When we’re fortunate enough to come into contact with someone who lives his or her values, we can’t help but feel blessed. Author John Gardner said, “Some people strengthen society just by being the kind of person they are.”Have you been fortunate to know someone like that in your life? Has there been a manager, coach, parent, or professor you felt blessed to know? Have you worked for or around someone who was a quality person, through and through? Who is that person? How would you describe their long-lasting influence on you?
As a leader, you are what you say, you are what you do. The biggest mistake any leader can make is to talk out of both sides of their mouth, to voice one opinion to one person, but an opposite opinion to another. Remember, words never die. If you can’t follow through, don’t put it out there.
Nobody’s perfect, but when somebody does something wrong or something goes bad, as a leader you need to take the appropriate action. It’s not always easy, but for the sake of the team, organization, and all those involved doing the right thing is a must.
Zero tolerance is extremely important. It’s the foundation that holds everything that is good about a company together. It helps keep your core values intact. Action always speaks louder than words, whether it’s doing what’s right or fixing a situation that went wrong.
Are you facing a challenge right now? Are you waiting for someone to come along and rescue you? Could you figure out how to resolve it, all by yourself? Doing so will not only build your own resourcefulness, it will role-model for your employees and/or children that when we’re in trouble, we should first look to OURSELVES to resolve the situation, instead of standing by, helplessly, wringing our hands.
Charles Schulz, creator of the famed Peanuts cartoon strip, said, “Life is like a ten-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.” As Al pointed out, leaders don’t shirk challenges, they welcome them. Vow to yourself that you will gear-up and face your next challenge head-on. You will probably discover, as Al did, that when you do, you will discover you have resources you never knew existed.
The attitude of leadership transcends titles, positions, race or gender. There is no special difference between the attitudes required to lead a company, organization, or individual.
Leadership is leadership.
Taking the lead and keeping it, however, will require you to embrace an attitude of love , and an attitude of continuous improvement. It requires change, and change produces growth, but as Dr. Dollar quotes often, “Change is not change until you change.”
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