Being a leader is about living your life in a way that inspires or encourages others. Here is the 17th in my series of monthly newsletters, each with a section on the skills you need so you can be a leader of your life. To lead is to serve. If you make it your goal to do the best that you can and to help people, then you can't fail. I encourage you to commit to keep learning.

The content below is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills - Taking Your Career to the Next Level.

Always strive to be one step ahead of others by thinking of creative and innovative ways to accomplish your goals. You won’t reach your full potential if you continue doing things the same old way. "We've always done it this way" is not an ingredient for success! Success depends on a good supply of timely information and creativity.

The world and technology are advancing so quickly that you need to be creative and innovative so that you don't get left behind. Innovation creates new or increased profits for your business or result in a reduction of man-hours and resources required to get the job done. Just as you strive to stand out in a crowd, so should your work. The way you approach a project, the way you communicate your ideas and the way you implement those ideas should stand out from others.

• Don’t be afraid to try new things and go beyond what you’re used to.
• Take chances and accept that there's a possibility of failure. Evaluate the risks involved and the consequences of taking those risks.
• Think outside of the box, expand your way of thinking and try new things.
• Look for inspiration by adapting to things that already exist. Watch other people. See what they buy, read, and wear. Be aware of the latest trends, whether or not they relate directly to what you do and see how you can adapt it in creative ways.
• Spend time on the internet searching for products and services, and advertisements that grab your attention and touch you emotionally. Always look for an aspect that you think is relevant and develop or adapt it for yourself or your company. Innovate on the success of others in creative ways.
• Read books about successful ideas and techniques used by others. Try them out!
  

Step out of your comfort zone. If you don’t know if an idea will work—try it! Then you’ll know for sure… True leaders reach great heights by utilizing innovative methods. Expand your thinking. Stretch your ideas and embrace new experiences.

We'd love to hear from you about this series, and the ways you're using it. Send us your comments and feedback by clicking on Post a Comment below. Look out for the next part in this series a month from now, and please share with your colleagues.

To review or catch up on previous newsletters on business and personal development click here.
The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.

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