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School kids are very protective of their lockers. They store everything inside of these boxes from textbooks to jackets to food items and yes even money. These special compartments have locks to conceal each student’s necessities. Sometimes they decorate them to reflect who they are and what they stand for. They are all alike on the outside, yet when you look inside, each student stuffs them with their unique articles. What if these lockers represented you and your leadership style? How would you fill or decorate your leadership locker?

[Tweet “Leadership style reflects who we are and how we act.”]

Appearance

The first thing to consider might be the poster or mantras we think represent our leadership spirit. 

“Go Team Go”

“We’re All In This Together”

“ Another Day, Another Dollar”

“Just Do It”

 Would you choose a bright color or a more subdued color to describe your leadership personality? My favorite color is purple. I love everything about it from being a mixture of blue and red to standing out a little.

Lessons

So what lessons have you learned along the way that have had a huge impact on your leadership?

 Start with the way you communicate with others and engage with them. Have you learned the significance of strategic listening or the importance of not interrupting to get a full and accurate story? Do you ask others for input of their ideas and are able to be clear about  your needs? Does respect dominate your interactions so people walk away feeling you have their back and want what is best for them too?

 Think of leadership gurus, friends, colleagues or teachers out there who have impacted your life. What behaviors or attitudes did you learn from them? What made them great leaders? Did they believe in you even more than you believed in yourself? I learned that lesson from an old boss.

[Tweet “Leaders who have impacted our lives believed we could accomplish the extraordinary.”]

 Emotions

Each of us shows or controls our emotions in a unique way. Allowing our emotions to show can be a very effective way to connect with others. By displaying some vulnerability, leaders can build stronger and more honest relationships. However, too much emotion can sometimes distort our decisions. Have you found the right balance for your leadership model?

 We need to recognize that dealing with people involves feeling and leading with our hearts. That is being authentic and showing compassion for others.

 Dreams

Great leaders can create a vision for the future for themselves and for those around them. They are not afraid to take risks to cultivate a better situation for their team.

 What would your dreams look like? Are you floating up in the sky or are your feet firmly placed on the ground with a more definite path? Do you see clearly where your journey needs to go and if you are at a crossroad, are you asking yourself the right questions and getting the best help?

 What would you stuff into your leadership locker that might represent the kind of leader you are or strive to be?

 

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