10
/ Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Cristina Villalon
Licensed Interior Designer and AD&V Co-Founder www.advfirm.com
T
Leadership rules we should all live by
rue leadership is a skill that requires intentionality, practice, and commitment. It is not a title or a position of hierarchy. Great leaders are not born, they are developed. You need a thirst for knowledge, a dose of humility, and an open mind to understand there will always be more to learn and that you can always grow as a leader. Here are the leadership lessons that I’ve personally discovered over the last two decades as a company leader. Lead with Passion. When you lead with passion, you inspire others to believe in your mission as well. I have poured my heart and soul into using my business as a platform for social good in this world. It’s my passion. My mission is to inspire other leaders to do the same in their companies. Servant Leadership. If you are given an opportunity to lead, remember you are there to serve others, not yourself. As Simon Sinek says, leaders eat last. Your position is a privilege and it’s important to focus on helping others grow and perform at the best of their ability. The best and most effective leaders are servant leaders. They know they are there as a vehicle for a larger purpose. Surround yourself with different perspectives. Don’t surround yourself with ‘yes people’ who think exactly like you and never question you, because your ingrained beliefs are also your blind spots. It’s important to surround yourself with different perspectives and points of view and be open to seeing it how they see it. When you do, you can approach situations with greater clarity, empathy, and compassion. Develop your Emotional Intelligence. The single most important thing you can develop in your life is your emotional intelligence. Nothing will help you perform better in your career or as a leader than developing skills like self-awareness, self-control, social awareness, and relationship management. Life is all about relationships. Relationships will open doors for you. Make sure you are building bridges, and not destroying them. Create an environment where people are not afraid to speak up. Nothing can be accomplished alone. You need a motivated and committed team willing to innovate and continually improve to compete in this everchanging world. To encourage innovation, you need to promote an environment where people are not afraid to speak out, take risks, and fail.
Nothing will help you perform better in your career or as a leader than developing skills like self-awareness, selfcontrol, social awareness, and relationship management. Cristina Villalon, CODDI
An environment where offhanded ideas will be built upon rather than torn down. Put people first. Leadership is about people. To be an effective leader, you need to learn how to communicate, listen, and empathize. Put people’s needs first and remember we are all human. How do you bring out the best in people? You make them feel seen. You recognize their efforts. You highlight the behavior you want them to repeat. You help them identify their talents. You encourage them then give them autonomy and let them shine. Finally, lead by example. You set the tone. People are watching. It doesn’t matter what you say, it matters what you do.