I sat down today to read an article on the blueprint for success. While reading it dawned on me what I was reading had a direct connection with my work. The very foundations of coaching are built on taking a successful model and applying it to a different field. It really doesn’t matter what the activity is the same blueprint should measure up

Everyone should have someone they admire, look up to, and imitate. These are the people who set the standards, and then raise the bar higher.  No matter what field you work in you should be able to find your model, they don’t necessarily have to be a business leader, they could be from a political background or a sporting background, what they will be is a leader in their field.

People like Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Martha Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey are all trailblazers, but at some point you can be sure they were exactly like you and looking for a mentor who inspired them.  All their belief systems will have been influenced by those around them. My advice is to find someone who inspires you, it might be a friend, an ex-colleague or just someone you have read about. I would suggest you study them and take on board some of the attributes that made them the successful people they are today.

While all of this is helpful it’s only applicable if you are still finding out what kind of leader you are. Awareness is key. Everyone in your organisation is going to take their cues from you. Starting at the bottom, right to the top. Every decision you make will affect the lives of these people. You will need to build from the bottom up, building an organisation that has a common goal is no easy task. There has to be a fluency and continuity to the organisation

Be your own person but be mindful that your words and choices will affect the decisions of your staff, the duality of this is that their decisions will affect how your organisation runs. No one likes to be criticised, encouragement and direction will foster a much better feeling. Set and maintain high standards, these standards will filter right through the organisation. Staff will in turn expect the same from their colleagues. No one should ever forget how important it is to have a strong work ethic. Allow delegation, trust the people you have employed, essentially they are a direct extension of you.

Learn the art of observation, you will greatly benefit from learning from other people around you as well. The skills they bring to the organisation will help you in the long run. Executives tend to believe this takes away from their power when in fact it empowers them.

Finally, never stop evolving. The business environment is constantly changing. New technologies, new legislation, and new staff. You need to ADAPT to all these variables, don’t resist change, embrace it. Don’t sit back and admire your achievements find ways to improve on them. You will always find ways to better yourself.

Believe in your decision making and believe in those around you.

More important than anything is to BELIEVE in yourself.