John C. Maxwell, a leadership expert, once said, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” Imagine how our organisations and our world would be so much different if we truly embraced this concept.
If you are aspiring towards a leadership or management role this year, the key question is to ask yourself, Why?” You need to figure out, What’s my goal and purpose as a leader or manager? Why do I really want this position? Is it because of the money and prestige? Do I genuinely care about developing my employees and enabling them to be the best versions of themselves?
As you’re mapping out your professional development plan in your journey to becoming an exceptional leader this year, the below ChatGPT prompts can help you discover your purpose, identify your values, and enable you to learn the skills you need for the role, so you can make a positive impact—not only on the financial spreadsheet—but on people’s lives.
- List some ways that I can delegate tasks effectively to ensure productivity and accountability within my team, and how can I leverage AI in this process?
- Provide recommendations on strategies I can implement to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation among team members.
- What are some examples of ways I can offer constructive feedback to team members in a way that will be empathetic and support their professional growth and development.
- Generate some effective techniques for resolving conflicts and promoting harmony, tailoring the strategies for my remote and hybrid team.
- How can I inspire and motivate my employees to achieve their fullest potential at work?
- What does it look like to lead by example as an aspiring leader, and how can I begin now to cultivate trust and respect among my peers although I am not in a management position?
- Provide examples of how I can balance assertiveness and empathy in my leadership style.
- What are some best practices for effective communication in my role as a [name of job]?
- Explain, in layman’s terms, how I can adapt my leadership style to meet the varied needs of my different team members.
- How can I demonstrate leadership skills when navigating challenging situations and setbacks in my projects at work?
- What small, simple steps can I take to develop my leadership skills each day?
- List some ideas for ways I can create an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and fosters belonging within my role as a [name of job].
- What are some creative ideas for initiatives I can implement to promote a healthy work-life balance for myself and my team members?
- In my ideal team environment, every member feels that they are valued, supported, and empowered. My team would be [describe your vision in more detail]. What steps can I take when I start my leadership/management role to create and maintain such an environment?
The next two prompts are longer and require more thoughtful input and detail from you to generate the most appropriate answers:
- Each of my team members have varying strengths and goals. One employee’s goal is [name their professional goal] and their strengths are in [name their strengths]. Another’s goal is in [repeat as above] and their strengths are in [name their strengths]. The goals and objectives I have set for the team for this year are [list the goals/KPIs]. Considering the above context, create a plan that helps me align their individual aspirations and strengths with the overarching goals of the team.
- In my previous role, I was [list your responsibilities and achievements]. In another role I held before that, I was [repeat as above]. Based on this information, what are the unique strengths and expertise that I bring to my new leadership role, and how can I leverage these qualities to be an effective leader?
Use these prompts and feel free to tailor them as appropriate to your specific situation, training the chatbot to generate exactly what you need to know, through trial and error. And remember, the goal of these prompts is not to use them to entirely replace any external support or ongoing development, such as those provided by networking, coaching, or attending training programs, These prompts are simply there to spark your creativity and passion as a leader, ensuring you concentrate your energies as a budding leader on the right priorities.