Leadership – Give it a Try

When the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow to the end and at all costs. – Harold J. Seymour

We often use expressions like “A born leader” without worrying too much about just what a leader is. Trying to define the characteristics of a leader is almost as difficult as acquiring the qualities of leadership.

We’ll begin with some definitions of leadership:

• Leadership is guiding and showing the way for other people and helping them work together to find direction. It’s getting people to cooperate and do things together.
• Leadership is the ability to be looked upon as a role model.
• Being a leader is being able to stand up for what you believe in. It means you help to make new ideas – you don’t just follow old ones.
• Leadership starts with responsibility. Your actions not only affect you, but everyone you represent.

Guidance, cooperation, being a role model, making new ideas, responsibility — a leader is a lot of things to a lot of people. When you manage a business it’s extremely helpful to be able to lead your team rather than just trying to manage them along with the income and expenses.

Begin by understanding that being a leader is not all about glory and showmanship. It’s especially not about popularity as great leaders are often unpopular. Leaders are the people in charge and by definition must have followers to lead.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower.

This comes from a man who had a lot of leadership experience, first as a General during the Second World War, then as President of the United States.

It’s probably the most important point of all. Leaders somehow manage to get their followers to want to do what the leader wants them to do. Leadership is motivation of the highest order.

Leaders turn a group into a team. A group can be simply a number of people who share a workplace or some common interest. A group can even have a leader, but that doesn’t make it a team.

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” – Theodore M. Hesburgh.
Teams have members who work together to achieve shared goals. They share a commitment to a vision and that vision comes from their leader. Because of this a team is far more productive than a group and because of their motivation is actually easier to manage.

If you want to effectively lead your team you must first be in control of yourself. Set an example of dedication and self-discipline that others can emulate.

Leadership is conducted from the front but always with a line of communication to those who are following behind. To avoid being the leader of a mob, determine a structure for your organization and appoint strong administrators to maintain that structure. Give these other leaders encouragement and praise.

Most people, and that includes those in your team, want a strong leader. They want to be shown the way and have a source of guidance, evaluation and decisions about important matters. As a leader you are there to both create and maintain a corporate vision and to communicate that vision to others so they can work to achieve it.

“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader.

Just because you own the business won’t automatically make you a leader. That’s a title you have to earn — and maintain as well.

Go back to that idea that there are “born leaders”. It should be clear by now that good leaders are made, not born. Good leaders can evolve in an organization if they have sufficient drive and determination, or they can become leaders by themselves through a process of self-education and development.

Good leaders lead by example. They create a team environment that encourages all members to cooperate with each other and work to achieve their full potential. They get the job done through the team because the team wants to do it.

Maybe you’re already a leader. Maybe you’d like to become a leader or perhaps a better leader. Regardless of your motivations there are many reasons why you should be a leader to your team and not just a manager. Here are some techniques to practice:

• Take on extra responsibility when given the opportunity.
• Be approachable and accessible.
• Share the credit and shoulder the blame.
• Learn to read people.
• Thank people for their contributions.
• Be flexible about how to attain a goal.
• Make sure each and every individual feels important.
• Give feedback in a timely manner.
• Take the initiative.

“Leaders help others to succeed.”  Erin Templet

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Copyright 2004, RAN ONE Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from www.ranone.com.