Executive Voice
M. Curtis McCoy on Developing Leadership Skills
- Curtis McCoy is an American entrepreneur, author & founder of News Wire Magazine. M. Curtis McCoy is also the host of “Success Motivation Inspiration” on Amazon Fire TV. On the show, Curtis interviews leaders who share insights on how to achieve your goals and live a meaningful life.
What leadership skills enhance your personality?
Empathy – One of the most crucial leadership “skills” or qualities is loving people. If you genuinely care about people and want to see them succeed, they can feel it in their core & they’ll want to follow you. That’s hard to fake.
Personality – Working on your character can massively improve your ability to be a great leader because it leads to greater emotional intelligence. When you’re aware and understand your own emotions, as well as the feelings of others, connecting and leading people becomes infinitely easier.
Self-control – If you can control your emotions and use them to motivate yourself and those around you, you’re well on your way to being an excellent leader. If you want to be a great leader but can’t get your spending, drinking, gambling, or other bad habits under control, it’s much more difficult to become someone others look up to and want to follow.
How do you take your leadership skills to the next level?
Read regularly – We’ve all heard the saying, “leaders are readers,” but it’s a fact. I read dozens of books per year before writing my first book. I started reading books like How To Win Friends & Influence People when I was only 13 years old, which is why I’m in the position I am today.
Communication – As you may know, I survived brain cancer. I completely lost the ability to communicate for a short time, but forcing myself to learn to talk with and create a relationship with someone new daily has been incredibly beneficial in managing companies and negotiating business deals. If you’re not a confident communicator, speaking groups like Toastmasters can be a great way to learn to be a great speaker!
Influence – The people you surround yourself with define who you become. If you spend time around successful people daily, it’s only natural for you to emulate their success. Hire a coach. Listen to podcasts like the Purpose Infused Brotherhood. Go to conferences and seminars that inspire you to grow.
How do you make your team unstoppable?
Shared vision – Make sure everyone on the team knows and understands what you’re fighting for! Other companies are always selling similar products or services to what you offer. If you’re only competing on price or features, it’s a race to the bottom. You’ll be unstoppable if you can create a vision for the company that makes your team members feel like they’re fighting for something greater.
Create community – Make sure everyone on the team feels like they’re part of a bigger goal. Create a community that supports and believes in each other. A community that’s there for each other through thick and thin. I never understood companies with a policy that keeps employees from fraternizing outside work. If your team looks forward to being at work because you’re creating an environment where they feel part of something bigger than themselves, you’re on the right track.
Culture – Hiring people who fit the culture is essential to have an unstoppable team. Hire slow, fire fast. It’s better to have a team of 3 people who love their job than a dozen employees who show up for the paycheck.
Final thoughts from M. Curtis McCoy
While these tips on improving your leadership skills sound great, you’ll get nothing out of this if you don’t apply what you learn. Start now—schedule time to read daily and listen to podcasts or audiobooks when you drive. Cut negative people out of your life and start spending time with people you admire.
Grab a copy of my most recent book if you haven’t got a chance to read it yet! “How To Be Successful: Think Like A Leader” by M. Curtis McCoy
Get in touch with M. Curtis McCoy
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