While it is relatively easy to achieve individual successes, the real challenge is how to have sustained success as a leader over the longer term.  This means being able to thrive despite changes in the economy, customer or client preferences, setbacks or even major failures.

Truth is there no guarantees when it comes to leadership success in the long term.  At the same time there are things that you can do and actions that you can take to increase the likelihood of sustained success over the longer term.  So what are some of the things that you can do?

Recognise you are never the finished article

Be honest it is a great feeling when you achieve a promotion and especially when you move into leadership for the first time.  Yet the truth is that until this point you have been on path that is all about getting that first break into a formal leadership role.  Once you achieve this you step on to a very different path, where the expectations, demands and pressures change.  As you conquer some of these challenges new and different demands arise.

What this means for you as a leader is that you need to be willing to continue work on your growth and development, even when you are in a leadership role, so see leadership success as being ongoing work in progress.

Identify the building blocks

When we take on something new it always seems like a huge mountain.  After a while when we have done it a few times it just comes naturally.  When planning your career and success strategy, it is important to identify the building blocks.  These are simply the types of skills, experience, knowledge and attributes that you will need to work on to achieve the longer term success you desire.

Don’t expect to find a shortcut 

Being a leader carries with it huge responsibility.  You are no longer just responsible for your own self but also have responsibilities to employees, customers or clients, service users, shareholders and stakeholders to name just a few.  Becoming highly competent in each of these areas of responsibility takes time, so don’t expect to find a shortcut.

Bottom Line – You can either choose to achieve sporadic or sustained success as a leader.  What choice do you make?