You could be leading right now, but you have convinced yourself not to. Below are seven common excuses. Identify yours and then take action to rectify your reasoning. The world needs leadership, and your justifications for sitting on the sidelines are evaporating.
1. You are not yet willing to face your fear of failure, rejection, or the unknown.
Action: Muster your courage. Fear is not a sufficient reason to abdicate leading.
2. You do not have enough self-confidence, so you stay at the perimeter.
Action: Work to conquer your imposter syndrome. Recognize that others believe in you and your capabilities.
3. You know what to do and could demonstrate initiative, but you are waiting for someone else to lead.
Action: Remind yourself that leadership is taken, not granted. Don’t risk letting a lousy leader and their ideas take root. Fill the void, now!
4. It feels self-serving for you to accept being a leader.
Action: The delusion of grandeur toward your humbleness may be noble but only serves to further inaction. Adopt a servant-leader mindset and be selfless. Meaning, think of your self less and others more.
5. You couldn’t find a place to lead.
Action: There are no shortages of problems or opportunities to address in the world. It is your duty to discover the things you are passionate about, and then improve what is broken or hampering success.
6. You tried leading once, and it was uncomfortable, or you screwed up, and since you weren’t perfect, you gave up.
Action: Accept that setbacks are inevitable. Begin to practice failure, so you can better learn, grow, and lead!
7. You don’t think you know how to lead.
Action: Leadership is a learning profession without end. Each day presents a new opportunity that will challenge and teach you. Reach for it, instead of cowering from it.
What is your excuse for not leading, and how will you transform it into a call to action?