure all team members understand the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. S.M.A.R.T. feedback is Specific and Relevant, and when delivered with respect, it encourages team members to grow without fear. Lead by Example As we say throughout the I in Team series, everyone is a leader regardless of title. Whether you’re in the C-suite or just starting your first job, how you show up directly shapes the culture of your team. To begin, set some respectful boundaries rooted in your values. Let others know what you need to succeed and what behaviors support or disrupt your work. When disagreements arise, demonstrate what respectful disagreement looks like—calm, focused on solutions, and free from personal attacks. If your workplace has leaned into competition, shift the focus to collaboration. Collaborate on micro-goals, like shared tasks or cross-functional projects. Make the results Measurable and celebrate wins together (publicly, if possible). Consider S.M.A.R.T.-based team-building events (like problem-solving challenges or goal-setting workshops) to reinforce collaboration in a meaningful way. Final Thoughts Toxic workplace recovery starts with you. Every interaction, every word, every moment of listening is a chance to model what’s possible. Show up the way you want others to show up. If your team is struggling to rebuild or you need expert guidance, reach out . We’re here to help. Let’s keep influencing responsibly and positively together.