What Does It Take To Be A True Leader?
Author: Amy Potavin
What is leadership? The dictionary defines leadership as, "a
person who by force of example, talents, or qualities pays a
directing role, wields commanding influence, or has a following
in any sphere of activity or thought." Neale Donald Walsch
writes that, "A true leader is not the one with the most
followers, but one who creates the most leaders."
Jack Welch defines a leader as someone who knows that "before
you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When
you become a leader, success is all about growing others." I
personally believe the truest and best leaders were those who
lead from the heart and who followed their own values. Leaders
like Abraham Lincoln and Jesse Jackson. Leaders like Andrew
Carnegie and even Bill Gates. They had a vision and were
unafraid to follow that vision in accordance with their own
spiritual, moral, and personal beliefs, despite intense
opposition, rejection, failure, and even personal hardship.
I believe a true leader is one who maintains an uncompromising
adherence to an internalized, but otherwise generally accepted
code of moral values; who adheres to utter sincerity, honesty,
and candor in all communication; and who avoids deception,
expediency, artificiality, or shallowness of any kind in all
situations. Quite a tough ideal to live up to, I know. Then
again, when you look around, how many TRUE LEADERS exist in
today's world?
So what does it take to be a leader? Here are ten qualities of
today's most successful leaders.
1. True leaders know who they are. They know their strengths so
that they can maximize them, and they know their weaknesses so
that they can surround themselves with colleagues that
compensate for them.
2. True leaders are genuine. They do not use false facades or
"poker faces." Instead, they say what they mean and mean what
they say. They are aware of their own inner voices and selves,
and strive to know themselves better everyday.
3. True leaders are responsible. They take total responsibility
for themselves and for their behavior. They take responsibility
for the results and consequences of their behavior. More than
that, true leaders even take responsibility for their
subordinates or others for which they feel accountable.
4. True leaders have integrity. They understand that the ONLY
viable, marketable quality in today's global economy is
CHARACTER. Merriam-Webster defines character as, "a composite
of good moral qualities typically of moral excellence and
firmness blended with resolution, self-discipline, high ethics,
force, and judgment." Every society and every culture values
these qualities, which are core to a leader's integrity.
5. True leaders are caring. They know that their "purpose" as a
leader is to SERVE those that they lead. Therefore, they have
genuine concern for the people they lead. They never belittle
or humiliate others; and they do not discount the opinions of
others, even when they disagree with them.
6. True leaders have a vision. They translate the here and now,
the immediate moment, into their vision of the future. They
focus on the big picture and can describe that picture to their
colleagues, subordinates, business partners, and customers. They
understand the long-term effects of the tasks that need to be
completed today, the desired outcomes of those tasks, and how
to communicate the immediate needs of the business in terms of
their future vision.
7. True leaders are open to change. They listen without ego or
prejudice; and they know that THEIR idea does not need to be,
and may not be, the RIGHT idea. They realize that new ideas and
new perceptions are key to progress and improvement. This key
trait keeps them, and their businesses, flexible, responsive,
and innovative in today's ever-changing business environment.
8. True leaders value the contributions of others. Leaders
understand the value of teamwork and the synergy created
through the combined efforts of several talented individuals.
They understand that their colleagues and subordinates must be
valued, and they are secure enough in their own right to allow
others the opportunity to contribute. More importantly, true
leaders recognize that their contributions may not always be
the best contributions!
9. True leaders are courageous! They understand that doing the
RIGHT thing is oftentimes not the EASY thing. They are prepared
to fight for their beliefs. They are not swayed by the
judgements and arguments of others, merely to avoid conflict or
confrontation; particularly when those judgements or arguments
do not serve the greater good. Most importantly, true leaders
will do what is right EVEN if it causes personal hardship!
10. True leaders create leaders! The best leaders treat each
individual as unique. They teach, coach, advise, and even
assist people who need it. They understand that the more they
facilitate the improvement and advancement of others, the more
they are fulfilled themselves and the better they and their
business become.
Beyond this, true leaders are authentic. Nobody is perfect, and
it is unlikely (if not impossible) that today's leaders have
EACH and EVERYONE one of these traits. But go back to the first
of these traits. True leaders KNOW WHO THEY ARE. They are honest
with those around them, and more importantly, they are HONEST
WITH THEMSELVES.
So, what does it take to be a leader? It takes the COURAGE to
look at yourself in the mirror and truly see what qualities you
have and what qualities YOU DO NOT HAVE! It means taking that
inventory, acknowledging what you may need to work on, and then
making the commitment to do the work!
So, what do you say? Do you have what it takes to be a true
leader?
About The Author: Ms. Potavin's business is to provide the
means that allows you to discover, unlock and harness your
hidden talents, inspiring you to live fully AND purposefully;
to acknowledge your achievements and accept your downfalls; and
allow yourself the opportunity to BELIEVE in your abilities and
SUCCEED in your professional and personal life. See Amy's
profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/potavin06, or visit her
at http://www.believe-network.com
person who by force of example, talents, or qualities pays a
directing role, wields commanding influence, or has a following
in any sphere of activity or thought." Neale Donald Walsch
writes that, "A true leader is not the one with the most
followers, but one who creates the most leaders."
Jack Welch defines a leader as someone who knows that "before
you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When
you become a leader, success is all about growing others." I
personally believe the truest and best leaders were those who
lead from the heart and who followed their own values. Leaders
like Abraham Lincoln and Jesse Jackson. Leaders like Andrew
Carnegie and even Bill Gates. They had a vision and were
unafraid to follow that vision in accordance with their own
spiritual, moral, and personal beliefs, despite intense
opposition, rejection, failure, and even personal hardship.
I believe a true leader is one who maintains an uncompromising
adherence to an internalized, but otherwise generally accepted
code of moral values; who adheres to utter sincerity, honesty,
and candor in all communication; and who avoids deception,
expediency, artificiality, or shallowness of any kind in all
situations. Quite a tough ideal to live up to, I know. Then
again, when you look around, how many TRUE LEADERS exist in
today's world?
So what does it take to be a leader? Here are ten qualities of
today's most successful leaders.
1. True leaders know who they are. They know their strengths so
that they can maximize them, and they know their weaknesses so
that they can surround themselves with colleagues that
compensate for them.
2. True leaders are genuine. They do not use false facades or
"poker faces." Instead, they say what they mean and mean what
they say. They are aware of their own inner voices and selves,
and strive to know themselves better everyday.
3. True leaders are responsible. They take total responsibility
for themselves and for their behavior. They take responsibility
for the results and consequences of their behavior. More than
that, true leaders even take responsibility for their
subordinates or others for which they feel accountable.
4. True leaders have integrity. They understand that the ONLY
viable, marketable quality in today's global economy is
CHARACTER. Merriam-Webster defines character as, "a composite
of good moral qualities typically of moral excellence and
firmness blended with resolution, self-discipline, high ethics,
force, and judgment." Every society and every culture values
these qualities, which are core to a leader's integrity.
5. True leaders are caring. They know that their "purpose" as a
leader is to SERVE those that they lead. Therefore, they have
genuine concern for the people they lead. They never belittle
or humiliate others; and they do not discount the opinions of
others, even when they disagree with them.
6. True leaders have a vision. They translate the here and now,
the immediate moment, into their vision of the future. They
focus on the big picture and can describe that picture to their
colleagues, subordinates, business partners, and customers. They
understand the long-term effects of the tasks that need to be
completed today, the desired outcomes of those tasks, and how
to communicate the immediate needs of the business in terms of
their future vision.
7. True leaders are open to change. They listen without ego or
prejudice; and they know that THEIR idea does not need to be,
and may not be, the RIGHT idea. They realize that new ideas and
new perceptions are key to progress and improvement. This key
trait keeps them, and their businesses, flexible, responsive,
and innovative in today's ever-changing business environment.
8. True leaders value the contributions of others. Leaders
understand the value of teamwork and the synergy created
through the combined efforts of several talented individuals.
They understand that their colleagues and subordinates must be
valued, and they are secure enough in their own right to allow
others the opportunity to contribute. More importantly, true
leaders recognize that their contributions may not always be
the best contributions!
9. True leaders are courageous! They understand that doing the
RIGHT thing is oftentimes not the EASY thing. They are prepared
to fight for their beliefs. They are not swayed by the
judgements and arguments of others, merely to avoid conflict or
confrontation; particularly when those judgements or arguments
do not serve the greater good. Most importantly, true leaders
will do what is right EVEN if it causes personal hardship!
10. True leaders create leaders! The best leaders treat each
individual as unique. They teach, coach, advise, and even
assist people who need it. They understand that the more they
facilitate the improvement and advancement of others, the more
they are fulfilled themselves and the better they and their
business become.
Beyond this, true leaders are authentic. Nobody is perfect, and
it is unlikely (if not impossible) that today's leaders have
EACH and EVERYONE one of these traits. But go back to the first
of these traits. True leaders KNOW WHO THEY ARE. They are honest
with those around them, and more importantly, they are HONEST
WITH THEMSELVES.
So, what does it take to be a leader? It takes the COURAGE to
look at yourself in the mirror and truly see what qualities you
have and what qualities YOU DO NOT HAVE! It means taking that
inventory, acknowledging what you may need to work on, and then
making the commitment to do the work!
So, what do you say? Do you have what it takes to be a true
leader?
About The Author: Ms. Potavin's business is to provide the
means that allows you to discover, unlock and harness your
hidden talents, inspiring you to live fully AND purposefully;
to acknowledge your achievements and accept your downfalls; and
allow yourself the opportunity to BELIEVE in your abilities and
SUCCEED in your professional and personal life. See Amy's
profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/potavin06, or visit her
at http://www.believe-network.com
