5 THINGS YOU MUST DO TO BE ABOVE YOUR MATES AND BE GREAT
Over the years, many believe years of experience,
expert knowledge and firmly developed connections make a leader great. The military is
arguably the best organization at developing young leaders. History tells
of young trailblazers like Joan of Arc, who led the French Army at only
seventeen; of conquerors like Alexander the Great who controlled the known
world before he turned 30. These young leaders thrived without a lifetime of
developed knowledge, and instead created experiences as they went.
The modern business world has seen
an influx of CEO’s under the age of 30. Sure, they aren’t conquering
nations or leading armies by the thousands just like others, but they have the same qualities of
these great leaders from the past. Time has proven that the valor of a
leader is not defined by their age, but instead by their raw ability to inspire
others to follow them towards the execution of a specific vision.
Young leaders must be able to
motivate young and old alike, in addition to bridging the age gaps in between.
They are not limited by the number of years they have been alive or what others
think of them, so what is it that makes them successful?
Here are 5 habits you can
learn from young leaders and excel:
1. They seek words of
wisdom and knowledge: Young leaders lack one thing: experience. But effective leaders
always listen to the advice of older team members and almost always have
mentors. In the SEAL teams, the platoon commander is often younger and less
experienced than his Chief. Any wise young officer listens to his senior
enlisted team members and leans on them for their knowledge and experience. Be
open to advice from elders no matter what position they hold your life.
2. They never underestimate other people: Young leaders set
the standards high, believe in their team, and help them rise to the occasion.
Assuming you have done a good job putting people in the right seats and
developed a rock star team, give them the autonomy to execute without getting
in the way.
3.
They appreciate age
diversity: The 65-year-old receptionist may be just the person you need to
identify with your target market. And the intern who just started college may
have insight on what is popular with gen X. Age difference in the workplace can
make for a well-balanced and unique team. Good leaders understand this and seek
out the younger talent, put them in the right roles and then give them the
resources to be successful.
4.
They believe in their vision: Young leaders
have a tendency to dream big. Experience and failure tend to make more seasoned
leaders cautious, yet sometimes businesses need an epic vision to pursue. The
most successful people in the world started dreaming big and taking risks at a
young age. They have also fallen flat on their faces more than once. That’s
where wisdom typically comes from.
If you’re a young emerging leader seeking greater
responsibility and opportunity, speak up. If you’re a more experienced leader,
keep your eye out for the best young talent you can find and give them the
tools to help your business grow.
5.
They take risks: Young leaders, without the
weight of knowledge and connections, can put all their chips on the
table which often pays out big in the end. Hopefully, those risks are
calculated and decisions made using the best data on hand. Some of the biggest
risks I have taken in my life have gotten me to where I am today. Those risks
come with obstacles, but I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything in the
world. That’s why we say in the SEAL teams, “All in. All the time.”