By Lorie Corcuera

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
– John C. Maxwell

When you become a new parent, you are automatically responsible for another person. You take on a role that requires you to lead by example and your actions have much more impact than your words. There’s no book or training about this. It’s something that is universal and understood

For many weeks now, I have been thinking about how this relates to leaders and leadership in general.

What most leaders forget when they start a new business or they are promoted into a leadership role, is that they are constantly under the microscope. Whether they want to be or not, it’s the reality of being a leader.

When I come across companies who are struggling, my first thought is to check in with their leadership team. Who are the leaders? What are their personal core values? Are they aligned as a team? Do they truly understand their culture? Do they have the ability and drive to communicate and implement a clear vision throughout the organization?

With that being said, it’s not about being perfect. We are all human and can falter at times. What’s more important is that leaders understand that their role is greater than they may think. There is a responsibility and expectation to be your best and to continuously grow yourself as a leader and human being, as others look up to you as their leader.

As a leader “under the microscope”, here’s how your actions can be interpreted in an unfavorable light. Leader shows up as…and team sees:

• Leader’s door is closed… leader is too busy or isn’t available.
• Leader is late or does not attend the meeting… leader does not care.
• Leader is tired and has low energy… leader is not happy with me or the team.
• Leader does not show appreciation… leader does not care or know what I’m doing.
• Leader is constantly on the go or not visible… leader is distracted and not focused.

I know we can’t control what people will think of us. However, we must understand that everything we do as leaders is magnified.

As a leader “under the microscope”, here’s how your actions can inspire and drive teams to better engagement and performance:

• When a leader says hello… it can put a smile on their team member’s face all day.
• When a leader recognizes a particular action… it can motivate their team members to repeat the performance.
• When a leader is present and actively listening… it can build trust and confidence in their team members.
• When a Leader consistently projects a positive and championing energy… it can inspire and drive the team to meet their goals.
• When a Leader is more visible… he or she can effectively demonstrate their authentic leadership approach (core values and purpose) and create other authentic leaders around them.

So the choice is yours. You can be an okay leader or you can leave a lasting legacy and be remembered as a great leader.

What can you do today to show up more authentically as a stronger leader?

Lorie Corcuera is co-founder and creative essence originator (CEO) of SPARK Creations.