Leadership

Leadership

Have you ever wanted to be a good leader? It is really hard to judge if you are a good one or not. In my life and I am sure in yours you have had good and bad bosses/leaders in your life. I am sure both the good and the bad think they are awesome leaders. So how do you really know?

Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich gives some good guide lines. As I was reading them this afternoon it was really easy to think of some people who fit the descriptions to a tee. If you are like me you enjoy working for and being around the “good” leader/ bosses and you can’t wait to find a new job when you have one of those who just don’t have the good leadership traits down.

Napoleon gives 11 attributes of good leadership.

1st is Unwavering courage based upon knowledge of self and one’s occupation. A good leader has awesome self confidence and courage. When a leader/boss has the confidence & courage to step up to the plate it makes it easy for the followers to follow. I know for me it makes a major difference when the leadership knows where they are going and have the courage and confidence to lead the way. I know I personally don’t want to follow someone who has no clue where they are headed.

2nd is Self Control. Bottom line is that if someone can’t control themselves, how can they even think about controlling or leading someone else?

3rd – A keen sense of Justice. Fairness and justice are so important for a leader to have. If you don’t feel that fairness, it is hard to get behind someone and follow. It would be hard to let your guard down and trust them enough to follow. I know I wouldn’t.

4th is Definiteness of Decision. I have had leader/bosses who change direction with the weather. You never know if the latest project is on or off because things change so often. It makes it hard to get behind someone or something when you aren’t sure it will be moving forward tomorrow. It makes me lose respect for someone who can’t hold fast to plans and decisions. Feels like they are flapping in the wind. NOT good.

5th - Definiteness of Plans. This one goes right along with #4. If you can’t make a definite decision than how can you have definite plans. And if you don’t have definite plans how can you accomplish anything. A successful leader must plan his work and work his plan. Reminds me of a person starting out on vacation and not having a clue which direction they are planning on traveling. They will never know when they get there that way.

6th is the habit of doing more than paid for. A leader should always be willing to do more than his followers. I have had bosses who literally do nothing. They crack the whip but don’t feel like they have pull their weight at all.

7th is a pleasing personality. A pleasing personality is something everyone should strive for. Who want to follow a grumpy butt. Leadership depends on respect and who can respect someone without a pleasing personality. Leaders and followers alike should be working on this one.

8th – Sympathy and understanding. A quality leader should have compassion for their followers and strive to understand their lives and struggles.

9th – Mastery of Detail. A leader needs to understand all the plans to the last detail. If they don’t know the details then how can they encourage and support the followers when they come upon a problem. Leaders need to understand things down to the most finite detail. Not just the big picture.

10th is Willingness to Assume Full Responsibility. Napoleon says “A successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings of his followers.” The leader is the buck stops here person.

11th is Cooperation. Leadership calls for power and power calls for cooperation.

As I go over all 11 of these characteristics, I know leaders who have them all and some who have none of them. As I strive to become a leader in Empower Network. I plan to keep these attributes at the forefront of my thinking. As I start leading, I can be successful and a good leader or I can fall on my face and be a failure. My goal is to be a total success.

If you are interested in learning about Empower Network. Just click on the link to the side and I will be glad to help you learn all you need to know.

Until next time,
Have the best day ever!!!
Charyl aka mom8isme