Are You Ready for Your Next Leadership Opportunity?

At the core of effective leadership is preparation.

The greater your goal, the greater your preparation!

When studying successful leaders across industries, their habits consistently demonstrate a two-to-one ratio of preparation to execution.

Whether we are called to business, politics, education, art, medicine, or other professions, the price tag required for long-term success cannot be lowered.

In today's business environment, characterized by technological advancements, globalization, and shifting market dynamics, leaders are facing new challenges.

Unfortunately, thorough preparation for these demanding circumstances is frequently compromised, which ultimately affects the quality of outcomes.

The Preparation Gap

How many times have you missed leadership opportunities or any other opportunities simply because you were not prepared?

I have missed quite a few, including a chance to lead a high-stakes global project because I had not fully develop the cultural intelligence required for the role.

Consider Satya Nadella, who spent years developing cross-functional expertise at Microsoft before becoming CEO. His preparation included technical knowledge, business acumen, and cultivating a growth mindset—all essential components that enabled him to transform Microsoft's culture and business model when his opportunity arrived. In contrast, many promising leaders fail when promoted simply because they have not developed the necessary skills and mindset beforehand.

We often admire the achievements of credible, ethical, and successful leaders but seldom ask ourselves:

Are we prepared, equipped, or willing to pay the price these leaders endured?

Quite often, our greatest challenge is not a lack of opportunity but rather being ready when it comes.

Staying Prepared in a Changing World

It is not enough to get prepared; we must also stay prepared.

In this information age, knowledge is doubling by the minute.

The leader of the future will be rated by their ability to anticipate challenges rather than merely reacting to them as they emerge.

If we do not keep learning and growing, we will end up with skills that no longer work with the new challenges we face.

Consider how Reed Hastings of Netflix regularly reinvented his company's business model—first from DVD rentals to streaming, then to content creation—anticipating industry shifts before they became obvious to others. His continuous learning and adaptation exemplify the prepared leader's mindset.

To stay prepared in your leadership journey:

• Dedicate at least 5 hours weekly to deliberate learning in your field
• Build a diverse network that challenges your thinking and exposes you to different perspectives
• Practice scenario planning by regularly asking, "What might change in my industry in the next 3-5 years?"
• Develop a personal board of advisors who can provide honest feedback on your blind spots

Choosing Your Path Wisely

Remember that all leadership paths are not created equal.

One of the most important questions you must ask yourself is "what am I preparing for?"

Make sure you choose your leadership and career path wisely.

Warren Buffett, for instance, deliberately avoided the tech industry for decades because he understood his strengths lay in evaluating businesses with predictable cash flows and strong competitive advantages. His wisdom was not just in his investment skills but in knowing which paths aligned with his capabilities.

If you are still searching for ways to maximize your personal excellence, consider the following:

• Invest one hour now to write down clearly the leadership, career, or life goals that really matter to you at this point. Do not be surprised if things that were important to you in your earlier years are no longer important now as your priorities may have changed. Be specific—rather than writing "become a better leader," aim for a more specific goal such as, "develop emotional intelligence skills that help me navigate difficult conversations with team members."
• Never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings. One leader I know got excited about an international job offer and uprooted his entire family to a new country and culture. Within a couple of months of the relocation, he realized he had made a big mistake. Outside of the salary, he and his family were not enjoying the role, the move, or the opportunity.

The lesson here: many times, success and happiness are not only about the money!

When offered a life changing job opportunity, consider creating a decision matrix that weighs all factors—family impact, personal growth, alignment with values, and financial rewards, before making major career moves.

• Expect that your goals may change over time. Current feelings and opinions are subject to change. New experiences are coming, new relationships and partnerships are ahead, so stay conscious.

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz initially believed his company's mission was about selling premium coffee, but through experience, he realized it was really about “creating places for community gathering.” This evolution in understanding transformed his company's strategy and impact.

• If you are in a different place in your life right now, why do you feel obligated to keep trying to obtain an irrelevant goal? A mentor once said to me, "If the horse is dead … stop torturing yourself ... dismount!" Over the years, I've gotten better at acting on this recommendation, and it has served me very well.

Here is my challenge for you ...

Can you ALLOW the unexciting dreams of yesterday to die?

Will you STOP pursuing goals that no longer inspire and excite you?

Practical Readiness Assessment

To determine if you are truly prepared for the leadership opportunities ahead, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have a clear understanding of my leadership strengths and weaknesses? Is my understanding validated by feedback from others?
2. Have I developed systems for continuous learning that fit my schedule and learning style?
3. Am I building relationships with people who will challenge me to grow, not just those who make me comfortable?
4. Do I know how to make tough decisions with incomplete information?
5. Have I identified which leadership skills I need to develop most urgently in the next 12 months?

When you regularly assess and evaluate your leadership and career journey, you put yourself in a position to unclutter your life of the unnecessary and proactively prepare for the future ahead.

The result: you build the stamina to effectively lead your life, lead a team, lead an organization, and perhaps even lead a nation.

Looking Forward

Leadership readiness is not just about having the right skills; it is also about developing the right mindset. Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset shows that leaders who believe their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work create more innovative and resilient organizations.

What mindset are you cultivating as you prepare for your next leadership opportunity?

Are you equipped and ready for your next leadership challenge?

If not, what is your plan for continued growth, readiness, and success?

To help you get started, here is a sample preparation plan:

1. Define your leadership aspirations
   • What are your specific goals? Which leadership positions do you seek?
   • Clearly articulate your desired outcomes rather than relying solely on intuition.
2. Conduct research
   • Understand the criteria for success.
   • Speak with individuals who are in similar roles or have held similar roles.
   • Determine key knowledge, skills, and other capabilities required to succeed in the role.
3. Explore aspirational options
   • Assess expertise requirements of similar roles/positions/jobs within and across divisions, functions, locations, companies, and industries.
4. Develop a “Value Reciprocity©” chart
   • What does the company need to win in the industry, stay in business and operate at high profit margins?
   • What knowledge, skills and abilities will you bring to the table to help the company succeed?
   • What is the company’s promise to you?
   • What is your promise to the company?
5. Create a plan
   • Analyze available opportunities
   • Rank desired and alternative positions
   • Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses
   • Develop solutions to address weaknesses
   • Set a growth timeline
   • Identify necessary people and resources
   • Craft a positioning pitch explaining why you are the best fit

Remember, the time to prepare is not when opportunity knocks; it is long before you hear the sound at the door.

Author Brendon Burchard says it best … “the best time to study the map is before you enter the woods.”

Here’s to your continued leadership success!