We\u2019ve read plenty of articles on how to help develop leaders \u2013 but what about Average Joe who isn\u2019t already being primed for the executive suite or who owns his own business? You could be trying to man your own business front, working to hire, train, and retain a sales team, or you could be an entry level or junior associate with his eyes on moving up the corporate ladder. If you\u2019re the former, you don\u2019t have the benefit of HR or talent management consultants coming in to help develop leadership skills. If you\u2019re the latter, then you\u2019re likely lost in a pool of other junior associates \u2013 and equally unable to secure one-on-one training necessary for honing your talent. You do have one very important asset though, and that\u2019s the reflection that stares back at you every morning.<\/p>\n
Your party of one doesn\u2019t have to rely outside help to strategize a game plan for your own development skills. You can achieve this by taking on the mindset of a leader \u2013 and the first thing a leader does is question everything. Here are the questions you should be asking yourself to form an assessment of your strengths, weaknesses, and performance.
\n1. Where am I failing?<\/strong>
\nJust as important as your success, is your failure. Just as in life, we make the same mistakes over and over again in business until we learn from them. You\u2019re likely making the same mistakes again and again in the workplace. If you\u2019re managing your own business, then look to where you\u2019ve failed now but also scale back and look at your entire job history to see every incident of failure. The same goes for the junior associate. There\u2019s a very good chance you\u2019re unconsciously on the same damaging behavior track now. And really, that\u2019s where most mistakes hide\u2026in our behavior.<\/p>\n