It is vital to your career progression that you have a leader worth following. The right leader will offer more learning, growth, and open more doors that help you move forward in your career. Following the wrong leader will set you back, make work miserable, and reduces your chances of career advancement.
How do you know if you have a leader worth following? Good leaders don’t wear masks. They are the same person no matter who is around. They demonstrate accountability for themselves and understand everything rises and falls as a result of their actions, or inactions. Leaders worth following are dependable, reliable, and available when you need them. Here are four unmistakable signs you have a leader worth following:
1. A leader worth following is consistent.
When a leader is consistent, you feel secure. It fosters trust because they aren’t sending conflicting messages. Consistency in leadership creates an environment free of stress because it removes uncertainty. Leaders ask you to be consistent in your performance and behavior, and you should expect the same from them.
2. They set you up for success.
The best leaders trust their team by empowering them to do their jobs and do them well. As a result, leaders worth following will ask, “what do you need from me?” They focus on your development, your accountability to achieve success, and removing obstacles that are holding you back. You have a leader worth following if they actively set you up for success.
3. They serve you.
You know you have a servant leader when they are more focused on their people than they are on their ego. The best leaders know to increase the chances of leading a winning team, they have to shine the light on others. Servant leaders give fame away but accept all the blame. A servant leader is a leader worth following.
4. A leader worth following is one you can trust.
Trust is the single biggest asset to any leader. A leader who inspires trust has a high-performing team, with higher morale, innovation, increased loyalty, and ultimately higher revenues. Leaders understand that trust does not come from their title. It is earned over time and comes from your belief in their ability, consistency, integrity, and commitment to deliver.
Following the right leader is one of the best experiences you can have in your professional career. Make sure you are following the right leader by looking for these four signs of a leader worth following. A leader should guide and support your success above their own. They make sure you have the tools and resources to perform at your best. A leader worth following will make sure you are doing the work you were meant to do and that you can do it with excellence.
