How are great leaders made? Simply put, practice.
Here are some principles and practices of true leadership.
1. Leaders Learn
They understand that when they lose interest in learning, they lose their edge in the world.
Good leaders know they must continue to find opportunities to learn. They crave every chance to do so, says Brian Tracey, an internationally recognized guru on leadership.
Tracey encourages anyone seeking leadership success to read at least an hour every day. That hour a day will make you a recognized leader within three years, he says.
So commit to learning for the rest of your life and embrace opportunities to do so.
2. Leaders Listen
They understand the difference between passively hearing and actively listening to what people are telling them.
They also have the wisdom to know who is worth listening to and who is not, Tracey says.
Some people just like to hear themselves talk, but they never actually say anything of any import. A janitor may have a very worthwhile story to tell that teaches wisdom on human behavior, while a millionaire may be stuck in his own ego, enjoying the sound of his own voice, but never really sharing anything worth your time to hear.
3. Leaders Develop Discipline
Discipline is the cornerstone of an effective leader’s life. Not just in business, but in everything he or she does.
Good leaders develop discipline by curbing the impulse for instant gratification. Learning to say “no” when you might say “yes” is the road to becoming more disciplined.
For example, you might say, “No, I won’t eat that cake; I’ll wait and have a piece on Friday,” or “No, I won’t sleep an extra hour.”
In other words, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Curbing your desires makes you stronger in every aspect of your life, Tracey says.
That’s why leaders discipline themselves to do necessary tasks even when they don’t feel like doing them.
4. Leaders Take Time to be Quiet
Successful leaders are usually very busy, with very little extra time in their schedules.
But the most successful ones take 15 to 30 minutes every day to be absolutely silent. They remove all distractions and noise to sit within the calm of quiet surroundings.
In this silence, they’re able to hear themselves think and feel. This helps develop their intuition, which guides them in making decisions.
5. Leaders are Compassionate
Effective leaders know that kindness trumps bad behavior; they care about others’ feelings.
They know that softly spoken words are more easily heard and understood, while yelling at peak volume typically just makes for a battle of wills.
6. Leaders Understand When to Delegate
Nothing stands in the way of accomplishing their goals, and certainly not excuses. Successful leaders are people of action, but they also understand when to be patient and when they cannot do everything themselves.
So a good leader knows the value of delegating tasks to others; no one can do everything all the time, after all. That makes delegation vital to great leadership.
That said, a gifted leader will first ensure that those to whom they delegate can actually get the job done well. In this way, they also foster success in the people they lead.
7. Leaders Manage Time Well
Successful leaders know that time is the only commodity they cannot get more of, no matter how successful they become. So they treat it with great respect.
Good leaders manage their time by planning their days with precision.
8. Leaders are Persistent
They work doggedly to accomplish their goal no matter how long it takes.
Persistence is key. The refusal to give up separates a good leader from those who would have success but give up too soon.
9. Leaders Focus on the Positive
A successful leader keeps his eye on the end result. She maintains a positive outlook, regardless of current circumstances.
Good leaders see problems as opportunities to find a solution. And they never blame others for what they’ve failed to accomplish.
Leaders understand that they are in command of their own thinking, Tracey says.
10. Leaders Value Failure
The average leader will fail many times before he or she succeeds.
They are undaunted by failures and view them as golden opportunities to get closer to their goal. And they know that failure is not an end, but a chance to learn to do it better next time.
11. Leaders are Authentic
They know that their clothes, homes and cars do not make them successful as human beings. It is their actions in the world and their intentions that make someone a leader worth following.
So a good leader is authentic in his or her approach to life, which includes day-to-day living. Their spoken principles reflect their actions.
12. Leaders Want to Share What They’ve Learned
Successful leaders are generous with sincere praise to others.
Those following in your footsteps or learning from you need to hear directly from you when they’re getting it right. So make your praise specific to what someone has accomplished. If praise is given too often or too generally, it can lose its meaning. And if it’s not given enough, people can become discouraged.
Whether you’re a manager overseeing employees or you’re mentoring students, help them embrace new challenges. When you set the example they will follow willingly.
Remember, too, that everyone learns at a different pace. Some get new techniques and ideas with ease, while others may initially struggle to understand or incorporate them. A great leader is able to work well with both types of learners.
13. Leaders Help Others Through Rough Times
Don’t see your students’ struggles as your failure, but rather as their learning curve. Motivate them with your willingness to help them through this learning process – and welcome their questions.
Students and employees feel more comfortable asking questions when they know that the process of asking questions is valued. So never dismiss a question as unworthy.
Open communication is the foundation for successful leadership, so engage those you’re leading in the process and keep them informed about their, and if applicable, the team’s, progress.
Great leaders have a variety of personalities and styles. So don’t try to become exactly like someone else; individuality is important to leadership.
It takes time to incorporate all the principles of leadership, so be patient. Read, practice and incorporate one leadership principle a week. Within a few months, you’ll be demonstrating the true qualities of leadership.
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