(Entrepreneur) Here are six questions that you need to ask yourself about your own capabilities and personality as an aspiring leader.
1. How much responsibility can I take on?
You will be responsible for not only yourself and your business but everyone that has a vested interest in it. This includes employees and their families, investors, business partners, clients and the community in which you run your business.
2. What am I willing to sacrifice in order to make this work?
Be ready to sacrifice a lot in order to succeed and ask yourself if those sacrifices are worth the potential reward? More importantly, and more realistically, ask yourself if it would still be worth it if all of that sacrifice results in failure?
I lived in China for eight years. I sacrificed going to best friends weddings, the births of their children, my health, college football Saturdays and so much more. So far, it is well worth it, not only because BRIC is doing well, but even more so because of the experiences and friendships that developed out of my time there. If BRIC blew up tomorrow -- which I don’t expect nor want -- I can honestly say that it was worth it.
3. Can I remain calm amid constant chaos?
Make sure that you have the mental fortitude to deal with an incredibly stressful environment and that you know how to decompress. Whether it’s exercise, meditation, yoga or whatever else -- make sure that you know how to relieve stress.
4. Can I make a decision under pressure?
You need to be able to calmly, rationally and quickly assess a situation and act. You’ll need to be decisive.
As Brian Tracy says “decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all
5. Am I able to back down when I realize I’m wrong?
No one likes a boss who can’t admit when their wrong. If you’re leading the team in the wrong direction and people are pointing it out to you, as a leader you need to accept that fact and change course.
Being able to listen to your team and heed their advice is a hallmark of a good leader
6. What are my own weaknesses?
Being self-aware allows you to understand others and effectively motivate, discipline and lead them. It’s recognizing not only where you’re strong but also where you’re weak -- and using that to build a team that compliments those weaknesses with strength.
Fuente: www.entrepreneur.com
