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If you thought you
could make a difference, would you be willing to try? If you knew that you could
motivate others to make a difference, would you be inspired to do so? I'm sure
the answer to these questions is yes! Over the next few months, in a series of
articles, I'll share with you how you can make a difference--in your home, your
job and your community. Twelve Qualities There are twelve common
denominators -- twelve qualities -- that all effective leaders possess.
These qualities are characteristics present in all of us to some degree.
Some of these qualities are "how-to" skills and aptitudes.
Others involve philosophies and attitudes. The Twelve Qualities of Leadership A leader:
1. Has a Mission That
Matters
2. Has High Ethics.
3. Is a Team-Builder
4. Is A Big Thinker
5. Masters Change
6. Is Sensitive
7. Communicates Effectively
8. Is a Risk-Taker
9. Is a Decision-Maker
10. Uses Power Wisely
11. Is Courageous 12.
Is Committed For the past few
decades, we have been over-managed and under-led.. We learned to manage
objects and procedures, money and time, equipment and machinery.
But somewhere along the way we lost the emphasis on leadership. We forgot that while
management is important, leadership is what builds and maintains great nations,
great peoples and great companies. We all want to be
inspired, motivated, and encouraged to do our best. We feel this way when we are being led, not just managed.
That's what leadership is: influencing others to make a difference. We must set
an example that others choose to follow. And
the secret to eliciting that choice is the very essence of leadership. Leading By Example "We lead first by example!
Everything we say or do sends a message, sets a tone or teaches people what to
do or what not to do". Servant Leadership To make a difference we
must be willing to serve. True service has a high value. If we contribute our
time, emotions, energy, and effort, we can have real impact on people and
problems. Service has two main
ingredients. They are:
#1. The willingness and
ability to serve others.
#2. The type, kind, and quality of service given. Imagine your desk with
two signs. One says, "The buck
stops here." The other says,
"Service starts here." Wouldn't
that send a powerful message to others? There is a direct correlation between
how a leader serves his or her followers and how the followers serve others. The philosophy of
history's leaders who have had a positive affect on our world has been one of
service. It is invariably the
servant-leaders who have advanced mankind. When serving ask
yourself two questions. First,
"What would I want if I were dealing with me?"
That brings the idea of service to a very personal level.
And second "Who am I really serving?"
If leadership serves only the leader, it will fail. Ego satisfaction,
financial gain, and status can all be valuable tools for a leader, but if they
become there own motivations, they will eventually destroy a leader. Where To Begin When you have the
courage to say, "I will try to make a difference.
I'll take up the challenge of becoming a leader" you become part of
the grass roots leadership so badly needed today. If you lead by example and use
the power of a service ethic people will be motivated to follow.
When you mange things but lead people you will influence their behavior
and productivity. There are more opportunities for making a difference than we would ever have room to mention. |
