2.4 Qualities of Leadership
The following list of ten characteristics is a valuable guide
for leadership. In addition, it results in a quality life.
1. A high standard of personal ethics leads the list. Honest
Abe Lincoln, who walked miles to return a customer's change,
is a classic example of how personal ethics are reflected in
professional conduct. Decisions made under pressure and/or temptation
separate the great ones from the impostors.
2. High energy. Great leaders are not exhausted by dealing with
petty issues. These people know right from wrong as well as
the difference between what's truly important and what's merely
interesting.
3. The ability to work priorities shares equal importance with
setting priorities. Many brilliant priority lists end up in
the landfill of life. The difference between setting priorities
and working them through is the difference between a dreamer
and a doer.
4. Courage. The willingness to take risks and accept responsibility
for the outcome is a consistent quality among effective leaders.
Either you or your fears will control everything you do. An
organization will be no bolder than the leader.
5. Committed and dedicated hard working leaders will eventually
develop dedicated and hard working organizations regardless
of who they start with or the experience they bring to the job.
6. Unorthodox leaders have an urge to create and don't have
the patience to wait for a phone to ring before acting. Effective
leaders are innovators who bore easily and prefer shaping tomorrow
to repeating yesterday.
7. Great leaders have the goal orientation to make tough decisions.
Goal orientation produces a drive and energy that shield us
from the pain of the task. Keeping an organization focused increases
efficiency.
8. Inspired enthusiasm is like the pilot light on the oven.
Genuine enthusiasm is contagious. People look to their leaders
for enthusiasm. The inspiration level of the organization is
directly proportionate to the enthusiasm of the leader--be it
high or low.
9. Level-headed people make realistic leaders who respond to
problems rather than simply react. A leader who can stay cool
under pressure inspires confidence among those in the organization
and empowers them to do the same.
10. The desire to help others succeed is the mark of a truly
great leader. Synergy is created when a leader truly invests
his or her efforts in the success of others. Zig Ziglar says
it like this, "People don't care how much you know until
they know how much you care about them."