A weekly column by Peter Lawless; Business Growth Specialist and Coach to Entrepreneurs. peter@3r.ie
Next time you go to take a shower, stop take a long hard look in the mirror and you will see a leader. All of us have unique characteristics that when utilised to the full enable us to be true leaders.
I don't know whether you are familiar with the story of the ugly duckling. Ducklings are adorable little yellow fluffy things and there was one that was different. He was grey and seemed different and ugly to all of the others. He was thrown out of the nest and spurned by everyone else, because he did not conform. He was brought up by different parents and grew into a magnificent swan, that everyone thought was beautiful.
We are all different, with our own special gifts inside of us. The true art of leadership is being able to use those gifts, not solely for ourselves, but for others as well. Whether you are a parent, a boss in a big business, a supervisor or someone who knows just a little bit more about a job than the new guy you can demonstrate your leadership skills.
By reaching out and connecting with another human being to help make their life just a small bit easier, you will feel the most amazing internal glow of pride. As in loving thy neighbour as yourself, you are using some of what you have been given to help someone else.
If you ask any true leader in any successful company, why they believe their company is successful, their answer will normally be because we have some great people here.
Leaders give people a reputation to live up to. Leaders look for the best in all people and do all in their power to amplify that good. As a leader, the more you can empathise with other people, encourage and motivate them to be as good as they can be, the more they will reward you with dedication, loyalty and hard work.
It is an insecure boss who uses fear and control to manage their people. When working for someone like that, there can be a degree of frustration involved there is however a way out of that situation as well. Learn to lead your boss!
What will you do as a leader
I am going to do the paper and pen thing again here. I want you to think back over your life and write down a list of things that you are truly excellent at.
Before you start, let me give you an example. A group of kids who had all failed history were asked a series of questions about key dates relating to their favourite football teams. They all scored 100%. They had no problem with dates, they had problems with motivation to learn history the way they were being taught it.
So there are at least 5 things you are truly excellent at, I want you to write them down on a blank sheet of paper, with following heading on the piece of paper.
My excellent qualities are:
Now, can you think of 1 or 2 of those things that you could help someone else with? If you say no, then just think harder.
Go do it, help someone, maybe your child, a co-worker a friend, anyone that you know, help them to be better at something, so that they can benefit from it.
Don't just say you will do it, go and do it, and then write down specifically how you felt. Please don't read any more of this article until you have done this exercise.
Go teach someone one of your skills
Now did that feel good? That is the feeling that leaders have. Don't get me wrong, leaders don't feel this way all the time, they experience frustration, pain and anxiety the same as we all do. They just persist in believing that there is inherent good in all people and they look for it at all times.
7 Inherent Qualities all good leaders have in common
They learn to serve In order to lead by example, you must know how to perform those actions that you expect your future followers to do. Only when you know how to serve others effectively can you learn what people seek in a leader. When you know what is possible in you, then you can help others attain their own greatness.
They are genuinely interested in others Great leaders always seek out and attempt to amplify the good in all people that they meet. They are genuinely interested in what the other person has to say. They recognise the uniqueness in all people and by fostering their strengths they empower others to be the best in all that they do.
They learn and model great behaviours Revered leaders learn from what people who have gone before them have achieved. They will search out role models and mentors and learn from their wisdom. It is with the combined strengths of others and their own unique ability to connect with people that gives them their true charisma. This way the majority of the population that they encounter can feel comfortable that they have their best interests at heart
They have the ability to act on their vision A vision without corresponding action is a mirage. All leaders not only have a clear vision of what they believe is attainable; they also put in place a plan to achieve that goal, with hard work, persistence and action.
They can change when they need to While the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, when life puts an obstacle in your path, it is important to learn to adapt. Standing on the train tracks, with an express train bearing down on you, the power of positive thinking alone will not save you you need to jump clear. Leaders see obstacles as additional challenges and with challenges they see opportunities.
They recognise that leadership is not about pleasing everyone You may be able to please some of the people some of the time, but you will never satisfy all of the people all of the time. For the same reason that all people are different, it is through this difference that people will have altered perspectives on your actions. It takes a very strong leader to take a course of action that will displease a lot people, especially if they do not have access to all of the facts that the leader may have.
They are different - If everybody was the same, then nobody could step in to the role of being a leader. Recognising your difference, your individuality and some times a perception of unpopularity you may feel, will single you out for greatness. By choosing to act in a positive way, to what at times may seem unfair and fearful, will instil in you a strong self belief and drive that will ensure your future success and happiness.
Just as we all have seeds of greatness inside us, one or more of those seeds can be helped to flourish into true leadership skills. For some it is natural. Did you ever go to a children's playground, with your kids and see they way some kids naturally help the others on to the swings, slides and roundabouts?
You will see others who want to do everything and force the other kids to follow them in everything they do. These children have something to prove, normally to their parents who expect too much of them or who are disappointed in something they can not do.
The real leaders look out for others and can be quite sensitive to how others treat them. Sometimes leaders need encouragement, because they can take rejection or an inability to do a particular task, completely to heart
The reality is that these people, who really care about how others think, are the future of our world.
Have you found the leader inside yourself yet?
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