Understand who you are as a leader, so you can start living today

Ryan Gipson
Jul 22, 2017 · 4 min read

What does it take to be a leader?

Everyone has the potential to be a leader. And being a leader means something different for every individual. But once a person truly understands who they are as a leader, they can start living life to it’s full potential. I believe it takes only three things to be leader:

  1. Confidence: The will it takes to stand up and do something.
  2. Passion: Truly believing in your values and beliefs, so others will be inspired to follow.
  3. Persistence: The strength to keep on pushing forward. Leading is hard and there will be speed bumps along the way, but you must press on.

For the past five years I have been facilitating leadership programs at the college level for students. I have watched students grow into strong, passionate individuals. And those who understand themselves fully, are the ones who live up to their greatest potential.

CliftonStrengths

There is an assessment tool available that I ask all students to take when going through a leadership program with me. This tool consists of a language of 34 of the most common traits of human beings. They are called the CliftonStrengths. Because these traits are so common, when individuals take the assessment, they can apply these to their everyday lives, and not just their leadership roles.

Understanding who I am

I have spent the last seven years working to understand how my CliftonStrengths work for me, and how they define me as an individual. Understanding my top five strengths have allowed me to stop going through the motions of life, and starting living up to my full potential. I will asses for you how my top five CliftonStrengths define me:

  1. Achiever: My achiever strength means I need to succeed. No matter what it is I’m doing, I need to be successful at it, accomplishing something along the way. Most aspects of my life I view as a competition, with the world just waiting for me to conquer it. I want to be my best possible self and also keep improving all aspects of my daily life. Any project that has my name attached to it, will be the best it can be.
  2. Activator: As an activator, I want to start NOW. I have a strong desire to inspire people to do things and make change. When I have an idea, I don’t want to spend time planning, I want to jump right in. All the while I am aware that the first trial might not work, and I will likely have to go back and problem solve, but that is what my strategic thinking strength is for. For something to truly be the best it can be in my eyes, it must go through trial and error. I will not sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to take charge, I will activate new ideas myself.
  3. Empathy: My empathy allows me to put myself in other peoples shoes. I do not just sympathize with others in whatever it is they are going through. I want to try and understand it, and approach my relationships from every angle. All human life has meaning to me and everyone is their own individual. Before I make a decision in both work and leisure, I first think about how it will affect those around me.
  4. Individualization: Plain and simple, no two people are the same. Everyone is unique and has different interests and functions differently. I mostly use this strength when I lead a team, whether that be in work or in play. Individuals put in the most effort when they are doing what they enjoy and what they are passionate about. Whenever I work alongside others, I make sure they are doing what they enjoy and putting their own strengths to use in the best way they can.
  5. Strategic: When most people hear that I have this strength accompanied by achiever and activator, they are puzzled at how that is possible. It has taken me the longest to understand this piece of me. I do not like to spend time planning in the beginning of things, and I often rush into things too quickly. But I am a problem solver. I have a passionate to make things better. I believe nothing is ever fully complete and it can also be improved in some way. My mind works 24/7 to accommodate this strength, and I receive pure joy from my colleagues and friends coming to me to help them with problems they are facing.

Everyone dies, but not everyone lives

By understanding myself (and my strengths), I am able to live my life to the fullest. I know where I can contribute to my work, friends, and society. My life is enjoyable because I am living with no regret, and never wonder what could have been. I want to leave you with this question; “do you understand yourself as a leader, so you can start living today?”

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