A genuine portrait is critical for your leadership brand as well as your professional success.

It portrays your image as perceived by others, the impression you make on them. Your personality, style, behavior, body language, words, and attitude all contribute.

In today’s world, a five-minute interaction, whether in person, through e-mail or via social media, can define a leader for years to come.

It may seem superficial and therefore unimportant, but as a leader you will greatly benefit from knowing how you come across to others, because then you can make the necessary improvements.

Not manipulative or dishonest improvements, but in making a genuine investments in our skills and craft.

Here are some of the elements to pay attention to in your portrait:

Statesmanship: People are constantly judging our behavior and forming theories about our competence, character, and commitment. Your actions are how people get to know you. Make sure everyone knows what you stand for and why. Be open.

Craftsmanship. People are constantly listening to what we say our image speaks louder than we do, our words, our actions and manner need to be congruent, and otherwise we will be doubted.  Everything we say and do is interpreted in the context of who we are and what people think of us. Be honest.

Courtship. People seek personal connections, and impressions are always interpreted through the lens of personal preference and identification. True leadership reflects the trustworthiness, caring, and capabilities of your character. Be real.

Citizenship. People have high expectations, they want leaders to be likeable, they want them to be personable and to be regular people. At the same time they want them to be above reproach, better than average, and demonstrative of their high standards Make sure people know you are human and that you live by your values, which are not compromised under any means. Be genuine.

Hardship. People look at leaders on how they are under crisis, who you are in hardship expresses who you are in your leadership. Leaders need to show that they understand the context—including challenges. Use those  challenges to motivate others and show confidence in the outcome. Be fearless.

Great leadership and long careers, demand that we invest in ourselves. We invest in ourselves, with education, training, networking, experience, and we must continue to do so by refining the messages we convey in our behavior, words, and attitudes.

The picture you paint, the portrait you convey, the image you sketch, must and always be a true representation of who you are in everything you do.

Do not allow others to leave their impressions for you. Make sure you present yourself in a manner that is always believable, favorable and valuable.

The portrait of a leader must always be painted in the genuine strokes of their heart.

 

Lead From Within: Just as you develop technical expertise and interpersonal skills, you should paint your portrait in a way that serves you as a leader.

Lolly Daskal is the president and founder of Lead From Within a coaching and consultant firm that manages large scale corporate coaching and custom made leadership programs. Connect with Lolly Daskal

© 2014 Lolly Daskal. All rights reserved.

 

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