Posts Tagged ‘Leadership’

Why is it that some organizations attract leaders and keep them for the long run, while other organizations attract leaders, and yet discard them in quick and regular succession?

For the power of any organization is found within the leaders that are developed and nurtured in an atmosphere of love, respect and the freedom to lead – where mistakes are encouraged just as much as successes – because within that environment is found a safe place within which leaders can grow.

So here are five reasons why there is such a difference between the keepers and the losers of leaders:

1. Leaders Need To Know You Care

You require more than a great vision to keep leaders. You need to demonstrate to them that you actually care about them and about their personal vision. Remember that they are leaders, and these leaders, who feel that those whom they follow are actually interested in their personal goals and ambitions, will be far more loyal to the overall vision of the team.

2. Leaders Need To Not Be Told

There are two things that leaders despise. They don’t like being told. And they don’t like being told off. They demand respect. And the best way to show respect to a leader is to engage them. Leaders love to be given the opportunity to input. Once given the opportunity, they may not add anything. But simply because you have opened up the chance for them to contribute an opinion, or dare I say, provide some aspects of wisdom, they know that they are respected as leaders. And as it has been given, so too will it be given in return.

3. Leaders Don’t Respond Well To Imposed Management Strategies

If a leader feels that they are being managed, they will begin to flex their muscles. Leaders love to be invited, but despise being told. They don’t mind being held accountable, but will refuse being driven. In many cases it’s not what is said, but rather how it is said. And if a leader is told ‘no’ too many times, they will leave.

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‘All mankind is divided into three classes: those who are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.’ Benjamin Franklin

1. Those Who Are Immovable

There are those amongst us who are stuck. Stuck in tradition. Stuck in their ways. Stuck in comfort. Stuck in religious thought-sets. Stuck in bad habits. Stuck in mindsets. Stuck.

And there is a chance that as they live stuck they will die stuck. Immovable. Not even an atomic bomb will move them. In business, if you’re stuck, you won’t be in business for long. Immovable in life, in family life, in organizations, in education, in institutions, in politics, in anything and everything.

To be stuck is to be unstuck – destined for destruction. Immovable.

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To be true to yourself, you need to be a non-conformist.

We live in a world today where governments demand, organizations dictate, society insists that we should do this, do that , or come up to some standard, or perform some act, or commit to some cause.

But I say, ‘Be true to yourself’.

Follow your own convictions. Lead your own club. Direct your own organization. Yield to your heart, and do not allow yourself to be swayed, cajoled or bullied into walking a path that is not made for your footsteps.

For truly the blessing is on obedience – obedience to the call on your life. It is not about what others think. It’s about what you think, and as to what you do with what you have had apportioned to you in this lifetime.

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No matter what you do, you will not be able to please everybody.

If you speak to an audience of one hundred people, it is said that three of the hundred will not like you. But do we get concerned about the three, or rather press on with the ninety seven?

The more influence that you have, be assured that a dartboard will become part of your everyday wear.

People who do nothing with their lives are rarely targeted. It is only those who truly make a difference who will find themselves in the firing line.

But it is at that very point that a true leader will rise up above any criticism and simply brush off the mosquito bites – no matter how hurtful they may be – pressing on with the fulfillment of the vision for their life.

It is so easy to set yourself up as a critic, but few can willingly take on the role of being members of the group called ‘the criticized’. For history tells us that a great person’s companion throughout life is a lady called ‘Miss Understood.’

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‘[A wise person] acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it:- he does not wish to display his superiority.’ - Lao Tzu

Humility is constantly under attack from the hordes called pride and ambition. At times it is under siege, completely surrounded, and then at other times an ambush is set in place to overthrow the fragility of humility.

And why is it so fragile? Because it refuses to promote itself. It discards self pompous elevation. It chooses to celebrate the efforts of the team rather than to receive the accolades of the individual.

It finds it uncomfortable to stand in line to receive the outpouring of awards or medals. It would rather work quietly in the background in a supportive role, and let others receive the glory. And it is because of that fragility that it needs to be handled with great care.

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