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6
Secrets To Effective Leadership
Mar
21, 2005
Author: Tom Perkins - Business Solutions Coach and Certified
Personal Trainer
Effective
leadership abilities are a must for a personal trainer.
After all, you need to motivate your clients to achieve
a healthier lifestyle and to eat well for the long term.
You are expected to inspire trust, guarantee knowledge
and experience, and demonstrate self-discipline and
self-control.
Old school thought
believed you were either a born leader or a follower.
Research, history and time have demonstrated this is no longer
valid. Anyone who
practices and remains committed to learning how to be a
leader, has the ability to be a leader.
It does take time and a high level of commitment on
your part, but is well worth it when you become an effective
leader. In
this article, we discuss a few tips that will assist you in
developing your leadership skills.
Take
Charge. Do
not interpret taking charge as an invitation to dictate to
someone in a given situation.
In this particular circumstance, it is referring to
your personal development.
Leaders are authentic people.
They are the captains of their own ships. They take responsibility for their own personal and
professional development.
Leaders know what they want and develop an action plan
to make it happen.
Know
Your Strengths. If
you know what your strengths are, you can better select work
assignments and projects which allow you to showcase your
strengths and refine those skills to their fullest potential.
Find
a Compatible Environment. It
seems like common sense to suggest that you will thrive and go
further in an organization that shares your values and goals.
A like-minded environment will allow you to succeed. While other organizations may be able to provide larger
salary packages and more exposure, it may not be worth if your
vision and goals are not in tandem. No one wants to go to work
day in and day out frustrated, apathetic, or just plain angry
with their situation. These types of negative feelings will definitely impact your
quality of work and your clients.
Strive
for Excellence. Maintaining
high standards for yourself and your work reflect progress and
a desire to grow. This
doesn’t mean that you should attempt perfection.
Perfection and excellence is not the same thing.
Perfectionism can easily lead to negativity and
criticism, neither of which is positive.
You want to maintain your enthusiasm and passion for
your work as you move toward being the best you can be.
Be
an outstanding communicator. If
you want to gain cooperation and the support of others, you
need to effectively communicate.
This doesn’t just mean speaking or writing well.
It means learning how to listen to your client and then
tailoring your interactions to that particular individual.
When people feel heard, they are more likely to listen
to what you are saying as well.
Maintain
your integrity. People are willing to be led by someone who follows
through; by someone they trust.
Do what you say you will do and do not promise
something you can not deliver. A little trust can go a long
way. Distrust can
go even further.
Being a leader may not
come naturally to you, but it can, if you are willing to
expend the necessary effort.
The path to becoming an effective leader can be
rewarding both personally and professionally with a minimal
amount of continuing effort on your part.
Tom
Perkins is a business solutions coach and certified personal
trainer who leads fitness professionals to profitability.
Send
an email to thecoach1-140208@autocontactor.com
to receive the Essential Fitness Business Success Checklist.
Or visit his website at http://www.fitnessindustrysolutions.com
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