Guest Post: The Practice of Invigorating Leadership Skills

Guest Post: The Practice of Invigorating Leadership Skills March 31, 2015

871748702_5c044b9f81 (1)

Wendy Wolff believes in saying what needs to be said. She is a good listener and facilitator. Wendy appreciates the value both of contemplation and of action. She knows that life is personal as well as public.

Wendy understands the importance of writing good letters. When her sister was killed in a car accident, Wendy found solace in writing letters to her sister, the drunk driver who caused the accident, and her teenaged son. Her letters sparked her Letter Writing Project.

Wendy is a good friend to have, a good person to know.

Leadership is not easy. It takes a certain savvy and practice to invigorate one’s set of leadership skills. While it is true that many individuals possess natural abilities to speak freely in front of others, demonstrate accountability, and develop the true talents of those around them, it does not mean that leadership is easy.  Once established as an inspirer, leaders are often faced with the challenge of gauging their personal responses at all times.  There is pressure bubbling over from the internal voice insisting that they manage the trajectory during a constant assessment of allowing the people around them to blossom.  Leaders train themselves to become one step ahead of the collaborative dialogue understanding the balance between giving and receiving.  In their silent agreements, cooperative solutions and generosity for fellow co- workers, they are consistently leading. 

Observers may see ease and grace of the leader and never know the internal strife that prepares the individual to lead.  Knowing when to allow the situation to evolve without intervention is one side of the coin and on the other is the courage to speak when no one else will.  It is a balance requiring a deep sense of self coupled with the confidence to possibly fail.  Sparking new thoughts among those whom you are leading requires bravery and commitment to perseverance even when one is terribly afraid.  And, all leaders at one time or another –feel this fear.  They may not readily share it but it is part of the human experience related to organizing individuals to act.

Practice for leaders can be found in the unconventional style of improvisational comedy.  This art form requires participants to fully commit to their choices, trust that their decisions are the perfect for the moment and actively listening.  All three are significant skills of a refined leader.  Try adding a series of improvisational comedy programs to your leadership training schedule and watch yourself become refreshed and revitalized.  The skills you take away will help make your leadership experience that much easier to manage.  Remember, you can’t stop your natural ability to lead but you certain can improve your ability to act as a leader.

You can find Wendy at WendyWolff.com, or on Twitter at @lettersproject.

[Image by _gee_]


Browse Our Archives