A person’s identity is shaped by how they choose to live. Every day, we face many choices that affect who we are. Some of these choices are ours to make because we all want to have good character. However, sometimes we encounter situations we didn’t choose, which can feel like fate. Ultimately, these experiences can guide us along our destined path.
According to psychology, a person’s character is influenced by factors like genetics, life experiences, education, and personal choices. To make it easier to understand, we can group these factors into three main areas.
1) What They Consume
Ever heard of “What you consume determines who you become?” This means the things we see, read and watch will shape how a person thinks and behaves. An example of a well-known leader is Bill Gates, who throughout his life spent his time reading and learning. His focus primarily on technology comes from his passions, which made him end up co-founding Microsoft back in 1975 with his childhood friend Paul Allen.
So, whether it be books or videos that we consume, it can contribute to personal growth. Leaders who are constantly learning and reflecting on themselves are more able to adapt to various situations and are well-rounded.
How to consume in a healthy way?
Great leaders are aware of the things that they consume. They will be selective of information that they see, read or hear from sources that are relevant to their personal growth and success. These things require a significant amount of self-awareness.
For instance, while reading is beneficial, it can become overwhelming if one tries to read everything all at once just for the sake of reading many books in a year. Learning information that doesn’t relate to goals can waste time and effort. Instead, leaders should focus on content that is relevant and useful, so they can understand it better and use it effectively.
2) The Environment They Surround Themselves With
A leader’s character is shaped by the people and social interactions around them. The environment plays a significant role in influencing an individual’s character. While we may not always have control over our surroundings, we do have the ability to leave an unhealthy environment if necessary.
In what environment do healthy leaders thrive?
Healthy environments are often created by healthy leaders. These leaders take care of themselves and build positive relationships with others. They do well in places where they are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. When they feel supported, they can see different perspectives and come up with better ideas.
This helps them become more willing to take risks and share their opinions confidently. In turn, they excel to support their teams and make a positive impact on the organization. All of this comes from a healthy environment that promotes growth and development.
3) What They Put Into Practice
Leaders who consume mindfully will also do the same with the things that they put into practice. This is because they are aware of how these behaviors will impact themselves and who they become in the future. Leaders who regularly practice self-reflection tend to be humble, as they recognize their strengths and weaknesses.
On the other hand, leaders who consistently project confidence and communicate clearly are often seen as charismatic, as they inspire and engage others through their presence and vision. Apart from that, there are also practices that contribute to becoming unhealthy leaders. For example, leaders who practice close monitoring often lack trust in their team members’ skills.
As a result, instead of receiving positive feedback on smoothly executed tasks, they insist on checking every small detail of each progress update. This can lead to frustration among team members. From this, it’s clear that the practices we choose shape who we are. Our identity reflects the actions we consistently take to achieve our goals and values.
What kind of practices do great leaders often do?
Great leaders give a huge inspiration to others. To become one of them, some of the best practices result from consistently taking beneficial actions. This includes always communicating clearly, actively listening to others, having empathy, setting clear goals and continuously improving themselves. These actions serve them as leaders who become a prime example for others to follow. These ongoing efforts help build the skills and qualities that define effective leadership.
Conclusions
A leader’s character is shaped by three main factors: what they consume, their environment, and their practices. By doing the right practices to become an effective leader, leaders can develop the qualities needed to inspire others and create positive change. Ultimately, effective leadership is about achieving goals while embodying values that resonate with those they lead.
