As an Eagle Scout, Declan Birmingham understands how hard it can be to be an effective leader. To achieve the highest rank of achievements in the Scouts BSA, you must be able to lead multiple teams across various tasks. Declan Birmingham quickly learned during his time as an Eagle Scout that it can be just as rewarding to watch a team succeed as it is to enjoy personal success. Declan Birmingham also learned that leadership isn’t a finish line. Influential leaders constantly improve their craft and find new ways to grow their skillset. Today, Declan Birmingham will discuss different ways readers can grow as leaders.
Declan Birmingham is a firm believer in leading by example. Whether a person is a leader of a scout troop or a leader of a Fortune 500 company, they must be willing to set the tone for the rest of their team. To set that example, Declan Birmingham believes leaders can benefit from self-assessment. Writing down your strengths and weaknesses is an excellent opportunity to learn what areas are best to focus on improving. As Declan Birmingham moved up the rank in the Boy Scouts, he realized a common thread. During the times when he was most nervous, he did not feel fully prepared. There’s always going to be some level of nerves for people who care about their role as a leader, but nerves that come from a lack of preparation are a whole other animal. Leaders should look to find ways to prepare more effectively as it will boost their confidence, and that confidence will be evident to all who follow them.
Declan Birmingham is so thankful to the Eagle Scouts who came before him. They set the standard for what leadership should look like in the Eagle Scout role. Learning from other leaders is one of the quickest and easiest ways to grow. When possible, it is great to have a mentor. The best mentor mentoree relationships benefit both parties. There are also so many incredible books authored by leaders who learned by experiencing their trials and tribulations. It’s always great to read the words of a leader you respect and discover that they battled their insecurities. All humans have doubts and fears, but understanding how they can be overcome is awe-inspiring.
Leadership and dictatorship are two very different things. Of course, there are times when a leader needs to take charge, and the responsibility of a team’s performance falls on their shoulders, but a good leader understands that they need to inspire their team members to contribute. One of the simplest ways to motivate other team members is to respect them and always listen to their ideas. Whether or not an idea is followed up on is up to the leader. However, a person who feels heard is much more likely to buy into their leader’s direction. This logic works for everything from a team school project to a company where employees can express their thoughts and ideas. A great leader understands that the next great idea can come from anyone.
Growth occurs outside of our comfort zones. Declan Birmingham repeatedly learned that while working to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout. Although taking on a new challenge can be scary, diving headfirst into what challenges us is the best way to expedite growth. Many leaders are great when speaking to team members one-on-one, but don’t relish the idea of orating in front of a crowd. The best way to improve any skill is to dive right into it. Repetition will make any task that once seemed daunting feel much more comfortable.