“If the highest aim of a captain was to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever.”

-Thomas Aquinas

True leaders do not wait for permission to be effective. They see opportunities to improve their team and their companies and make decisions based on the opportunities presented. They take initiative and perform their duties with integrity and sound judgment.

• Initiative
  • Initiative is nothing more than recognizing an opportunity and acting on it without being told to. 
  • People with good initiative are proactive, resourceful, and focus on solutions rather than getting bogged down by problems.
  • Self-starter
    • Do something without being told to. If the opportunity requires approval, research the opportunity and have ways to implement what that opportunity brings to the team before you seek the approval required. It’s much easier for leaders to approve something when they have the benefits in black and white.
  • Time Management
    • Taking initiative in your life means that you can prioritize your daily tasks to be the most effective you can be. 
    • Daily schedule, task lists based on priority, punctuality, etc.
  • Resourceful
    • Being able to find solutions to problems while not having all the resources you need. 
    • Implement the “make do” mentality. 
    • Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
    • Requires creativity, an open mind, and willingness to take risks.
    • Remember, failure is just a learning opportunity.
• Integrity
  • Be a role model for others
    • Do the right thing when no one is looking.
    • Set the example for others to emulate. 
    • Encourage constructive criticism from your team, everyone has other ways to do things, having an open mind to that criticism will allow you to improve as a leader.
  • Keep your agreements
    • As discussed in a previous episode, if you make a promise, hold to it. Find a way or make one. Failing to uphold an agreement and then making excuses when called out is not a sign of a leader with integrity.
  • Stand up for what is right
    • Defend the defenseless. Tell the truth without compromise. Own your mistakes and work to improve. Don’t be a bystander!
• Judgment
  • Good judgment skills depend on your ability to observe the variables in your environment and make sound decisions that benefit your team and mission. Decisions that dampen your team's ability to do their jobs effectively are the adverse of good judgment. 
  • Practice the OODA loop
  • Focus on the impact that your decisions have on the team and mission over decisions made purely out of emotion or personal gain.
  • Once again, be open-minded to advise from those with more experience in the matter.  The only true way to improve any skill is to simply do it, learn from mistakes and do it again, so on and so forth.

Links:

-Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/commonmanleadershipacademy

-Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cmleadership/

-Building Initiative in the Workplace - https://climbtheladder.com/initiative-skills/

-Improving Integrity - https://www.jennygarrett.global/5-top-tips-to-develop-your-integrity/