Growing up, who was your role model? Maybe it was your father or mother. It could have been Mr. Fred, your prosperous neighbor next door. Or could it have been Mrs. Goosen, your third-grade teacher?
These role models demonstrated what success, family, and learning looked like. They helped you form a firm understanding of these things.
We encourage young people to find role models. As we age, we tend to forget the value of role models. Instead, we think it’s every man for himself.
It’s time to change that.
Every leader needs a leadership role model. Your leadership role model will help you climb corporate ladders, establish business and personal relationships, and understand the importance of family relationships.
What should you look for in a leadership role model? Keep reading to find out.
4 Things To Consider When Choosing A Leadership Role Model
We have to look for or consider certain aspects of a leader’s life if we want them to be an effective leadership role model. Plenty of leaders out there may appear to be successful, but when you begin to look at their lives, you begin to understand their model of success isn’t your model of success.
When you look for a leadership role model, consider the following:
Past success:
Look at their past successes. Their success could be their ability to lead a team well, recover a failing business, or grow something new.
Their past success should align with what you’re looking to do. Find a leader who has success in the areas you’re struggling in, need help with, or want to accomplish. The more aligned their past successes are with where you want to go, the more extensive help they will be in guiding you.
Strengths:
What strengths are you looking to grow? It could be your ability to delegate successfully, lead a cohesive team, or manage your time better.
Whatever strengths you want to grow, look for those strengths in your leadership role model. Find someone who has the strengths you’re lacking. Come alongside them and ask them to help you develop the skills of a successful leader.
Their strengths should be what you’re looking to grow in yourself.
Legacy (builds new leaders):
Great leaders leave a legacy. They know that what they accomplish will have to be passed down to the next generation, so they build the next generation.
Look for leaders who are effectively leaving a legacy by building new leaders. These leaders are mentoring others, finding ways to give back, and making a difference.
Legacy builders are great leadership role models.
Personal/relational success:
I left this one for last because I believe this is the most important thing to consider or look for in a leadership role model. A leader who is successful in business but a failure at home isn’t the type of leader I want to model my life after. I believe you feel the same way.
Find leaders who are experiencing success outside of the business realm. These leaders have great relationships with their spouses, children, and chosen families. They know without great relationships, their business or corporate success means little.
