QUALITIES OF A LEADER
I went in a search to become a leader. I searched high and low. I spoke with
authority. People listened.
But alas, there was one wiser than I, and they followed that individual.
I sought to inspire confidence, but the crowd responded, "Why should I trust
you?"
I postured, and I assumed the look of leadership with a countenance that
flowed with confidence and pride.
But many passed me by and never noticed my air of elegance. I ran ahead of
others, pointed the way to new heights. I demonstrated that I knew the route to
greatness. And then I looked back, and I was alone.
"What shall I do?" I queried. "I’ve tried hard and used all that I know."
I sat down and pondered long. And then, I listened to the voices around me.
And I heard what the group was trying to accomplish. I rolled up my sleeves
and joined in the work. As we worked, I asked, "Are we all together in what we
want to do and how to get the job done?"
And we thought together, and we fought together, and we struggled towards our
goal.
I found myself encouraging the fainthearted.
I sought the ideas of those too shy to speak out.
I taught those who had little skill.
I praised those who worked hard.
When our task was completed, one of the group turned to me and said, "This
would not have been done but for your leadership."
At first, I said, "I didn’t lead. I just worked with the rest."
And then I understood, leadership is not a
goal. It’s a way of reaching a goal.
I lead best when I help others to go where we’ve decided to go.
I lead best when I help others to use themselves creatively.
I lead best when I forget about myself as a leader and focus on my group...their
needs and their goals.
To lead is to serve...to give...to achieve
together.
In its mandate to spread knowledge, PVAF finds the answers to the following
questions very useful in sNsaarik life when one is a LEADER with the name
"MANAGER". The Focus of Great Managers who wishes to be highly effective
managers is to get "totally agree" scores from subordinates on the following six
questions:
1. Do I know what is expected of me?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good
work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
(From: "First Break all the Rules by Buckingham and Coffman, (Simon &
Schuster Pub.)
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