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When you think of a leader, you might envision a pillar of strength who can command a room, like a Fortune 100 CEO or a decorated military general.

I think of those figures, but I also think of you, reader.

Think of areas in your life where you have influence over other people’s thoughts, behaviors, opinions, or actions. That might include your workplace, your family, your social media following, your church, your friend group, or the associations and charities you serve.

Those are the places in which you are a leader. Whether you feel like you lead or not, your ability to influence others is your leadership potential.

But true leadership goes beyond the ability to influence. To be a real leader, you use your influence to positively impact the people you lead and the world around you.

There are leaders out there with teams of hundreds following them, but if they are only in it for themselves – amassing more power, money, or control – they are not true leaders.

Real leaders are more interested in empowering the people they lead than gaining power for themselves. They lead in service to others, not so that others can serve them.

And yet, at the same time, leadership qualities that make a real leader boost team performance, efficiency, and job satisfaction by creating a high-performing atmosphere.

Hallmarks of a Real Leader: 

• A real leader cares about the people she leads. Treating them like family, she puts their needs ahead of her own.
• A real leader enthusiastically empowers others without resentment, recognizing that he goes farther by bringing people with him than he would on his own.
• A real leader makes those she leads better at what they do. It can be uncomfortable to challenge people to do better, but a real leader sees it as an investment in potential.
• A real leader recognizes the privilege that comes with his leadership position. It is your job as a real leader to use your position of authority to lift others up.
• A real leader makes a difference in people’s lives. She looks beyond just getting the job done to how she can help someone’s career, advancement, or life in general.
• A real leader is inclusive. He treats all team members equitably and values the contributions each person brings as unique.
• A real leader makes the world a better place. Even if it is only small kindnesses between team members, leaders influence the world in the ways they can to create positive change.
• A real leader serves with no expectation of currying favor or building her own power.

If you are not sure by now whether you are a real leader in areas of your life where you hold influence, ask yourself: Are the people I lead better off because of the way I have served?

At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I encourage my clients to engage in this sort of introspection as they develop themselves as leaders. In building up themselves, they develop the capacities of their team members as well. It’s a win-win in business and in life.

“If you fail at character, you fail at leadership.” –General Robert Caslen (ret.)

There are times as a leader when your moral center will be tested. Depending on your line of work, you may be living through one of those times right now. But real leaders know exactly who they are and which values they stand for.

They are committed to abiding by these values regardless of the circumstances or challenges they face. They communicate their values openly with the people they lead. And they set an example for others to follow.

Becoming A Real Leader

If, after reading through the marks of a real leader, you know that you need to work on your leadership skills, here are the most important areas for you to focus:

• Motivate your team: Engage people to take action according to a mission and vision.
• Connect with purpose: Determine the “why” for what you’re doing and share it with passion.
• Be accountable: for your successes and failures and encourage others to do the same.
• Make goals both visionary and concrete: connected to the ground, within the right scope, but at the same time, reaching for the clouds.
• Maintain positivity: A positive mindset makes all the difference in leadership.

Do you ever feel like you weren’t cut out to lead a team? Or are the day-to-day challenges of management more than you signed up for? If so, contact me today to master your ability to lead and prevent the burnout that comes from trying to manage it all yourself.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.