Are You Looking In The Right Places for Leadership?
From the time we’re kids till we’re fully grown, one thing never changes; we’re all looking for someone to look up to. When we’re the new kid on the block, it’s instinctual to search for someone to emulate and mentor, especially in situations where you feel inexperienced or at odds with our environment.
But surely by the time you’re grown and in the business world you’ve learned what to look for in a leader…right?
Not necessarily.
Most of us grow up with good teachers, coaches, parents and pastors that guide us on the right track, but not everyone we learn from is a good role model. Take the kid that learns bad words from their parents and turns into a potty mouth. Or the child who follows his big brother’s footsteps, whether they are good or bad.
In the world of insurance sales, you’ll look to your manager by default for leadership. However, being a manager does not necessarily mean you are a leader. S/he may or may not have the time or skills to properly give you guidance.
In the event of a manager without leadership skills, break glass.
If you’re in this position, don’t give up! Quitting and blaming it on your manager is giving up your own responsibility in your situation. You have to fight for success, and sometimes that means looking in creative places for a mentor.
Many times, people forget that above your manager, there is a higher line of managers that have proven success. There will always be people above your line of hierchy that retain the core values of your company, and have proven growth. At NAA, we call these leaders our core managers, or leaders.
Tap into the core leaders that surround you, even if they aren’t within arm’s length. You can often glean from their behavior and advice important lessons that will elevate you in the future. Make sure whatever vein of mentorship you follow, they are a proven leader.
Now that you have a direction to point your vessel, it’s time to put some wind in your “sales”. Peter F. Drucker once said “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Not every manager is a leader, and it’s up to you to determine this and find the right person to edify. Reach up, around and over for the guidance you need. Having a clear vision of your core leaders and values is an important part of NAA, and can be applied to everyday life.
Finding leaders in unlikely places shows an agent’s ability to be adaptive. Devoted readers, where is the most unlikely place you’ve found a role model?
