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25 Signs You're A Natural Leader


duck leading ducks

Leaders rise up and lead because they take personal responsibility for their choices - regardless of the circumstances - and because they know stuff has to get done.

I became a leader out of sheer need.

As a child, home could be chaotic and unpredictable. My sister, brother and I were independent children and were given varying degrees of freedom. Sometimes good; sometimes not good.

It became clear to me that there needed to be more order and structure, so I took on the role of leader, even though I wasn’t the oldest. I’d warn my siblings of the consequences of their behavior and try to help them see the impact of their choices. Of course, I didn’t realize then that I was displaying leadership.

After more than 20 years in leadership roles, I’m finding that most people don’t consider themselves to be leaders. They think that being a “leader” requires a title or certain level of prestige. But, I believe that we all have leadership skills and leadership potential within us.

So what does leadership look like in action? Here’s 25 signs that you’ve likely taken for granted:

1. When you commit to something, you follow through until the end – even when it gets hard.

2. You’re resourceful. If you don’t know the answer, you find it.

3. You’re a fixer, and you value progress. If something is stalled or stagnate, you step in, take control to unravel the bottleneck and move things along.

4. You’re humble but quietly confident. You’re okay with working behind the scenes, but will step into the spotlight if required.

5. You demonstrate respect towards yourself and others. You believe there’s something to learn from people at every level. You acknowledge others and give credit where credit is due.

6. You hold yourself and others accountable. You own your mistakes, apologize and take action to correct them.

7. You organize events and get-togethers with ease. Friends, family or colleagues look to you to pull stuff together, arrange events and handle the details. Secretly, you enjoy handling things from inception to completion. You like a beginning and an end.

8. You’re able to set your personal agenda aside in pursuit of a broader goal.

9. You have a knack for figuring out what’s important to other people and mobilizing them towards a common goal. You notice other people’s strengths and understand how to make them feel appreciated.

10. You volunteer to be on workgroups, committees and special initiatives. You roll up your sleeves and become an active and productive participant.

11. You’re viewed as a lighthouse, safely guiding and leading people through choppy waters, without judgement. People turn to you for guidance, support and encouragement.

12. You dislike injustice on any level. If you see something, you say something. You speak up for yourself and the underdog.

13. You enjoy teaching. You don’t just tell people what to do or do it for them; you meet them where they are and patiently show them the way.

14. You take prudent risks, initiate new ways of doing things and voice your ideas on doing things better and more efficiently. You aren’t afraid to politely challenge the status quo, even if you feel uncomfortable.

15. You’re a peace maker, seeking first to understand then to be understood. You assume the intentions of others are good, versus jumping to inaccurate conclusions.

16. You quickly re-focus when you believe your time, energy and resources are being wasted.

17. You’re naturally customer-serviced oriented and enjoy serving others for a win-win outcome.

18. You have natural charisma and influence. Others pay attention when you talk or enter a room. They’re interested in what you have to say.

19. You get inner joy when others win, reach their goals, grow and develop.

20. You’re patient with yourself and others.

21. You lean into positivity and fall back from negativity.

22. You’re organized and reasonably good with your time management.

23. You are intentional in your actions. You say what you mean and mean what you say.

24. You’re aware of your strengths and competencies, and stay in your lane. You know you can’t do it alone, and build networks and collaborate to accomplish goals and tasks.

25. You do the right thing even when no one is watching or will know.

Remember, the vast majority of good leaders were not born that way. They had some latent strengths, which they developed, strengthened and honed over time. They assumed leadership long before a leadership title was offered.

If you identify with any of the signs above, you may have leadership skills that are currently under-utilized. I can help you level-up. Reach out to me when you’re ready to develop your confidence, communication and conflict management skills so you can truly lead. Email me or schedule a time to chat here.

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