A Leader’s Role Is Simple: 8 Things You Must Build To Reach Your Full Potential

I just finished Melissa Reddy’s incredible book Believe Us: How Jurgen Klopp Transformed Liverpool Into Title Winners.  If you are a fan of leadership and not familiar with Klopp, you should be.  He is one of the top managers and coaches in the world.

Klopp became the team’s manager in 2015.  He then led Liverpool to successive UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, winning his first title in the latter.  The following season, Klopp won the UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool’s first FIFA Club World Cup, and finally Liverpool’s first Premier League title.  Klopp has understandably won back-to-back FIFA Coach of the Year awards in 2019 and 2020.

In the book’s final chapter (which you can purchase here or on the image provided) outlining his legacy, Reddy wrote, “Jurgen Klopp’s understanding of a manager’s role is simple: build the club, build the people, build a legacy.”

I would like to respectfully build on her words.  The following is also simple: 8 things you must build to reach your full potential as a leader:

1. Build Yourself – This includes character and skills.  The best and easiest way to get better as an organization is to get better as a leader.  The leader is the tide which raises all ships.
2. Build Your Vision – It must be clear, crisp, and compelling.
3. Build Your Resources – Without vision, the people perish.  Without financial resources, the vision perishes.
4. Build Your Communication – Every leader must sooner or later stand up and proclaim, “This is where we’re going!  Follow me!!!”
5. Build Your Culture – As Seth Godin says, “Culture is as simple as 11 words.  This is who we are and this is what we do.”  For more on building great cultures, click 22 Principles for Getting, Building, and Guarding a Great Staff Culture and 24 Lessons From Urban Meyer On Building A Winning Culture.
6. Build Your Team – The only appreciable asset your organization has is its people.  Everything else depreciates.
7. Build Your Perseverance and Endurance – God never called any leader to an easy task.
8. Then Build Your Legacy – This is measured by your level of faithfulness and how many people you impacted.

For more from Coach Klopp read 15 Amazing Leadership Quotes And Lessons From Liverpool FC’s Jurgen Klopp.

If you build these eight items into your leadership, you may one day have the opportunity to be as successful as Jurgen Klopp.

My book Timeless: 10 Enduring Practices Of Apex Leaders is available for purchase.  If you have ever wanted to become the leader God created you to be, this book is for you!  By combining leadership lessons from biblical heroes like Jesus, Daniel and Joseph, along with modern day leaders like Bill Gates, Nick Saban, Kobe Bryant and multiple pastors, Timeless will equip and inspire you.  This book is not to be read alone.  Discussion questions are included in each chapter allowing you to develop those in your circle of influence.  Click HERE or on the image provided and order your copies TODAY.