Leadership Training: Pick the Right Training for You

Choosing the right leadership training for yourself, your team, your classroom, your employees or family can be confusing and even a little frightening. If you search for training on the Internet, you might discover leadership training that uses words like “black belt” or “boot camp” or even “war” and “killer.”

These words probably turn a lot of people off to the idea of seeking out any kind of leadership training. They make implications about leadership that are inaccurate about the essence of true leadership and are sexists and combative words. They make implications that leadership is dirty or mean and even destructive. These words ignore the fact that effective leadership has more to do with the person you are than what you do. Take heart, you can find training that gives you what you and your team need and deserve. When looking for leadership training consider the following:

• Is it self control focused?
• Is it empowering?

Great leadership training is one focusing on teaching and guiding people on how to express their leadership in healthy ways. A real leader is:

• Not judgmental — A leader does not force his or her opinion or personal values on others, even members of his or her own family.
• Does not enable — A person is not his or her behaviors, and a real leader does not enable people to make excuses for their behavior but also does not treat someone awful due to making a mistake.
• Is empathetic – True leaders are empathetic and not concerned with always being “right,” rather they are willing to listen to others view and walk in their shoes.
• Does not gossip — A leader knows that if he or she gossips, not only will others view them differently, but they will view themselves differently. They simply won’t engage in this trust eroding behavior.
• Does not blame — Everyone can take responsibility for some part of a failure or success for effort in which they were involved. Placing blame on others will not empower you to thrive the way accepting your responsibility does.
• Is not a victim — Bad things happen to good people, but playing the victim over every single situation that happens will not create a thriving situation where a leader can blossom.

If the leadership training you choose is empowering to everyone, regardless of their position or title, and focuses on self responsibility, rather than trying to change others to reach your goals – then you have found training that will be effective and empowering, and one that leads you toward true leadership.