TRUE LEADERSHIP

 


Leadership is about communicating people’s worth so clearly and vividly that they begin to see it in themselves. It is about empowering, caring for, and inspiring others to find their own voice or calling. Only a secure leader can truly empower others.

The difference between two equally talented teams is leadership.

  • Personnel determines the quality of a team.
  • Vision determines the direction of the team.
  • Work ethic, passion, and discipline determine the performance of the team.
  • Leadership determines the success of the team. As the saying goes, "An army of sheep led by a lion will always defeat an army of lions led by a sheep."

Great leaders touch the heart before they move the hand. They know that to move people to action, they must first move them emotionally.

The six key ingredients for success in life are:

  1. Peace of mind – Freedom from fear, anger, or guilt.
  2. Healthy living – Mental and physical well-being.
  3. Lasting relationships.
  4. Financial freedom.
  5. Worthy goals and ideas.
  6. Self-actualization.

Leadership is about continuous growth and learning. Abraham Lincoln said, “I don't think much of a man who is not wiser than he was yesterday.” To do more is to be more. You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.

Leadership is also about service to others. It is only a life lived for others that is truly worthwhile.

“There are no office hours for true leaders” – Cardinal J. Gibson.

Great leaders consider others first, open themselves up to others, never violate trust, avoid manipulation, encourage others, constantly add value, and treat everyone with respect.

The three basic qualities people look for in their leaders are:

  1. Direction – Vision and purpose.
  2. Trust – Security and safety.
  3. Hope – Possibility and inspiration.

Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power or energy in the present. True leaders understand that the meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade they may never sit.

True leaders criticize performance but praise the performers. They also inspect what they expect from their team members.

Authentic leaders are focused and committed to excellence at all times. They don’t give excuses because excuses weaken resolve and limit vision. As Max DePree said, “True leaders do not inflict pain; they share pain.”

Leadership is visual – people do what they see. No matter what you teach, people will follow your example.

Great leaders develop people rather than firing them. True leaders reproduce leaders, not just followers. One of the greatest acts of leadership is mentoring. No matter how much you learn or accomplish, if it dies with you, then you are a generational failure. Growth and development are among the highest callings of leadership.

The greatest accomplishment in leadership is not attaining it but releasing it. Leadership is a relay race, not a sprint or marathon. It’s about passing on knowledge, wisdom, and achievements to the next generation, ensuring the whole team wins.

True leaders are givers. They understand that the highest riches are beyond money and that true wealth lies in enriching others. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but a moulder of consensus.”

True leaders know the importance of getting along with people. No matter how talented or engaging you may be, you cannot advance far if you cannot work through others.

Great leaders are passionate, driven by love for what they do. Their work has a higher meaning beyond a source of livelihood.

Great leadership has clarity of thought. Leaders simplify the complex, avoid a scarcity mindset, and share knowledge to add value. They communicate effectively, not just giving information but ensuring it connects with people. Sharing ideas has its own magic – the more you share, the more you internalize them.

True leaders have high energy levels, fuelled by love and passion for their work. They keep their ego in check and find peace of mind because their decisions prioritize the organization over personal interests. They build on their successes but never rest on them. “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it” – Edith Wharton.

Great leaders understand that yesterday's team cannot solve today's challenges unless its people grow.

“A true leader is one who sees more than others, sees farther, and sees before others do” – Leroy Eimes.

There are three types of leaders:

  1. Those who make things happen.
  2. Those who watch things happen.
  3. Those who wonder what happened.

Which type of leader are you? We should all strive to be leaders who make things happen. If circumstances aren’t favourable, we should create them.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power” – Abraham Lincoln.

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