Character Traits of Extraordinary Leaders
August 26, 2010
When people make a decision (either consciously or unconsciously) to follow your leadership, they do it primarily because of one of two things: Your Character or your Skills. They want to know if you are the kind of person they want to follow and if you have the skills to take them further. Yes, there are other variables but these are the bulk of the matter. This week we focus on the kind of character that causes people to follow your leadership.
1. Integrity. Integrity is that you do what you say you will. You are trust worthy. People can rely on you. You keep your promises. The one thing that will most keep people from following you is if they can’t know for sure if you will actually take them where you say you will. Are you known as a person of integrity? If so, you will become an Extraordinary Leader!
Leader is Not a Title
July 25, 2010
There is a steady flow of information in the form of books, articles, white papers and training all in the context of [ “what is leadership” or “how to develop a leader”]?. In this issue, I will avoid those two questions and write about two others that I believe might be on the minds of a lot you readers and they are:
Why does better leadership make a difference? and
How does better leadership achieve those differences?
If you ask yourself and others the first question, why does better leadership make a difference? the answer will most likely be because better leadership creates high performing teams with strong sense of personal and collective power. Better leadership makes a difference because it creates a workplace where morale is high, employees are satisfied and committed to high standards of productivity resulting in high profits.
Imagine a utopia for a workplace where everyone is working together in harmony, and the spirits are high. A place where everyone is satisfied, focused and committed to do their best. Now ask yourself what would the consequences be? The consequences would be high productivity, higher profits and satisfied and loyal employees.
Leadership Prep
June 20, 2010
So you want to be a leader? Or you want to be a better leader? It can be done, you know. No matter where you are in your leadership journey, you CAN move forward. You CAN lead better. You CAN lead more people. You CAN lead your organization to higher ground.
Yes, you CAN!
But let me tell you this: You won’t do it via osmosis! It won’t just "happen." Growing in your leadership is not something that comes from the fairy godmother of leadership. You can’t touch the hem of Jack Welch’s garment and become "Super-Leader!" Oh, that it were that easy!
So what does it take?
Time.
Experience.
Training.
Hard Knocks.
A Mentor.
Discipline.
And a few others.
But let’s start at the very beginning. You want to be a leader. That’s good. You want to be a better leader. That’s good too. But what comes first? Preparation. Leadership Prep. What is it? What needs to happen in order to get yourself ready to become a leader? As you get ready for 2002 and you want to take the next step in your leadership, take these last days of November and go through a little reflection on Leadership Prep.
The Challenge to Lead
May 21, 2010
The topic of leadership has been and continues to be one of the most vital topics in human history. From ancient civilizations to modern day multi-national corporations, men and women of passion, fervor and zeal have sought to discover the secrets of moving others beyond the gray of their mundane reality to the rich array of colors that embody the palate of the extraordinary life.
Every organization or collection of people, from large to small, requires ardent and skilled leaders. It has been said that everything rises and falls on leadership, and it is true. Every group - families, cities, churches, associations and yes, even nations - fulfills its purposes and potential based on the leadership it is shown.
As leaders we are given the charge, responsibility, and the privilege to see grand visions, to dream lofty dreams, to forge new ground, and to challenge and encourage those who would follow our leadership to ascend the heights with us. We beckon them to come. We implore them. All for their own good. This is to lead them toward their possibilities.
Leadership A Perspective From Tao
April 18, 2010
Tao Te Ching said to be written by Lao Tzu during the period of warring states in china around the second century B.C.; a compilation of Chinese philosophy dating back to 6th century B.C. or even earlier, is a profound philosophical work with many lessons for the corporate of the 21st century.
There is a lot of debate on issues of what differentiates a leader from a manager. One of the biggest challenges for leaders is to lead and lead by example. He is less preoccupied with control functions which are a function of knowledge and more with broader objectives of how the future should be shaped. Future can be shaped with visions, dreams and emotions. He also realizes that for the future to shape up well he needs to utilize the Present to the maximum advantage. He can achieve higher ideals and aspirations only when he is in touch with the ground realities. Experience of events and situations and behavioral aspects bring him closer to current realities and help discern the undercurrents of change so that he can translate them to better solutions.
The Ten Commandments of Leadership
March 18, 2010
A poem hangs on the wall at Mother Theresa’s orphanage in India. For all who are called to lead, it is a great reminder of what we should do:
1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered (including me). Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the littlest people with the littlest ideas. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the best you have anyway.
About The Author:
Chris Top 7 Favorite Leadership Books
February 12, 2010
1. The West Point Way of Leadership.
GREAT book by a man who taught leadership at West Point for 20 years.
2. Developing the Leader Within You.
All around book. Follow-up book is Developing the Leaders Around You.
3. Lincoln On Leadership.
Looks at the Life of Honest Abe and the lessons of leadership he exhibited.
4. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
A classic on everybody’s list
5. Servant Leadership.
Reminds us we serve those who follow.
6. Leadership Jazz.
Lots about shaping the values of an organization.
7. Oh The Places You’ll Go.
(Okay, it is a Dr. Seuss Book, but I kid you not, this could be subtitled Leadership Lessons for Kids… And Big Kids Too. I read it to my kids often and am reminded of what it takes to have a successful journey.)
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
Embracing Adversity for Achievement
January 13, 2010
“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” — Lou Holtz
Success in life depends upon being strong people with clear goals and indomitable spirits. Unfortunately most of us aren’t born that way. We grow that way. And that growth can either come from us entering willfully into situations that will cause us to grow, like subscribing to Made for Success, or from the way we react when circumstances come upon us without our consent. The latter is what we call adversity.
Most of us spend our lives trying to avoid adversity, and I guess that is just as well. We shouldn’t pursue adversity, but when she arrives, we should welcome her as a foe who, though our interaction with her, will make us into better people. Every contact we have with adversity gives us again the opportunity to grow personally and professionally and to forge our character into one that will achieve much later on.
With that in mind, here are some thoughts on adversity, and how it can help you to succeed in every area of your life and achieve your dreams.
Leadership - L.P.B It!
December 11, 2009
“Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things, but the absence of vision.” - Anonymous
This article in for anyone who is currently unsure, unknowing, on-the-fence, and/or otherwise “searching” for the answer to whether or not he/she can be an effective leader.
The answer? Quite simply is: “Maybe” or “Maybe Not”!
No, we are not trying to be funny or in any way make light of the question.
The simple truth of the matter is this. Whether you think you can be an effective leader, OR you think you can’t be - You Are Right!
Just take a moment and think about the original question. “Can I be an effective leader?” We challenge you to ask this question again, but in a slightly different way.
Rather than asking, “Can I …?” - Instead ask: “WILL I be an effective leader?”
Asking the question this way, makes something very clear to the person asking the question. That “something” is that each of us has a choice to make as to what we want to be in any given moment. THE CHOICE IS OURS.
Leadership - Connect to Engage!
November 8, 2009
It’s been said many times that true leadership is measured by ones ability to motivate and influence others.
Leaders must work hard at motivating people to take action necessary to drive change and to ultimately increase results.
Even though most people would agree with the definition of leadership as the ability to motivate and influence others, most people still have trouble translating the definition of leadership into actionable and measurable steps.
The biggest obstacle faced by many leaders is simply figuring out how to effectively motivate and influence an entire team comprised of unique individuals.
Let’s face it, not everyone is motivated by the same things, nor is everyone influenced to take action or change behavior based on the same factors.
So, what can leaders do to motivate and influence the ENTIRE team?
Here is the elusive one-word answer: CONNECT.
Leaders must invest the time in each and every one of their team members to, get to know them - to build a connection based on trust, honesty and respect. (Keep in mind, this personal connection must always remain professional and appropriate. Enough said on that.)
