Everyone has the gift of leadership. One way or
the other, people are impacting and influencing someone around them DIRECTLY or
INDIRECTLY. So, what does it really take to be a leader? What are the traits
and characteristics that certain people display that motivates people to take
their directions and follow their lead?
Although there are all types of DIFFERENT
leadership STYLES for all kinds of situations, ultimately there are certain
basic characteristics and values all TRUE leaders seem to have in common. True
leadership is not a noun, it's a
verb.
1. THE WILLINGNESS TO SERVE
Real leaders are constantly thinking about how
to add value to others to make a difference in their lives. They are more
interested in thinking about how they can serve and contribute, rather than
being served.
True leadership begins with a willingness to
serve. One of the greatest examples in history of such leadership is Jesus
Christ. Servanthood is an attitude exemplified by Him. "For even the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom
for many" (Mark 10:45) With love and humility, Jesus Christ was able to
transform lives while serving them. Through His leadership, servanthood
transcended all that it was thought to be and became what it was never imagined
to be.
When your leadership is built on love, humility,
and servanthood, obstacles are overcome through love's fruit of optimism.
Foundations are built solid and secure in love's values, and success is
achieved through the strength found in love's endurance. A Servant Leader
utilizes love to fuel himself and his people, to achieve anything and
everything.
"If
serving is below you, leadership is beyond you." -- Anonymous
2. THE COURAGE TO SHIFT
People want to follow someone who is courageous
enough to make changes when they are called for. The number one reason most
leaders fail is indecision. They lack the ability to make a definitive decision
and act. What people love to see in a leader is someone who can create change
and move things forward in a new direction. I call it LEADERSHIFT:
LeaderSHIFT:
S - Surpass the status quo
H - Honor your values
I - Impact the world
F- Focus on your purpose
T - Transcend boundaries
3. CORE VALUES TO LIVE BY
Integrity and character are crucial for someone
to be an effective leader. Leaders must demonstrate clear core values in the
way they treat other people and in their own behavior. Don't just be concerned
about your own reputation, be concerned about building character that
exemplifies the core values of faith, family, passion, integrity, serving
others, accomplishments and legacy, to develop trust and respect.
4. COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT
Leaders who are willing to give and receive
feedback naturally attract more followers. Communication is key. People want to
follow a leader who can simplify a complicated concept, break it down and
communicate clearly enough to make it understandable to a mass group of people.
By simply asking, listening, connecting, and
challenging, an ordinary conversation brings extraordinary results. Oftentimes,
there are leaders who fail because they assume that when they talk, they
connect. Talking will not do the connecting; the asking, listening, and
challenging will create the connection and make the communication valuable.
These small tweaks will yield great results and better understanding, which
will positively impact your personal and professional relationships. Communicate
to connect, never assume, always verify.
Active listeners listen more than they talk.
Listen more than is comfortable. Listen more than most people. Listen, and
listen and listen...then they ask the next question and listen again... that's
a game changer... It will impact your ability to connect, to coach, or to
sell.
5. EFFECTIVENESS TO CREATE IMPACT
People follow leaders who are EFFECTIVE. There
is a distinction between being busy and being effective. Leaders shouldn't be
so constantly busy they can't be effective. They need to stay focused on their
primary job of setting direction and not getting bogged down in minutiae and
other things that distract them from their purpose. They need to major in the
majors, and not the minors.
- Leadership is about
promoting creativity, not just the corporate traditional
ways of doing things.
- Leadership is about getting
people to be "willing to" achieve and
not feeling like they "have to" achieve.
- Leadership is about
helping people to feel like partners, not participants.
- Leadership is not about "charismatic
command and control persuasion" anymore; it is increasingly
about the collaborative and horizontal skills of trust and
influence.
- Leadership is about leading
from humility, not pride.
- Leadership is about
the direction; not the position.
- Leadership is about growth; not
just goals.
- Leadership is about people; not
just process.
- Leadership is
about significance; not just success.
- Leadership is about multiplying; not
just adding.
- Leadership is about influence; not
just involvement.
- Leadership is about
the purpose; not just profit.
6. LEADERSHIP TO LEGACY
Successful leaders look for and develop their
own replacement to be their successor. They leave a legacy behind that
continues to express their core values. "LEADERS today
will leave a LEGACY tomorrow."
I believe LEGACY is an important partner to
LEADERSHIP. To cultivate a spirit of leadership and inspire others to act
with passion and lead with integrity, transforms life and results in leaving a
LEGACY for others to follow. A legacy is the impact and impression an
individual makes and leaves behind on the lives of others. It no longer
represents the individual. It represents the people who carry on his or her
concepts with passion and integrity.
Leaders are defined by the following
characteristics found in L.E.G.A.C.Y.
- Leadership
- Enthusiasm
- Generosity
- Authenticity
- Compassion
- Youthfulness
Do you have what it takes to be a true leader? I
AM SURE YOU DO...IF YOU DON'T THINK SO, WORK ON DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS NOW.
Farshad Asl Top Leaders News Top Leaders Academy
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