It’s so easy to succumb to impostor syndrome. To compare yourself to your peers, colleagues, or even friends. Everyone knows exactly what they’re doing. Everyone seems ok in their jobs and everyone is successful. And should you not be more like one of them?

No.

I’ve thought about it when I realised that my Google ads are being shown to people who search for “qualities of a good leader” and the like. And it made me think that maybe some people want a list of buzzwords that describe the good qualities of leadership. And as you go through the list, you can tick one box after the other and see how you compare.

And that completely leaves out who you are at your core. All the things that make you unique. And all the things that make you human.

There are many things that make a good leader. From authenticity (let’s look at that in a future post) to being a good communicator. But that’s not all. What matters is what you are who you are. And that you bring those qualities to your work also. Simply embrace your individuality.

And even while your friends may perceive you differently than your team, your unique and individual qualities and characteristics matter at work, too. In fact they matter a lot.

Think back at your early days at work. Who are the people you easily remember, and what sets them apart? Would any of them tell you to “be more like me”?

So if you’re looking to being a good leader or to acquire strong leadership skills, why not start with being true to yourself? And then we’ll take it from there.

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