No leader wakes up the morning and says, “I just want to reach half my potential as a leader today. I want my organization to operate at 50% of its capacity and I want my team to perform at 50% of what it is capable of.” Of course, no leader says that. On the contrary, we all want to achieve our full potential and live a life of significance.
The question then becomes how do we as leaders do so and help our teams do the same?
Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid is the superstar centre for the Edmonton Oilers. On Wednesday night March 22nd, McDavid became one of only four active players to score 60 goals in a season. Afterwards, McDavid’s coach Jay Woodcroft gave some into what makes him one of the greatest players of this generation. Check out the two-part tweet below and then we will unpack the leadership lessons contained:
Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft on Connor McDavid's drive: "It's insatiable. It's what gets him up in the morning. It's what he dedicates his life to. … Every moment in his day is geared to being the best he can be. We're in the NHL and a lot of players do this. (1/2)
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) March 23, 2023
"But this is the best player in the world. He takes that to a different degree." (2/2)
— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) March 23, 2023
4 Things It Takes To Achieve Your Full Potential As A Leader
The following are 4 Things It Takes To Achieve Your Full Potential As A Leader we learn from the tweets above:
- An Insatiable Drive – The best leaders have a longing for significance and achievement which cannot be satisfied. It is this type of drive that gets you up in the morning and drives you through any obstacle you encounter.
- A Singular Focus – The best leaders have dedicated their life to reaching their full potential. They are emotionally, mentally, and physically committed to achieving their maximum potential.
- An Edited Life – Any action or behavior which does not lead to you becoming the best leader you can be must be eradicated from your life. Every action and detail must move you closer to becoming the best leader you can be.
- A Different Level Of Commitment – As Coach Woodcroft points out, the NHL is full of talented and even dedicated athletes. But people like McDavid, the best of the best, have a completely different level of commitment.
An Insatiable Drive, A Singular Focus, An Edited Life, and A Different Level of Commitment. If you have these four qualities, you may actually achieve your full potential as a leader.
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