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Issues Concerning an Effective Leader |
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Abstract: Quite often, the debate goes on and on..
Whether leaders are born or made! To be a good leader is just like to
becoming a good human being. Once you start down the road to
self-improvement, others will definitely notice. Leading in business isn't
much different. Step out and people notice, many will even follow. To be
an effective leader however, whether in business or any
other type of endeavor is more complex and demands of it's aspirants a
whole array of prerequisites. True leadership is more about doing rather
than being. 'Lead by example.' This is the most common advise regarding
leadership and with good reason. The need of the hour is "Leadership
is action, not position." With leading by example in mind, here
are guidelines to effective leadership.
1. Lead the way in how you work:"
Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too."
Expect to work twice as hard as everyone who works for you and don't be
afraid to get your hands dirty. If you can't successfully do every job in
your organization, you aren't working hard enough and you aren't
appreciating your employees enough to keep them. Of course in some cases,
this is impossible. However, you should at least try. You need your
employees respect; they will become your right hands and left hands too.
They will be the ones who you will call to work late to meet a deadline.
They will also be the ones who will sell your company to the people they
know. They will even be your customers - if they believe in you. To turn
your employees into your valuable assets, you only have to work hard,
elbow to elbow along side of them, learning to appreciate them in the
process.
2. Lead the way in how you treat people: Treat
people well as equals and with respect. This seems difficult for some and
yet it just makes good sense. In today's versatile market, where good help
is hard to find and even harder to keep, where customer loyalty is more
precious than gold and where your reputation can make or break your
business, treating people well is a no-brainer. If you can't do that,
don't worry about leading, you aren't going to be in business long anyway.
Try to give people your time. Everyone is busy, so time has become a
precious commodity. If you give of your time, people will appreciate it
and you. It will pay off. Treat people as if they were what they ought to
be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.
3. Lead the way in your attitude: Be positive
and optimistic. Our attitudes, mindsets and feelings have a direct
relationship to our experiences. The core tenants of success training
teach us how to shift and maintain a positive outlook. No one is going to
follow a neigh-sayer for long, even if they agree. They will soon join in
criticizing you. People need and want hope - always and without exception;
they will follow those who offer it, period. As Napoleon Bonaparte said,
"A leader is a dealer in hope."
4. Lead the way with your vision: "If one
is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million
realities." Each new advancement made by the human race was born of a
single idea, most of them completely unrealistic. The really radical ideas
of yesterday are today's reality. To lead, you must always remain
creative. You must stretch your imagination, especially for those who can
not. You must dream of what is not possible first, in order to make it
probable someday. "If your actions inspire others to dream
more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader".
"Leadership is the special quality which enables people to stand up
and pull the rest of us over the horizon." So dream big and share
your vision with others who can appreciate it.
5. Lead the way in education: "Leadership
and learning are indispensable to each other." You'll never know
everything. You must always be learning. A project can be devastated by an
employee who thinks they know it all. If the leader thinks this way, it
can be devastating to a company. And train the others within your
organization. It keeps things fresh. Learning causes thinking, creativity
and growth.
6. Lead the way with courage: Leaders have
fears, but they don't let it dominate them. It is to be noted that fear
kills! They muster the courage to face their fears. "A real leader
faces the music even when he doesn't like the tune" Many run away
from what they are afraid of. If you have the gumption to refuse fear's
control, then already you are a leader by example. You will bend, so even
when the wind is really blowing; Stand up. Others will notice. They always
do. If you are able to do this in business you will stand out. Risk-taking
is part of courage, playing it safe seldom delivers consistent success.
People, those within and outside your organization, will value what you
value. If you are willing to take a risk, they will too. "Don't be
afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm
in two small steps."
7. Lead the way in humility: Admit when you are
wrong and have the courage to change directions as needed. This gives
people the permission to do the same and keeps the organization dynamic
and evolving. To do otherwise wastes time and resources and could be the
end of you and your company. You will make mistakes, you will change and
you will fail. Admit it now and get over it. No matter how high up you are
or how much money you make, you are not perfect. Everyone knows it
already. Isn't it time you knew it too. Humility also dictates that
leaders learn from others, all others. A true leader will see every
other human on the planet as a teacher and will be the wiser, and
richer, for it. Leadership doesn't require perfection - if it did,
there would not be any leaders. People like to know that they can aspire
to be like their leaders, so don't set yourself up too high, where no one
can reach you. "A good leader inspires others with confidence in him;
a great leader inspires them with confidence in themselves."
8. Lead the way in Strength: This does not mean
to force your ideas through your will. There is a difference between power
versus force. Power comes from within, and is not reliant on others to
supply it. Force constantly needs energy for replenishing. Therefore it
demands energy from everyone else. Power comes with knowing, rightness,
patience and goodness. Force comes from lack, lust, impulse, feelings of
inferiority and fear. Power is eternal, force is temporary. To lead with
strength is to find the place inside where you are at peace with yourself
and your world. This connection provides the strength necessary to
continue when times are tough. True strength is admired by all, even your
enemies. It comes from deep inside, not from walking on the backs of those
underneath you. Albert Einstein said, "Only one who devotes himself
to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this
reason mastery demands all of a person."
9. Lead the way in how you play: The life of a
true leader demands balance. Good fun, time off and relaxation give life
and work meaning and appreciation. As a leader, show your people that
playing is valuable and creates a more well rounded, creative, happy &
hard-working employee. "The leadership instinct you are born with is
the backbone. You develop the funny bone and wishbone that go with
it." Good leaders laugh. Laughing is good for the soul, creativity
and your whole organization. Medically there are all kinds of benefits to
laughter but you can already feel that to be true. So, if you wish
to be an effective leader, laugh and encourage everyone around you to do
the same. This does seem like a lot to ask of our leaders. Honestly
though, the days of guru's and demi-gods are over. We can no longer trust
in them, too many have fallen. Let's not allow our aspirations for
improvement and excellence to plummet with them. "A good leader is
not the person who does things right, but the person who finds the right
things to do." Perfection is not the pinnacle we climb to reach.
Effective leadership is instead the human spirit reaching honestly for the
star it wishes to become.
10. Lead the way in Service: The mantra is:
"The first step to leadership is Let service be the motto." Step
by step, service teaches its own lessons on the path to effective
leadership. It is not one's self importance that people are attracted to.
Human kind reacts negatively to such aspects but those who find meaning in
helping others invite our esteem. Einstein wrote, "The high destiny
of the individual is to serve rather than to rule." When we
understand the interconnectedness of all people, serving takes on new
meaning. We are not only part of a global market, but we are part of a
global economy, a global climate and a global race. Everything comes
around. It's a universal law.
Conclusion: Leadership is everyone's
business. Clearly, leadership is an issue that affects all of us. Not only
are we impacted by it but also, we are all called upon to exercise it.
Whether we are called upon to be involved in leading government or
business, guiding young minds, leading a family, standing for what is
right, or organizing a dinner, a carpool, or a household, everyone has a
leadership role to play. We are each thrust into many different leadership
roles again and again, throughout our lives. We are each called upon to be
custodians of what is right and good, lasting and of value, for those in
our care. |
