We recently helped a woman discover and grow her leadership potential. By all measures, she was already quite a success. She'd obtained a masters and proven her technical skills in a highly competitive industry. With her genuinely supportive personality, people appreciated having her on their team. Anyone would have thought her pathway to reaching her potential as a leader was already set. Yet, there was an important opportunity she'd been missing.

We always like to say, you can't give what you don't know you have. That's why our first step was to explore her leadership potential. She used the online tool we provide on our website to do a Personality Assessment Profile. Armed with a deeper understanding of her leadership style, she was ready to look for new ways of reaching her leadership potential.

She began by considering her inner circle. We all have one. They are the people we trust the most, the people we look towards when we need advice, and the people who are first to give us encouragement and help. These people have a profound impact on our lives and we have a profound impact on theirs.

As she began to reflect, she noticed that her inner circle was mostly people she knew from school or people who lived in her community. Those relationships will always be important to her, and it is human nature to be drawn to people in the same position as ours. But what are we missing when we do that? Are there important people we overlook? Are we limiting ourselves in the process?

In his book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", John C. Maxwell devotes a chapter to what he calls the Law of the Inner Circle. He reminds us that we need to be intentional about relationship building if we want to reach our full potential as leaders. Taking the time to find and cultivate a powerful inner circle helps you grow as a leader. This is good for everyone. As you reach your full potential, you help others reach theirs too. That's why it's a circle and not a bunch of random dots on a blank page.

We'll talk about how to cultivate relationships with the people you need in your inner circle later in this blog. First, you need to find them. Here's how to spot those previously missed opportunities for building a powerful inner circle (for more, check out the chapter in John C. Maxwell's book):

1. Look for people who have a high influence with others. We all have people in our life who are noteworthy for how much they inspire others. You can tell them by the number of people who are drawn to their side. If you build a relationship with an influencer, your influence increases as well. That's how it works.
2. Look for people with gifts that complement yours. Mother Teresa put it well: "You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things." This might be a strategy you hadn't considered before. Pinpoint your weaknesses, look them straight in the face, and then seek out others who do what you struggle with exceptionally well. Both of you will be enhanced by the relationship.
3. Look for people who hold a strong position in the organization. This idea seems obvious. If you want to have more influence, build good relationships with the people in power. But how often do we avoid doing just that? The people who hold a strong position may not have the job titles you expect. Sometimes the Executive Assistant is the one to know. When decisions are made, pay attention to who champions the actions needed to make that decision real. That's a person you want in your inner circle.
4. Look for people who help others improve. Just as there are people who get things done, there are also people who make it their daily mission to help others be the best they can be. This is a special talent and a hallmark of a good leader. You'll want to draw near to that kind of person.
5. Look for people who put real effort into building their own inner circle. These are the people who arrange networking sessions. They are the first to suggest a seminar and the first to organize it. When you do something well, they'll compliment you. When you need help, they'll offer it. Who wouldn't want a person like that in their inner circle?

Once the woman who came to us for coaching and mentoring on leadership realized she needed to increase her inner circle, we were ready to brainstorm how. She used the keys listed above to identify the people she needs in her inner circle. Then she looked for volunteer opportunities on boards where she would have an opportunity to work side-by-side with those very people. That is just one way to cultivate a relationship with the people you need in your inner circle. Check out our "7 Tips for Cultivating a Powerful Inner Circle" below for more.

An inner circle is like a garden. You need to tend to it every day. Look for gifted influencers with a strong position in the organization and a genuine drive to help. Spend time with those people. Help them and welcome their wisdom into your life. This is how exceptional leaders continue to grow.

As John C. Maxwell says, "There are no Lone Ranger leaders. Think about it: if you're alone, you're not leading anybody, are you?"

Call to Action:

1. Look for opportunities you may have missed for building a relationship with gifted influencers who have a strong position in the organization and a genuine drive to help.
2. Come up with an action plan for cultivating and sustaining those relationships.

It starts with you. You've got this!

Your friends,
UpCloseTeam