How can you become a better leader and build effective teams? In education, it can be difficult to learn the necessary skills required for leadership growth. If you’re seeking to discover your own leadership journey, here are some strategies that can help you achieve your goals.

1. Identify Your “Why”

Veronica V. Sopher is a dynamic school communications leader with over 20 years of experience in K-12 leadership. She has served as the chief communications officer for several large and mid-sized school districts. Sopher provides the leadership, vision, direction, and execution for major district communication programs, strategies, events, and activities.

She believes in the power of self-care and its dynamic impact on customer service, leadership development, and team-building, especially in grades K-12. Veronica dives into the necessary steps that are required to establish your leadership pathway in her course, Growing As A Leader & Teambuilder.

Veronica recommends putting in the time and effort to identify your “why” or the reason behind seeking leadership growth. “It is going to give you everything you need to be relevant in the work that you’re doing.” Once you make the connection, she explains, “you need to determine if your why is really aligned with what it is you’re doing every day, especially as a leader.”

2. Create A Vision

When you embark on your leadership journey, Veronica urges you to ask yourself, “What do I want to have accomplished?” You’re essentially reverse engineering your vision. Consider your legacy and start with the end in mind.

Have an idea of what you envision for your future. When you can imagine your career vision coming to fruition, it will help to solidify your leadership goals. “That is a fantastic way of figuring out the right pathway for you to grow as a leader and ultimately grow as a team builder.”

Veronica explains how “A big part of growing as a leader is being a lifelong learner.” When you are continuously learning, you’re setting yourself up for becoming a more successful leader. You will find that your leadership journey is much more fulfilling when you’re open to learning and trying new strategies.

3. Take Action

The first steps you need to take involve identifying your short-term and long-term leadership goals. Once you have identified your goals, you can set deadlines and measure each goal. Veronica stresses how “you have to find the formula that works for you, that fits your personality, and that really speaks to your energy level and is aligned to your values.”

Next, you’ll need to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest and authentic with yourself. Veronica suggests, “Getting feedback from others, assessing the work that you have done, and assessing what brings you value is probably the most effective way to do it because you’ll start to see patterns.” These patterns are important because they demonstrate consistency in areas where you excel and may need to improve.

Finally, remember to invest in yourself. If you’re experiencing feelings of self-doubt, it’s likely because of Imposter Syndrome. Veronica assures that it’s nothing to worry about. “The more successful you become, the more risks you decide to take, and the more you put yourself out there authentically, the more often it’s going to show up.” These feelings are completely normal when you’re growing as a leader, so acknowledging them and saying “thank you” is the best way to move forward.

Interested in learning more about how to grow in your leadership journey? Explore the course demo on Growing As A Leader & Teambuilder today!