"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way." —John C. Maxwell

But is a leader born or made? A question that has been discussed a million times, and I'm sure you have your personal opinion about it. But either way, made or born, becoming a great leader is a journey and not an end goal we can achieve by a specific date.

After all, being a natural leader or not, there still is a lot to learn since only a few things are intuitive and 'logical' when dealing with human beings. It takes time and practice to become someone others look up to and want to follow.

So, what is leadership, and why is it so valuable? Too often, people think that 'leader' is the new and fancier title for 'manager,' so they call themselves 'leader' due to the position they hold. But that's not what makes a leader… being a leader is something you have to earn; it cannot be handed to you with a promotion or a new business card.

Leadership means guiding, influencing, and inspiring others to achieve a common goal or vision. Therefore, it's not limited to any one specific set of traits or behaviors, as effective leadership can take on various forms and styles depending on the context and the individuals involved. But there are some key aspects, such as transparent communication, decision-making, vision and goal setting, empathy, integrity, and accountability, that, when executed well, will lead to success - not only for the leader but mainly for their team and company.

The main pillars a leader should focus on are the Be, Know, & Do of Leadership:
- Be: your character as a leader
- Know: knowledge and skills necessary to be a great leader
- Do: actions and behaviors a leader engages in

And this is where the value of leadership comes in. Because leadership, when practiced right, will be transformative for everyone involved. After all, leadership is about empowering people to go the extra mile by creating an environment where they can and want to excel. That's not an easy task… but at the same time, no one ever said being a great leader is easy.

Having a professional coach by your side is a great opportunity when you find yourself in this situation, especially if it’s the first time in a leading role. It will help you fill in knowledge gaps, identify counterproductive behaviors, and untangle thoughts, to improve and grow as a leader because it's customized to your needs.

But why work with me?

There are so many coaches out there, and you might need help to pick the right one for you. To save you some time, here are a couple of benefits working with me:

• I have experience with leadership from various angles - as an individual contributor, team lead, part of management, and an entrepreneur

• my expertise in People & Culture (HR) helps you to align people AND company success

• my versatile and international professional background enables me to put myself in your ‘professional shoes’ quickly

• I operate based on a Growth Mindset, and believe your talent and intelligence are scalable and, therefore limitless

• my work is built upon accountability and ownership therefore I ensure that actions speak louder than words so goals will be achieved, not just talked about

Sounds great? Well, it is. So when you’re ready to spearhead your leadership growth journey, get in touch with me. I’d be honored to be part of your journey to mastery.