Imitate Shamelessly and Often

I've found the one of the fastest ways to learn anything is to imitate a role model. Think about how you learned to walk, speak, write the alphabet and even to tie your shoes. In your early years, learning by imitation dominated.



So how can you apply this to your leadership journey?

• Business schools have students read biographical articles and books about leaders they admire so that they can learn their secrets to success at the rate of one per week.

• Entrepreneurial women accelerate their success threefold by emulating mentors.

• Interns cultivate greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence by working outside their comfort zone and imitating successful managers in the organizations where the complete their internships.

Have you ever heard the quote "Dress for the job you want, not the one you have?" If management can see you fitting into an environment, they will likely think of you when a position opens up.


Imitating what you admire in others and want to acquire for yourself requires becoming a student of human nature and behavioral science. As a student of human nature you are now ready to spot the best of what anyone has to offer.


How can you start on this experiential learning curve? Select someone you interact with on a regular basis that has some characteristics that you would like to acquire. Take time to think about recent experiences you may have had with this individual. Focus on what this person did that peaked your interest. Was it the way they handled a particularly sticky situation? Was it how they lead a team effort? What was it that caught your eye? Reflect on how you can imitate the way they handled the situation. Where can you apply this knowledge? Actually contact the individual, compliment them on how they behaved and ask questions about your observations.


You can also apply this method to people who frustrate or annoy you. Seriously, if you apply this to people who frustrate you it will change the way you see a whole host of people who, at some point in time, got on your nerves. My point is, that you can learn from everybody. So keep an open mind, you never know what you might learn. Peace