Leadership (more)

Leadership is one of those areas that is rich with new ideas, new perspectives and new research that enables all of us to continue to grow. Effective leaders do not have to be passionate or charming or brilliant. What they have to be is clear. It is essential that we not only be clear ourselves, but that we communicate our vision, purpose and expectations clearly. We need to have a good and consistent set of values that remain regardless of economic situation, products and or services being offered, or individuals we are involved with. Our focus should be to develop new leaders. It is not about grabbing as much power as you can or making sure that everyone knows that you are in charge. It is about lifting others up, helping them to see their potential, teaching them the lessons that we have learned, and experiencing joy in seeing them succeed. Good leaders become great leaders through practice. By trying to do the right thing, and making course correction when we miss the mark. By reading from others who have tried, failed and tried again. By learning from others, but not trying to be them. By holding our followers as capable and strong and intelligent, and assuming they are looking for success as much as we are. Remain curious, soak in the valuable lessons of others, listen carefully to those you lead, give up the need to be right, identify practices that work for you as well as those that don't, and know that we can only get better and more effective with practice.