So You Want to be a Better Leader
The Short Summary: Don’t overcomplicate things. The latest leadership fad or book won’t save your team. Cut out the noise and focus on the basics of effective leadership.
It’s January.
Which means you are either fresh into a new set of health, lifestyle, and career goals OR you’ve accepted that you are who are and that’ll do. Honestly, kudos to both camps.
If buried somewhere in your list or your plans for this year…or maybe even in your performance plan…is to grow as a leader, then here are some quick tips to keep in mind.
I spent last weekend in Whistler and on my way up, I listened to the podcast, “Maintenance Phase” (defo recommend). The podcast focuses on debunking the many health myths that have gained popularity on the internet. And as I was listening, I was reminded that:
the internet is a loud ass place.
On the one hand, it’s wonderful that it has given the opportunity for voice and power to so many who didn’t have it before. On the other, it’s made it more difficult to sift through ALL of the information and voices to know what and who to listen to.
The algorithms reward those who squawk the loudest.
It rewards those who postest the mostest.
It rewards the fucking seagulls burning your eardrums as you try to enjoy a lovely afternoon on the beach.
The internet seagulls can often drown out the more sound, less clickbatey, maybe even boring advice with their “5 EASY STEPS TO BE A GREAT LEADER TOMORROW” honking. But tragically,
most (if not all) of the squawking is bullshit.
You aren’t going to be a better leader in 5 easy steps. And you probably aren’t going to be a better leader tomorrow.
Being a better leader is the culmination of years of practice, of sustained commitment to improving how you lead, and of learning to nail the basics.
I’m sorry (not sorry) to dissapoint, but you will not immediately become a better leader after reading this blogpost. BUT, you might have an idea of steps you can take to start your journey in a realistic and intentional way. So here are my 3 suggestions for anyone looking to improve their leadership this year:
Focus on the basics
We are so easily distracted by the latest trend in leadership that we can lose sight of what is really important for effective leadership. We see the same thing happen quite obviously in the weight loss industry. There is always a new diet or a fancy rebranded approach that grabs headlines. But at the end of the day, weight loss comes down to calories in and calories out. You can go to whatever color theory workout you want. If you aren’t in a calorie deficit, it doesn’t really matter.
The same is true of being an effective leader. You can have all the latest gadgets and whistles in your handbag, but if you can’t provide feedback, delegate tasks, or manage team conflict, who the f*ck cares?!
The more click-batey, the faster, or the more revolutionary? Probably the less likely to work. When searching for what advice to follow, look for long-term evidence showing that whatever the seagull is preaching actually produces the desired results. Most of the time, it’s something pretty basic.
Make 2025 the year of getting back to basics.
Diversify your role models
As I talk about in the intro of Painted Wolves: A New Model of Leadership from Powerful Women, one of the reasons I wrote the book was to provide a collection of leaders for people to read about who were different from the homogenous white, male sample we typically read about.
In my leadership course each semester, students choose a leader to read about for their final paper. Without fail, somewhere around 90% of them choose a white man. Can we learn from them? Of course. But we’ve been reading about them for literal decades!!!!! (And tbh, it doesn’t really seem to be helping?)
As the workforce becomes more diverse, we are seeing more and more women and people of color in leadership roles. As leadership roles become more inclusive, these new leaders provide alternative models for leading effectively. But they aren’t always the loudest or most promoted internet seagulls. We have to be bit more intentional about seeking them out.
Make 2025 the year you seek out new, more diverse role models.
Engage in self reflection daily
There is no one path to effective leadership. And what is or is not effective really depends on you and who you are leading. If you’ll excuse the ick of this statement…leadership really is a personal journey.
One of the most valuable (and underrated imo) tools is daily self reflection. Yeah, like a diary. Or a journal. Whatever you want to call it.
Self reflection doesn’t just happen on it’s own though. Take it from someone who has multiple unused journals sitting at home (will I buy more? ummmm yes)
To engage in real self reflection we have to set aside time. I know I know I know. You’re busy. You have back-to-back meetings or have to get to the gym or pick up the kids or sleep or whatever! I get it. But I’m also telling you that setting aside 5-10 minutes at the beginning or end of your day to reflect on your leadership experiences, what went well or what didn’t, and setting your intentions is ESSENTIAL for growth.
And it totally counts as work. So block out that calendar for 10 minutes at a time that works for you and give yourself time and space to think about your own leadership.
Not sure what to think about? Try these prompts:
What did I do well as a leader yesterday/today?
What did I do not so well as leader yesterday/today?
What am I going to do differently as a leader today/tomorrow?
The more specific you are when answering these questions, the more useful the exercise will be for you.
Make 2025 the year you make time to think about your own leadership journey.