Written by Pam
What makes a great leader?
Why is it that some people inspire others?
We all have people in our lives that seem to be able to create an environment of cooperation and success.
People that we love to follow no matter where they might lead.
Then there are those that we just don’t feel so comfortable with, that just do not inspire us to do anything!
Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things
Peter Drucker
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?
So, what exactly is leadership? Firstly, it shouldn’t be confused with management. Management is positional and usually gained by appointment. Leadership is not positional and comes from the character of a person rather than a credential or a title.
Great leaders may have a management role, but leadership shows up long before any kind of appointment.
beacauseSo, what makes a great leader?
Leaders:
- First lead themselves
- Are Forever learning
- Show integrity
- Initiate – choose action over reaction
- Value people
- Develop and Empower Others
- Inspire followers
What does it mean to lead yourself first?
It means to do what is expected and to be the first to do what needs to be done because it is what needs to be done. Not because someone said to do it, or because someone else took the action first.
Leading yourself means never expecting others to do something you would not do yourself.
Leaders are forever learning…
A true leader knows that whatever knowledge they have there is always more to know, and reading is a great way to expand knowledge.
Some of the most successful people take time out of their busy schedule to read. Bill Gates is reported to read 50 books a year and Tony Robbins attributes his learning through reading to overcoming his difficult childhood.
A great mentor can also be invaluable. Someone who has been where you are and is now where you want to be and is willing to share their experience with you.
Initiate
You only have control of how you react, not what others do. A great leader chooses to act in a situation and not let the situation or person affect their action. Staying calm in a crisis, coming up with outside the box solutions and having the courage to take risks are all ways in which leaders initiate action.
Integrity
When you think of a great leader, who do you think of? Nelson Mandela perhaps or Oprah or someone else? One thing that is certain, whoever they are, they will have integrity.
Integrity is defined as ‘adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.’ It’s doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Taking the focus off yourself and placing it on others for the greater good.
Great leaders put others first and in doing so create an environment of trust.
Value people
We all want to feel appreciated and in today’s busy world sometimes this can be hard to find. By taking the time to give someone honest appreciation and really noticing the value they bring a true leader brings out the best in those around them.
By letting people know that that their contribution is valued and taking their concerns into account, great leaders inspire others to follow.
A life is not important except for its impact on other lives.
Jackie Robinson
Inspire others
To be a great leader is to inspire others to do something they wouldn’t have done on their own.
By building relationships with others and having them see your leadership attributes you can create a following. A community of like-minded people who share your goals and see your commitment to reaching them.
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