by Craig Lock
* Author's Note: I researched and wrote this work about a decade ago, so seem to recall that this piece may have been adapted from Naopleon Hill's classic work, "THINK AND GROW RICH". I have added some personal thoughts of my own at the end.
Are you a leader of men (and
women)? At least, do you believe that you have leadership potential? Do you WANT to be a leader, or a follower? If you want to be a "'great' leader of men", here are a few thoughts on the qualities needed. When we think of the word leader, we usually immediately think of the concept of POWER. Your great passion might be to become a leader. It will certainly give you power - not within yourself necessarily, but over others. (Do you have a "Napoleon complex" - to lead "for it's own sake", perhaps?). To be a leader, first you must really WANT to. A great DESIRE is the key here. You must be really "hungry" for the position and pursue leadership with great determination - with all the means at your disposal. That is, using all your powers, qualities (see below) and potential. With a strong DESIRE you will, as long as you have the following personal leadership qualities:
1. Unwavering courage.
2. Self control.
3. Always keeping a sense of justice (and fairness)
towards others.
4. Definiteness of decisions.
5. Leaders
have a clear vision of the future they wish to CREATE. All their decisions are in alignment with their over-riding objectives and move them in this direction.
6. Definiteness of plans (ie. a
grand sense of PURPOSE). A leader then works their plan by putting it into ACTION.
7. Leaders are BELIEVERS: Firstly in themselves and in the Universe's plan for their lives. They have a strong sense of destiny.
8. Leaders have a habit of doing more
than they are paid for. Effort and sacrifice gets them to a position of authority in the first place.
9. A pleasing
personality (my saving grace to get me out of my frequent scrapes, deep in the "smelly brown stuff"!). People LIKE the people they follow... and will do anything to help for great inspiring leaders (even to death).
10. Empathy, sympathy and
understanding. As the Spanish (and my dear mother) would say, "being 'sympatico'" towards other people, by taking their feelings into consideration. This is the difference between "thinkers" and "feelers". Thinkers are logical, analytical types, who usually do well in business. Feelers, like me, are far more emotional and creative people ("unbalanced" perhaps?). What type of person are you?
11. Mastery of detail. I'm
hopeless on that one; so need plenty of help in that area. I'm a "grand picture person", who has no idea of the number of bolts needed to build my bridge. I would never walk on it after finishing it anyway!
12. Willingness to assume full
responsibility for one's decisions - no matter what may go wrong!
13 ("lucky"). Co-operation (full) with others in seeing one's plans, the grand vision come to fruition.
14. Leaders are
PASSIONATE people, who live with great enthusiasm. They are passionate and zealous about the causes they champion. Don't know what presses your "hot button"? Eliminating options will help you find your passion, your niche, your "calling" in life by initially pointing you in the right direction. I've been using the process of elimination for years and years and I'm slowly getting there. At least I think so! If you don't know your passion, then knowing what you don't want is a step in the right direction. I've worked out, that I prefer "to quietly do my own thing" in writing books, that will "make a little difference in the world by reaching out, touching and hopefully even inspiring others. That is "me" and what makes me happiest. Many years after writing those words, I still don't feel any great, nor definitely an overwhelming desire, or "calling" to be such a person as a leader... but just feel "called/destined" to quietly work away at sharing my various writings to hopefully inform, help uplift and encourage (and perhaps even inspire) people around the globe through the internet. All I can do is TRUST my instincts, my heart, but who knows what
God, the Essence of Life, our Creator, the Universe has in store for my life!
(written originally in Nov 2002, but it's now May 2005). Time marches on...and waits for no man.
And finally...and most
importantly,
15. Great leaders have great INTEGRITY.
Vitally important!
"If you have integrity, nothing else matters.
If you dont have integrity, nothing else matters."
- Alan K. Simpson
So after reading all that, you still want
to become a leader. Good! You're a brave person who will go far; because, I believe, there is a definite lack of "quality inspirational leadership" in today's societies - throughout the world!
Here are a few personal thoughts on the subject...
I strongly believe that todays "chaotic and deeply divided" world desperately needs people with VISION, effective leaders to make a difference, a better world? Where is another Nelson Mandela,
a Martin Luther-King, or Mahatma Gandhi, politicians and other leaders, who will stand up for what's RIGHT, no matter the consequences...with ultimate integrity - to build bridges, rather than barriers between peoples. Charismatic and absolutely honest people possessing the highest value of LOVE for ones fellow man, yet tempered with great strength of character in their decisiveness of purpose to do what they HAVE to do, what's right for the world at large. People who don't make short-sighted (and zenophobic- big word eh - the first time I've used it - hopefully correctly! ) decisions from a limited world view and selfish self interest ("unenlightened"). Most importantly, we need modern leaders who can look beyond their national borders, who will look at the bigger picture, a broader perspective on current world events. THINKING globally.
The current problems in this world cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them. The world desperately needs leaders with a vision for the future (peaceful) - men and women who can see distant horizons, rather than borders in this incredible and still beautiful world of ours?
Let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become.
Live the vision of what you are CAPABLE of being.
Craig Lock ("Incorrigible Encourager, Information and Inspiration distributor" ) http://www.craiglockbooks.com http://www.craiglock.com
Craig's FREE e-book Steps to Success is now available at: http://www.bridgeniche.com/stepstosuccess/
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