I work with women in business who want to become successful leaders but, aren’t quite sure if they have what it takes to lead. So, what makes a great leader? Is leadership something we are born with or can we become a skilled leader by observing and learning from others?
Let me ask you this:
1. What is your definition of leadership?
2. What does a leader do?
3. How do you know when someone is a leader?
I’d say that before you continue reading this article, you make a few minutes of quiet time with paper and pen and answer the three questions. Knowing what your current perceptions of leadership are now, will help you better understand what you believe makes a great leader.
I’m going to ask you one more question:
Do you believe you have what it takes to be a great leader?
Let’s start with a general definition of a leader and leadership:
A leader is someone others are willing to follow.
Leadership is a set of qualities and traits that when present, encourages people to follow you.
What sets someone apart as a great leader? Here’s what I’ve personally learned about leadership:
1. A great leader inspires trust. They do what they say they are going to do when they say they are going to do it.
2. A great leader acts responsibly. You can count on a great leader to be one of the first people to consistently step forward to take on the tasks that others may not want to tackle.
3. A great leader is accountable. President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that said, “The Buck Stops Here.” Accountability and responsibility go hand-in-hand.
4. A great leader is consistent. Leadership involves developing a workable plan of action and then responsibly and consistently working that plan.
5. A great leader can motivate and inspire. A great leader is more than a cheerleader because they have the ability to inspire consistent action from themselves and others. How do they do that? A great leader motivates and inspires by being a great role model.
I’m reminded of this quotation from Christian Nevell Bovee:
"Six traits of effective leaders:
1. Make others feel important;
2. Promote a vision;
3. Follow the golden rule;
4. Admit mistakes;
5. Criticize others only in private;
6. Stay close to the action.
Example has more followers than reason. We unconsciously imitate what pleases us, and approximate to the characters we most admire."
What do you think; can these qualities and traits be learned? Do you have the desire and confidence to become a great leader?
Now that you’ve read this article let me ask you again,
1. What is your definition of leadership?
2. What does a leader do?
3. How do you know when someone is a leader?
Have any of your original answers changed and do you now think differently about leadership?
I believe we become a great leader by leading ourselves first.
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Sharon Recommends
I have two books I'd like to recommend - these books are short and to the point and yet, provide some great leadership lessons:
Here is a direct link to Amazon.com where you can purchase and read more about one of my favorite books - Self Leadership and The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard: Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Increasing Effectiveness Through Situational Self Leadership
Here is an offsite link to Amazon.com to another leadership book I'd recommend Fish!: Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
I've purchased this book for myself and my opinions are solely mine. I am also an affiliate of Amazon.com and if you purchase this book through this link, I will earn a commission.
