The Rewards Of Leadership by Cindy Stradling CSL, CPC
There is a significant amount of responsibility, stress, and pressure in being a leader in any organization. This is true for a small family business just is valid for a Fortune 500 company.
There are also challenges in being a leader. These are often based on the structure of the company, the difficulty in bringing about change in an organization and the lack of support that is often provided for those in mid to senior level leadership roles.
At the same time, there are also a number of different rewards involved in leadership. These rewards may be linked to achieving specific corporate or business goals, which is one type of reward that is typically recognized throughout the organization. There is also a more personal type of reward, and these are often highly motivational for leaders at any level.
These rewards occur in the moment in your role as a leader when you see how your leadership has had a positive impact on those around you. Often this is a positive impact on those you lead, but it can also be those you mentor, coach, or support in their personal or professional growth and development.
Creativity as a Reward
One of the characteristics of a top leader is someone who wants to see other’s try new things. A top leader takes pride in her or his employees or department being creative, making positive changes, and in becoming a cohesive team.
When a leader feels personally satisfied and rewarded when the team is successful, it opens up the door to create possibilities. The entire group feels valued and encouraged, which leads to innovation, collaboration and a real sense of thinking outside the box.
Pride in Achieving
This type of pride is not about personal achievements but in the achievements of those around you. People who are great leaders inspire others to reach for their best levels of performance on a personal and a professional level.
It is very rewarding as a leader to see someone you have confidence in making these strides. It may be going back to school for an advanced degree, learning a new technique or skill, or perhaps taking on a personal challenge and being successful.
In this way, leaders actually inspire people to strive for goals they may have avoided setting in the past. It is not about pushing people beyond their comfort zone, but it is the pride in the personal growth that the individual undertakes that is so important.
One of the most meaningful rewards of leadership is when an individual takes the time to recognize your assistance in their development. Sometimes this is a very private recognition – perhaps a thank you card, call or email. These moments are very meaningful, and show us how important being an effective leader is in all aspects of life.
