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By: Ben DeGeorge
“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” - Ralph Nader.
You are only one person. However, you probably have goals that are nearly impossible for only one person to accomplish. In order to accomplish and even blow past your goals, you will need to become a much better leader, empowering and inspiring others to make your mission their own.
Scary fact: Most people who are in leadership positions, or who consider themselves leaders are not great leaders. Exciting fact: Leadership is a skill. It can be learned and improved upon. Even if you don’t have a fancy title, you are still a leader and can lead those around you (or those above you!)
Here are some very simple, effective things that you can do right now to improve your ability to make a difference. Read each point slowly, take action on it immediately and review it often.
Form friendships first, do work second. People who join my organizations and volunteer their time are always people who I have created friendships with beforehand. “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” - John Maxwell.
Help others before helping yourself. The more you help others, the more you will be helped. You can solve a lot of your own problems by solving other people’s problems. Here is a HUGE secret for you: Those who experience HUGE success become very good at solving other people’s problems.
Acknowledge people’s accomplishments. Give other people credit instead of giving it to yourself.Send hand written thank you notes to people. Let your colleagues know that someone did something great in the office. Compliment others on their strengths. Do this again and again and again, forever.
Be accountable. As a member of an organization, you are responsible for its success. If you are working inside of a business, it is not only the CEO’s job to see it succeed, it is yours. If you have committed yourself to something, and it does not succeed, it is your fault as well as anyone else’s fault.
Bring in the loner. In any group, there is often one or more “outsiders” who do not yet feel part of the rest of the group. These people will eventually leave the group, unless you do something. You can bring that person in to the group by building a relationship with them and making them a part of the community.
Join and lead a volunteer organization. If you can lead a volunteer organization, you can lead anything. This kind of real world experience is invaluable and will help you develop your skills faster than any book, class or article.
Never have others do something you would not do. Show those who you lead that you can work hard. Once you do that, they will work harder for you.
Communicate like a rock star. It does not count if only you know what you mean. You have to be good enough to inspire others to action. The better writer and speaker you are, the better you will be able to inspire others to action.
Become comfortable making decisions. Many people hate making decisions that involve other people. Change that and start making them more often. On the flip side, listen to others in order to ensure you are making the right decisions.
Spend more time with leaders. The skills and attitudes will rub off.
Be creative. Leadership is an art and science. You must use your heart and your brain. Your leadership style will be totally different from everyone else’s.
Remember that your goal is to improve the lives of those who you lead or work with. Through that process, you will benefit big time. These are only small pieces in your leadership puzzle. The rest is for you to find. Your leadership journey will take a lifetime!
“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” - Ralph Nader.
You are only one person. However, you probably have goals that are nearly impossible for only one person to accomplish. In order to accomplish and even blow past your goals, you will need to become a much better leader, empowering and inspiring others to make your mission their own.
Scary fact: Most people who are in leadership positions, or who consider themselves leaders are not great leaders. Exciting fact: Leadership is a skill. It can be learned and improved upon. Even if you don’t have a fancy title, you are still a leader and can lead those around you (or those above you!)
Here are some very simple, effective things that you can do right now to improve your ability to make a difference. Read each point slowly, take action on it immediately and review it often.
Form friendships first, do work second. People who join my organizations and volunteer their time are always people who I have created friendships with beforehand. “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.” - John Maxwell.
Help others before helping yourself. The more you help others, the more you will be helped. You can solve a lot of your own problems by solving other people’s problems. Here is a HUGE secret for you: Those who experience HUGE success become very good at solving other people’s problems.
Acknowledge people’s accomplishments. Give other people credit instead of giving it to yourself.Send hand written thank you notes to people. Let your colleagues know that someone did something great in the office. Compliment others on their strengths. Do this again and again and again, forever.
Be accountable. As a member of an organization, you are responsible for its success. If you are working inside of a business, it is not only the CEO’s job to see it succeed, it is yours. If you have committed yourself to something, and it does not succeed, it is your fault as well as anyone else’s fault.
Bring in the loner. In any group, there is often one or more “outsiders” who do not yet feel part of the rest of the group. These people will eventually leave the group, unless you do something. You can bring that person in to the group by building a relationship with them and making them a part of the community.
Join and lead a volunteer organization. If you can lead a volunteer organization, you can lead anything. This kind of real world experience is invaluable and will help you develop your skills faster than any book, class or article.
Never have others do something you would not do. Show those who you lead that you can work hard. Once you do that, they will work harder for you.
Communicate like a rock star. It does not count if only you know what you mean. You have to be good enough to inspire others to action. The better writer and speaker you are, the better you will be able to inspire others to action.
Become comfortable making decisions. Many people hate making decisions that involve other people. Change that and start making them more often. On the flip side, listen to others in order to ensure you are making the right decisions.
Spend more time with leaders. The skills and attitudes will rub off.
Be creative. Leadership is an art and science. You must use your heart and your brain. Your leadership style will be totally different from everyone else’s.
Remember that your goal is to improve the lives of those who you lead or work with. Through that process, you will benefit big time. These are only small pieces in your leadership puzzle. The rest is for you to find. Your leadership journey will take a lifetime!
