4 Ways to Develop the Mindset of a Leader
Skills, circumstances, opportunity, and the people on your team impact the results of your leadership. But mindset – habitual ways of thinking – effects everything about you.
Mindset governs the trajectory of your leadership.
New ways of thinking might develop slowly, but you can manage the things you think about.
Managing mindset:
Leading yourself begins with managing your mindset.
#1. Monitor self-talk.
When you aren’t paying attention to your thinking, what are you thinking about? Usually it isn’t good. A drifting mind ends up self-absorbed, dark, and disappointed.
Noticing patterns of thinking is the first step to getting a grip on mindset.
Tip: Notice when your mind wanders and call it back to a leadership mindset.
#2. Examine assumptions and beliefs.
Mindset reflects the beliefs you hold about yourself, others, and the world.
- What do you believe about your ability to improve your leadership?
- What are the best beliefs you have about the people on your team? Worst?
- What do you believe about your capacity to influence?
The way you experience the world is impacted by beliefs and beliefs impact mindset.
#3. Choose your leadership mindset.
What do you choose to set your mind on most of the time?
- Disappointment or opportunity?
- Problems or solutions?
- Lack or learning?
Tip: You naturally notice what’s wrong. Train yourself to also notice what’s working.
Shift your mindset from getting to giving. Ask yourself, what’s the highest value you bring to the people around you?
Project: Show up as an opportunity-thinker. Learn from disappointment and let it go. Opportunity-thinking is proactive and forward-facing.
Disappointment-thinking empowers the past to control the present.
#4. Examine conversational trajectory.
Listen to yourself talk. “Where are you going, based on your conversations?”
- What is the trajectory of the conversations you’re having?
- What is the trajectory of your team, based on the conversations around the table.
Words are rudders.
What is a leadership mindset?
How is a leadership mindset developed?
Bonus material:
What is Neurolplasticity? A Psychologist Explains (PS)
Negative Self-talk: 9 Ways to Silence Your Inner Critic (Huff Post)
This is a great post, Dan! Leading one’s self is the crucial—and most difficult—leadership task of all. Thanks for constantly reminding us!
Thanks Ken. I’ve been thinking about mindset. 🙂 Have a great day.
Penetrating post when read with reflection, well done. So choosing my leadership mindset is a choice, I like that they made me think this way. Words to myself have rudders – that one will stick for a long time – thank you
Thanks Scott. You inspire me to continue growing.
This stands out to me in all that I do: #3. Choose your leadership mindset. What do you choose to set your mind on most of the time? Disappointment or opportunity? Problems or solutions?
Lack or learning? I am always looking forward for the opportunities, the solutions to challenges presented (or dreamed) and seek to continue to learn along the way. I’ve found its difficult to teach others these concepts other than by example over and over again. And then they have to want it, which has to come from within those individuals.
Thanks Roger. The “wanting” it seems central to growth and development. People ask me about coaching. “What do you look for in a person you coach?” The first response is ASPIRATION. Do they aspire to improve.
I’ve heard it said that you can’t teach aspiration. I’m not sure, but it surely is a tough one.
Had a pastor tell me he can tell what is important to a person the first time he meets them by just talking to them. What matters to them is how they introduce themselves and what they talk about. In a work environment what is the first impression I give out? That will be the same as to what I am focused on. You are right when my brain drifts it drifts to what my flesh is focused on.
Thanks Walt. I believe we can choose how to show up. We aren’t being hypocrites as long as the way we choose to show up reflects what’s in our hearts.
Sometimes the negative stuff comes out first, but if we look below the dark, we find positive aspirations. Those are the things to think about and reflect to others.
Agree Dan I just think I need to look at how I am presenting myself to assure I am presenting the person I think I am. Love your post sir.
Great article and posts by the followers. I’ll add that this mindset helps you be a bulwark against both naysayers and your inner voice that can be perfectionist. I don’t see how anyone can follow their right path sustainably if they break some of these guidelines.
Dan, I truly enjoy and been using your ideas. I have been getting a lot of good feedback at my work center . Do you have any material you sell or present in the area of leadership development.
Good evening,
Great piece. This read along the lines of Jack Welch’s book called, “Winning.”
One sticking point for me is the servant leadership qualities. We tend to forget we can lead by serving. In a sense, it is truly the best way to get employees or team members to be more on board. But having it as a mindset can change the way a leader not only leads, but operates the business or organization. Putting other first, especially stakeholders and customers can have a big impact on production and project completion. I think being having a servant mindset is more being a leader than being a manager and it has a positive outlook.
It’s awesome and helpful. Really everyone should read the article to develop & grow their mindset. I’ve researched many articles about it. Because It helps me a lot to be satisfied and achieve my goal. Thanks a lot.
I can suggest another article about it. You can check here: https://thmmarketing.com/what-is-the-growth-mindset-and…/