Only 10% of the population are natural leaders. The common assumption that has been perpetuated over the years is that famous leaders have often developed their leadership skills by instinct. Those who fall out of these brackets are prompted to refer to cues of behavioral science to better understand their potential leadership competencies. Kira Graves believes that it should be noted that many of the leadership principles sustained and implemented by great leaders neutralize cognitive biases. Regardless of the ideologies related to this topic, the transition to be a good and effective leader requires a transformation of thought.
It is all about the mind, tuning it to control behaviors and actions to be deemed resolute and acceptable. Kira Graves is a professional psychologist, counselor, leadership coach and world traveler. Over the years, she has interacted with dozens of clients who need leadership mentoring as they traverse different professional realms. Kira Graves came to realize that there were many principles linked to leadership, but most have failed to integrate psychology to explain specific rationales. She occasionally points out that the world needs more influencers and less commanders. This might be the best way to be influential in any leadership situation.
Assess Things from All Points of View
Leaders will more than often find themselves making unpleasant decisions to make a business thrive. Does this make them bad leaders? Kira Graves says no, and the reason for this is because good leaders tend to assess every predicament and opportunity from the point of view of all parties involved, including theirs. This is actualized by acknowledging the full set of trade-offs, an art that comes with practice and experience. Kira Graves says this is an effective way of avoiding cognitive bias. Most leaders find themselves falling into the trap of rejecting an excellent idea because they fear losing something they value. From a psychological perspective, it is best to think in a dispassionate and holistic manner, and this can be done by getting recommendations and information from all possible sources.
Good Leaders are Constantly Learning
Learning is a continuous undertaking that lasts a lifetime. Kira Graves reminds her clients that even though they are in a position of power, they might not be the smartest person in the room. A solution for this- be an active listener and embrace learning with a positive attitude. A curious leader will always listen to their team members, eventually, interrupting their confirmation bias. This form of bias usually makes a person see new information in a way that confirms what they already believe. Inevitably, this limits them from taking in valuable insights from others. A good leader will actively invite a diverse array of opinions and delegate decisions to every relevant person within their reach. These actions not only demonstrate confidence to team members but they’re an effective way of showing trust.
Kira Graves insists that we might not all be natural leaders. However, she insists that leadership is more of a trait that can be learned and perfected over time. Influential leaders can be molded to become resolute and fit into any situation that can bring out the best of them. Good leaders can be nurtured while relying on psychological concepts as pointed out by Kira Graves. It is possible!
