It’s been said, “Great leaders are not born, they are made.”
Yet, if leaders are made they are shaped by their experiences, education, mentors and so much more. When we talk about defining leadership, it looks different from one leader to the next.
Yet, there are three common facets of leadership for us in agriculture:
- Self-leadership relates to self-governance and self-awareness.
- Operational leadership is about understanding how to run the business and how to place the right people in the right roles.
- Industry leadership is about the obligation to lead by playing a part in innovation, creating dialogue with consumers and cultivating sustainability.
Take some time to reflect on these three types of leadership (self, operational, industry), where you are as a leader today, and where you could be. Where do you want to go from here?
Do you want to reorganize the leadership in your operation? With self-leadership, you start at the top.
Do you need to revisit your management structure within your operation? Operational leadership might be where you need to focus next.
Do you want to shore up your industry leadership? If so, join or become more involved in trade associations, advisory boards or a board of directors.
GROW AS A LEADER
What if I told you that you should only rely on your strengths and not “work on” your weaknesses? How would it change your operation if everyone had a job that focused on their strengths and let them thrive instead of saddling them with tasks they aren’t, and won’t ever be, accomplished at?
To grow as a leader you need to listen and understand. One way to receive some feedback is through using assessment tools to identify current and potential strengths.
Assessment tools abound from CliftonStrengths, a tool based on the book Strength Finders 2.0 by Tom Rath, available for $20, to customized 360-degree assessments delivered by independent consultants.
Find a tool that fits your budget and time constraints. What you want is a tool that creates a common language for your team. They can help individuals assess where they are, what their unique skills and talents are and how they can best develop over time.
Sarah Beth Aubrey’s mission is to enhance success and profitability in agriculture by building capacity in people. She provides executive coaching as well as peer group and board facilitation.
