THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

This life nugget is organized to challenge you to bring the inner leader to the forefront and awaken the sleeping giant of productivity…

What is a leader? Do you consider yourself to be one? How can leadership be measured? In many ways leadership is simply influencing others to make things happen that they normally would not do. I have learned the art of leadership through my experience of two decades in leadership in several capacities to include business, combat, government, non-profit, organizational and institutional positions in various countries.

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion.” — Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dam...

A leader is one who directs, guides, and provokes others with a passion and conviction to get to predetermined destination. Leaders have to be able to see things differently from a forecasting, vision, and insightful perspective. In order to consider yourself as a leader you must measure up to a simple question; who am I influencing or inspiring?

Ironically, people confuse management with leadership. Management is the development of systems where as leadership is the development of people. According to the management guru Peter Drucker (1909-2005), the basic task of a management is twofold: marketing and innovation.
I would like to take the time to share this simple acronym that I developed of a leader about seven years ago while teaching future leaders in Europe.

L-ead by example (so others can follow)
E-xamine the potential of others around you
A-pply aggressive action with common sense
D-evelop the skills, knowledge, and abilities of the future leaders around you
E-ncourage subordinates to achieve high standards and reach max potential
R-eward improvement and build healthy relationships

An effective leader is one who uses every resource within their toolkit to build others up for success. A true leader knows and understands that failure is not an option because leaders just don’t quit. Great leaders develop themselves out of positions and reproduce after their own kind.

Here are some essentials characteristics of Leadership:
Clarity of vision – explanation of tasks (to the simplest level)
Proper allocation of time and resource and personnel to accomplish mission
Proper dissemination of communication with required feedback
Taking care of employees; Being an approachable
Bring correction; reward openly
Know your personnel; build relationships
Understand the difference between a title and position

These are just a few chips from the nuggets of leadership that I have come to learn over the years. If there was a statement that I could make to encompass the above principles or values it would have to be “BE, KNOW, And DO”. Be what you want others to be, Know what you are expecting others to know, and Do that which you expect others to do.

It’s time to awaken the sleeping giant of productivity I look forward to hearing from each of you who read Life Nuggets! Live LIFE one nugget at a time!!!