<p>How often have we been moved by inspiring quotations and nuggets about leadership? They encourage us to take charge, stimulate us to take the reins, motivate us to move things forward. But how often have we seen fruit from these short-lived moments of inspiration?</p>
<p>Oftentimes, what we are inspired to create in our leadership falls short in reality.</p>
<p>Many of us are in leadership roles. We carry responsibilities as leaders at work, in business, at home, and/or in a variety of social settings. But why then is there a disconnect between our position/s and our effectiveness? What is it that is preventing us from becoming successful and accomplished leaders?</p>
<p>Could it be that we have been so inundated with leadership tips and jargon that we no longer truly know what leadership is?</p>
<p>Leadership has been a topic of serious study and analysis for over a hundred years. As is often the case with focused investigation and examination, there has been a lot of valuable information gained about leadership. However, there has also been such an overload of information: fact, fiction, theory, and the like – and as a result, the essence of leadership has become obscured.</p>
<p>Condensed: good leadership is directing others in the way they should go and seeing them follow through in that direction. Compact, potent, and true.</p>
<p><strong>What Good Leadership is Not:</strong></p>
<p>It’s time we peel off the many layers of fiction, theory, and the like that have come to disguise the nature of true leadership. Let’s sift through, so that only the facts remain.</p>
<p>Good leadership is really not about you. Desiring to be at the forefront and the focus of all the attention is not the mark of a respectable leader. And asserting ones’ self beyond others says more about your lack of quality than otherwise. If it is all about you, then it’s a one-man show. If it’s a one-man show, then you are not part of a team. And if you are not a part of the team, then there is no one available to lead – and hence, there is no possibility that you are a leader.</p>
<p>Good leadership is not about power and control. Others desire to be aided, instructed, and led – but not controlled. Those willing to be controlled need more than a leader, they need to become healthy.</p>
<p>Again, good leadership is not about you. Peter Drucker states, “leadership is not magnetic personality, that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not ‘making friends and influencing people’, that is flattery.” Although charisma, personality, and influence are beneficial to a leader, they do not make a leader. </p>
<p>Good leadership is not about having all the good ideas. It is not about having mass quantities of creativity. It’s not even about always being right.</p>
<p>Even the position, does not make the leader. We must not confuse having a leadership position with having good leadership skills. Just because we have a leadership position – such as a parent, a manager, a CEO, a mentor, or public speaker -- does not mean that we lead people, it simply means we have responsibilities and an opportunity to lead. </p>
<p>To be a truly effective and esteemed leader, we must combine our leadership position with leadership skills.</p>
<p><strong>Skills for Good Leadership:</strong></p>
<p>If a leader, then, is someone who directs others in the way they should go and sees them follow through in that direction, what kind of skills help us to do that?</p>
<p>As Jim Rohn says, “the challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”</p>
<p>I agree. In addition, there are other resonant terms like ‘trust’, ‘drive’, ‘character’, and ‘influence’ that relate to good leadership. However, in order to get from here to there, we need quantifiable, practical skills to get us started – not just admirable traits.</p>
<p>Therefore, the following list provides several objectives of a good leader:</p>
<ul>
<li>Provide a strong, clear, and mutually beneficial vision for those who follow.</li>
<li>Ensure that your vision serves a greater, positive purpose.</li>
<li>Develop measurable plans.</li>
<li>Encourage others in their creativity.</li>
<li>Find ways to help others implement their ideas.</li>
<li>Assist others in clarifying and defining their vision.</li>
<li>Listen to their cares and concerns.</li>
<li>Provide encouragement and helpful resources. </li>
<li>Protect and honor those who follow.</li>
<li>Exude confidence, not arrogance.</li>
<li>Remain calm.</li>
<li>Involve others in the decision-making process.</li>
<li>Be willing to make decisions and take decisive action.</li>
<li>Keep the good of others in mind when making decisions.</li>
<li>When asking others to stretch, risk, or go the extra mile – show them how by going first.</li>
<li>Pursue excellence by seeking additional knowledge, wisdom, and advice.</li>
<li>Request and use constructive feedback.</li>
<li>Provide praise and constructive criticism to others.</li>
<li>Tell the truth.</li>
<li>Keep your promises and follow through.</li>
<li>Be willing to change, grow, and do things differently.</li>
</ul>
<p> These objectives apply regardless of the leadership position or the desire for position. </p>
<p> As we begin to meet these objectives, we will see others begin to gravitate to our leadership qualities and skills. Not only will they feel heard and appreciated, they will understand that we want to work with them to facilitate and achieve something greater and that we have the capacity, the means, and the desire to do so.</p>
<p> Using these objectives as a guide to restructure the way in which we work, play, and live will increase our effectiveness and allow us to become successful and accomplished leaders.</p>
<p> May our reality reflect what we have been inspired to create in our leadership.</p>
2009-06-26T19:45:52Z
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not-just-more-intangible-thoughts-about-leadership
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2009-06-26T15:12:37Z
2009-06-26T22:13:53Z
What we are inspired to create in our leadership often falls short in reality. Read here for clear objectives that can help any person become a successful and accomplished leader!
Not Just More Intangible Thoughts About Leadership
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2009-06-26T22:13:53Z