At this point, there should be no debate about whether “a leader is born or made.” A leader is made, end of discussion. Anyone who sets their mind to it can become a leader, and they don’t have to be someone organized, a time optimizer, capable of expressing themselves eloquently, speaking with confidence, structuring their ideas; they don’t need to speak more than one language, have higher education, or be result-oriented. None of these competencies is essentially necessary, and all can be learned and perfected with determination.
The ingredient that cannot be missing and that alone acts as an attractor for all others is simply to be clear about what you really want to achieve; to understand and be deeply connected to your purpose; to be aware of the value of pursuing your loftiest goals, the importance of defining your role and mission in this life; to know that, whoever you are, wherever you come from, and whatever you do, you have something to contribute to the world that transcends who you are and makes you unique and special.
Knowing what you want gives meaning to what you do. And when I talk about meaning, I mean both “direction or course” and “significance.” Knowing what you want turns every step you take in that direction into a meaningful step.
It’s not for philosophical or esoteric reasons that I invite you to live a meaningful life, not at all. My reasons are more biological than mystical. From the meaning we give to what we do, the emotions we feel arise, and, dear friend, emotions are the force that leads to action, the fuel that moves human beings.
I mentioned that, with determination, you can develop any competency associated with leadership. But where does determination come from? Where does the energy come from to persist until we achieve what we set out to do? The emotions we feel when we engage in the task, and those emotions—those substances that our body synthesizes at the command of our limbic system, invading our body and turning us into superheroes for moments (I’m still talking about emotions)—arise from how meaningful what we do is for us.
Think for a moment about the things that motivate you the most, those for which you would get up early every day if necessary. However simple they may be, things that absorb you and make you lose track of time and space. And now, notice what those things mean to you and what you feel while carrying them out.
Do you realize?
But wait, the power of emotions doesn’t end there. In addition to moving you, emotions are contagious, and that’s what we call “inspiring.”
The true leader doesn’t convince; they inspire, and they do so because they are connected to emotions so intense, so directed towards what they set out to do, that those around them can feel them and, from there, move alongside them.
As a leadership tool, Executive Coaching precisely helps people clarify their purpose, give themselves permission to assign the highest possible meaning to what they do, and thus fill their tank with ultra-sonic jet fuel, to connect with the most powerful emotions to move towards their goals.
Do you want to become a better leader, a true leader?
Don’t wait for someone to tell you. Find your purpose.