I recently was called upon by The Boston Globe’s Job Doc, Patricia Hunt Sinacole to respond to a question submitted by an engineer who suspected he would be tapped for a position in leadership. He worried that he didn’t have what it takes to be a leader. He’s not alone.
Here’s some of what I told him:
Don’t let fear hold you back. Instead, prepare for success. In my new book, Talent Magnetism (Nicholas Brealey, Oct. 2013) I share best practices from magnetic leaders who are easily able to attract and retain top talent. Many of these leaders come from a technical background and were not necessarily groomed for leadership. You are fortunate in that you have time to prepare yourself to be the kind of leader you’d most like to work with.
Leaders aren’t born. They are developed. They read books and articles on leadership. They hire coaches or find mentors. They attend courses and management development programs. The most successful leaders ask for help.
What are you going to ask for today, so that five years from now you can look back and be proud of the type of leader you have become? Or are you going to let fear prevent you from moving forward?
