May 29th, 2012

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who will decide where to go. Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go

What defines a Leader?

A leader is someone who has a vision, and the skills to make the vision happen.  Leaders see the big picture.  Leaders know themselves.  They know where they’ve been, where they are, and where they are going.  Leaders have values, skills, and characteristics that set them apart from others.  To be successful in your career you must focus on developing your leadership skills.  Effective leaders

·         Know how to put their best foot forward-First Impressions

·         Are Knowledgeable about what they believe in

·         Are Good Managers of Time

·         Are Good Communicators

·         Identify Stress and Coping Mechanisms to Manage Stress

Take one quality listed below and have a 15-30 minute discussion on it in each of your next 10 staff meetings.  Each definition in the list below contains discussion questions to start the groups’ discussion about leadership qualities.  The more you make such discussions and “mini-training” part of your routine, the more your leaders will focus on and develop these skills.

Integrity

How deep are your convictions on the things you believe in? What do you believe in SO MUCH about your work that you will stand up to anyone about it? How much are you willing to compromise your important beliefs? To what extent do your behavior and the choices you make align with your guiding values and principles?

Vision/strategy

Can you see, do you see where your department, team, and organization are going? How often do you talk about the ways in which what you are doing in your area is related to the overall mission? Do you think and speak inspiringly about what the organization is doing and about the future of the organization?

Adaptability

To what degree can you relinquish rigidity? Control? When is it easy and when difficult for you to embrace change? How do you react when things don’t go as planned?

Teamwork

To what extent do you value working cooperatively as part of a group? How do you promote teamwork among those you lead? In what ways do you work collaboratively with your peers? How do you handle team conflict?

There are many other leadership qualities not listed above.  Leaders can adapt and think on their feet.  They are supportive of their subordinates and accept responsibility for the failures of the team and acknowledge the successes as a team accomplishment.  Effective leaders are self-aware; they build upon their strengths and work on their weaknesses. 

When you have talented and effective leaders in your organization, you're well on your way to success. Develop these leadership skills in yourself and in your team members – and you'll see the performance and productivity of your entire team improve.  

Be the person others choose to follow.