Be the leader others want to follow

There is no shortage of examples of poor leadership. Who hasn’t had a boss who invoked feelings of disrespect? A good leader is someone who energizes, inspires, motivates, and unites, while producing positive results. Here are 12 keys to being a leader others want to follow:

·         Give more than you expect others to give.

·         Set the example.

·         Remember it is not about you, but about the team.

·         Combine optimism and perseverance.

·         Express appreciation and give credit where credit is due.

·         Check your ego at the door.

·         Show respect for the people around you.

·         Be a source of inspiration.

·         Stress cooperation, not competition.

·         Maintain a sense of humor.

·         Be a teacher, coach and mentor.

·         Hold yourself and others accountable.

If you do not have a boss, teacher, father, or mother with any of these characteristics, then let it begin with you.  You can be the leader you want to see in others.

Lighting The Way

With all of the negativity and violence experienced in the lives of many young inner city men, I have found an illustration of hope.  About 3 years ago I met two young men, Madison and Alexander who were involved in the real estate market and the network marketing industry.  Later I was introduced to Omar. They were very successful, which allowed them to work for themselves full-time.  I was impressed and encouraged by their commitment to take care of their families and their determination to make a positive impact on society.  They are three of the most fearless and creative young men I know.

Madison, Alexander, and Omar are leaders that are making a difference in the lives of their families, friends and in their respective businesses.  It encourages me to see these men who are actively engaged in building a better life for themselves and helping others along the way.  None of them asks for a hand out, but through focus, diligence, creativity, and integrity they are positively impacting lives.

They have collaborated and worked hard to open a music production studio, graphic design and entrepreneurial development businesses.  They support each other in their respective enterprises and want the best for each other.  This is not a competition where they want the other to fail.  They genuinely want the best for each other through the exchange of ideas on how to make each other’s business successful.

I see a bright future for these men of inspiration and courage.  I cannot wait to see where they land in their ultimate destination.  I know that they will achieve their goals and dreams and will be great examples for other young men and women to follow.  I am so proud of them!

Life is about choices and the choices they have made clearly will change their lives forever.

Leadership Toolkit

While working for a large construction company, one of my responsibilities was managing a large fleet of vehicles.  As part of our fleet operations we had a vehicle safety program, which mandated that each vehicle in the fleet be outfitted with a toolkit.  This kit had just about everything the driver would need to handle emergencies and to keep the vehicle running smoothly.  With this kit in the back of the vehicle, the driver could travel with complete confidence, knowing that if necessary they had  the tools and supplies necessary to help them get to their destination.

Just like the toolkit in our vehicles, every leader needs to possess the right tools  in their toolkit if they are going to succeed in their role as a leader and help their team arrive safely at its destination.  These essentials are critical to the formation of their philosophy and how they develop and lead people.  Below is a brief inventory list of what the leader needs to have in his/her toolkit:

A B I L I T Y

"Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment."

Baltasar Gracian

V I S I O N

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."

William Arthur Ward

P O S I T I V E   A T T I T U D E

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."

Helen Keller

C H A R A C T E R

"Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking."

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

D E T E R M I N A T I O N

 “Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find a way.”

Abraham Lincoln

H O N E S T Y

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."

Thomas Jefferson

H O P E

 “The men who build the future are those who know that greater things are yet to come, and that they themselves will help bring them about. Their minds are illuminated by the blazing sun of home. They never stop to doubt. They haven’t time.”

Melvin J. Evans

C O N F I D E N C E

 "The ultimate leader is one who is willing to develop people to the point that they eventually surpass him or her in knowledge and ability."

Fred A. Manske, Jr.

O P P O R T U N I T Y

 “An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity, a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.”

Sir Winston Churchill

S T R E N G T H

 "We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more."

Madame Swetchine

After reading the above list, what other tools can you add to your toolkit?  Do you have any missing tools?  

Real Leadership Qualities

This past week the Republicans started the first in a series of debates.  After the debate a focus group was held to get the opinions of people participating in the group.  They were asked what they liked or disliked about each candidate?  The one word that consistently came out was leadership and leadership qualities.  The people of this country are thirsting for real leadership.  The American people are looking for men and women who will say what they are going to do and do what they say.  Real leadership involves several key ingredients:

A Leadership Philosophy

A leader must lead with a clear vision, create a vivid picture of where to go, as well as a have a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it.  The leader must communicate clearly, passionately, honestly and often. 

A Set of Operating Principles

A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, and inspiring others to do the same.

Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Integrity is who you are even when no one is around. 

Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the 9+ team, only opportunities to achieve something great, together.

Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. A leader must avoid jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they are more apt to be loyal and dedicated employees.

Humility. Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader tries to elevate everyone.

Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.

Acknowledging Contributions means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the company. On the other hand, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures.  My philosophy has always been my team will get the credit when we succeed and I will take the blame when we fail. 

A sense of humor is important to relieving tension as well as to bring calm to hostile situations.  Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just a few traits I believe are important in a leader.  As we move closer to the next Presidential election, what key traits are most important to you in a candidate?