Having identified, qualified, trained, and developed over a thousand leaders over the past three decades, I have realized that so many traits, talents, and abilities are needed that it is often a simplistic and unrealistic solution to say there is only one solution. necessary characteristic in each leader. Leaders vary in skills, knowledge, traits, attitudes, etc., and there are very different needs from one organization to another. However, regardless of other traits, to be an effective leader, someone must inspire others in some way that spurs others to action and a sense of ownership. John Quincy Adams wrote, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and be more, you are a leader.” Leaders must inspire others to action, not just with their rhetoric/speeches, etc., but by the example their actions set.
1. Some people in leadership positions offer advice to others, tell others to do certain things, but never really take viable action that encourages others to do things. A true leader guides others because they see what he does, and people are encouraged to see leaders who talk for the sake of talking. Imagine, for example, the owner of a restaurant who always demands that his establishment be maintained as a first-class establishment. Depending on how you treat your workers, and if you stick together and always do what it takes, thus setting a tone for a work ethic, your employees will often resent your rhetoric and not be motivated to action. Great leaders lead by example, they roll up their sleeves and go for it, they walk the walk and never ask others to do something they haven’t done first themselves.
2. Great leaders need an essential vision that not only matters to the leader, but also resonates with members of their organization. Followers must clearly understand and buy into this vision, and have them envision what could and should be, creating a dream, which is the first step in setting goals that motivate others to feel a sense of belonging and a yearning to help the community. organization. fulfill what should be your destiny.
You can’t be a leader if you don’t have anyone to follow you or if you feel strongly about your vision for the future of the organization. Only when others believe in the leader will they follow him, and they invariably have much more respect for someone who obviously feels a lot about what he says. True leaders must believe in their vision, but if they don’t make it obvious to others that they are serious by the way they act and the actions they take, then there is no leadership!