Principles of Effective Leadership #3

We all “influence” at least 250 people in our lifetime.
Therefore, we each have the responsibility of Leadership.

from Power to Change.com 4/13 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4.biz 8/13

4. Be Persistent. Ronald Reagan was a determined man. Margaret Thatcher was a determined woman. They did a lot of good together. The key to being a good leader is endurance–being a non-quitter. You will be tempted to quit and be encouraged to quit by those who are friends & enemies. Be unwilling to throw in the towel. Be determined. One journalist wrote: “When I met Mother Teresa, I discovered she was very tiny–less than five feet tall. Although there was no mistaking the aura of warmth & kindness that surrounded her, I felt I was in the presence of the most powerful, focused & determined person I had ever met.” According to a survey done by a big 5 Accounting firm, senior women executives rated Determination & Perseverance as the #1 essential qualities for Women’s success in business. In order to leave this world a different place, you have to be persistent. Leaders don’t grow in a comfort zone. Leaders are not people with exceptional talent; they are people who have learned from their mistakes and get up & try again. Persistence is a key to effective leadership.

5. Be willing to take a Stand – and stand alone if you have to. If you have a passion, a dream or a mission, set “measurable” goals & work toward accomplishing them. You will find that many times, you may have to work alone. You will probably be lonely. People are looking for leaders who are willing to give it all they have, and they will follow–for a while. However, when the going gets tough, when pleasure & comfort compete with responsibility & long hours, followers will drop away. That is when you have to be sure that what you are doing is right, so that you will keep going. A famous Conductor said, “A person who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”

6. Be ready for Resistance. One of the facts of life is that when you are in leadership, you have to solve problems. Sometimes we have the faulty notion that we should be able to go through life “problem free” – that if we have problems, something is wrong with us. As leaders, we have to be responsible, no matter how painful it is. Running away is not an option. We can easily fall into waiting for someone else to solve our problems. In the book, -“The Cinderella Complex – the Author writes about waiting for Prince Charming: “Like Cinderella, women today are still waiting for something external to transform their lives. We may venture out a little, but underneath lurks a wish to be saved, a deep yearning for dependence.” You don’t need to wait for someone else’s help. You will have problems. Be ready. Expect it. If you know you are doing what is right, you won’t cave in when the going gets tough. Facing problems and dealing with them by making good decisions is the difference between a leader & a follower.

[ Setting an Example, be Ethical, & let your Higher Power be your Guide, in Premium Content ]