Leadership is Action Not a Position
– by Kiran Dadi
You Don’t Need a Title or a Position to Lead
“Leadership is action not a position” is a great quote from Donald McGannon. Leadership is not about the role we hold in an organization, rather it is about the action we choose to take. It is quite simply about choice and behavior. Taking a leadership approach, regardless of your position in the organization, will earn respect; you don’t need a title or a position to be a leader.
How to Demonstrate Great Leadership Skills and Integrity – Five Simple Guidelines
In addition to the deep domain knowledge and vendor expertise, everyone at CastleBay Companies has strong integrity and great leadership skills. We always lead by example to help drive change, foster an open positive work culture, and take an ethical approach to decision-making. Following are some of the ways to demonstrate great leadership skills and integrity at the workplace.
Lead by Example and “Walk the Walk” – Inspire Others
When you lead by example, it is easier for others to follow you. As a leader, part of your job is to inspire the people around you to push themselves. To do this, you must show them the way by doing it yourself. Your working style and attitude towards others will help set a solid foundation for what you value most in others, especially people who report to you. Working to a high standard and maintaining professional conduct encourages others to follow suit.
Be Accountable for Your Mistakes – Own Them
Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. Owning up to and being accountable for your mistakes demonstrates that you’re honest and open to constructive feedback – both traits that are common to people with a high degree of workplace integrity. Take blame and responsibility for the team’s failures and privately train and teach them afterwards.
Agree to Disagree – It’s OK to Disagree but Not OK to Disrespect
No matter how great your working environment may be, chances are there will be times when you simply don’t agree with someone else’s opinion. In these cases, it’s still important to be respectful, listen, and take on board what the other person is saying. Respect others’ opinions even if you don’t agree with them.
Have Humility and Be Assertive – Yes, It’s Possible
Great leaders don’t need their ego to be constantly stroked; they consistently seek opportunities to help others and ask for help when needed. Though humility might sound old-fashioned, you can be humble and assertive at the same time. Yes, they both are compatible. Truly humble people accept their own strengths and limitations without defensiveness or judgement. You can be assertive by standing up for your own or other people’s rights in a calm and positive way, without either being aggressive or passively accepting wrong.
Acknowledge and Appreciate – Give Credit Where It’s Due
A leader should never take the credit for the work that their people do. Instead, be generous, recognize people and make everyone valued. Work recognition into the culture of your team. When others see a co-worker being recognized, it infuses motivation. Everyone will work harder to be the next person whose hard work is recognized.
CastleBay Companies always emphasize and encourage employees and consultants to work with integrity and lead by example, which permeates better work ethics, strong moral and ethical principles from the top down.
Kiran Dadi is Senior Manager, Software Engineering & Delivery, for CastleBay Companies. He has 16 years of consulting experience as an IT & Management professional providing technology solutions in various roles as Sr. Software Engineering Manager, Delivery Manager, Technical Project Manager, Scrum Master, Product Owner, DW & BI Manager, BA & QA Lead and Developer.