The Leadership System You Need: 4 Steps to Growing as a Leader
Becoming a stronger, better, more creative leader doesn’t happen by chance. It is a choice.
It requires intentionality, a clear system, and a commitment to growth. Many academic leaders struggle with finding time for self-improvement while juggling their responsibilities.
That’s why creating a leadership development system is key.
In this post, we’ll share four steps that you can add to your leadership system and transform how you lead.
#1 - Adopt New Beliefs:
Our beliefs shape our behavior. And new beliefs lay the foundation for new leadership habits. When you shift from a reactive to proactive mindset, or embrace growth, abundance, and intrinsic motivation, your new beliefs will empower new decisions. But how do we change our beliefs?
Step 1: Dig deep. Find 30 minutes after a leadership experience to analyze your beliefs. How did they influence your perceptions, thinking, or decisions? Not sure where to start – start by identifying fears that are driving your actions. Then look for (and let go of) the core belief that is fueling that fear.
With a few minutes of belief work under your belt, you are prepared to start incorporating new ways of thinking.
#2 - Practice New Thinking:
Leaders who think differently are better equipped to solve complex problems. As you learn to incorporate design thinking, systems thinking, and visual thinking strategies to tackle challenges creatively, you will be practicing new ways of thinking. Start with a bit of visual thinking.
Step 2: Draw it out. This is a simple visual thinking strategy that will bring clarity to complex problems or situations. You can use basic shapes, lines, arrows, and words to diagram and better understand the situation. Include the key players and their motivations. (Don’t be afraid of using a stick figure! No one is judging your art skills.)
Once you shift your thinking, the next step is to develop tangible leadership skills that will bring your ideas to life.
#3 - Develop New Skills:
Master leadership essentials like setting vision, facilitating collaboration, and communicating effectively. Skills like these enable leaders to inspire their teams and drive meaningful change.
Step 3: Bring in a bigger “canvas.” One primary skill of leadership is facilitating collaboration. And one effective way to get everyone on the same page - is to make the page bigger! Actually, make it a “canvas” that everyone can see and work on together. You will need to adapt your canvas and your skill to each group and situation, but regardless - your goal is to make the problem, project, and process visible to the entire team.
Now that you are on the same page (canvas) with your team, you are ready to act.
#4 - Take New Actions:
The difference between an average leader and an impactful one? Accountability. The best leaders don’t just hope for growth—they measure it. Success isn’t about working harder, but about tracking what truly moves you and your team forward.
Step 4: Measure the change: What is the measure of your success as a leader? How will you know if you are becoming more effective or moving your group closer to the vision? In this step – establish some type of indicator, metric, or measurement that will show you how you are doing. It can be qualitative or quantitative, but before you start on your list of actions, get clarity on how you will measure your success.
Your leadership system is your guide to personal and professional growth. With the right beliefs, strategies, and skills, you can evolve into the leader your institution needs today and tomorrow.
Start small, stay committed, and watch your leadership transform.
- Written by: Scott J. Wakefield, Founder