Can
You Call Yourself a Leader?
By Ed Rigsbee, CSP
(525 words)
During any era,
especially these tumultuous economic times, some leaders fail to lead; and
elsewhere, leaders emerge. Leading in good times is so much easier than
leading in difficult times where the leaders’ mettle is tried. In leading
others, rather than being about authority, it should be more about
inspiration. Every leader in these times must ask him or herself, “Do I
inspire those around me?”
Leadership, at the
forefront is about trust; getting others to trust and believe in you, your
abilities, and vision. Below are some steps you can take to better help
you to emerge as a true leader in these times:
- Convince
others that you have a vision.
Your vision must be crystal clear to yourself and others, and must
ring true so those you lead feel safe in following you.
- Convince
others that you have the knowledge, skills, and tools at your ready
that will enable you to deliver. Just having a clear and purposeful
vision is not enough. Having the tools
necessary to deliver the implementation of your vision is just as
crucial. Your people must believe to the depths of their souls that
you have what it takes to make things happen.
- Convince
others to let you take hold of the steering wheel for the time
necessary to move your vision into action.
Without someone steering, nobody gets anywhere. For too many, the
decision of indecision is their preferred strategy. That does not work
in leading an organization through the land mines of today’s
globally volatile economy but rather definitive action is needed. Any
if you are going to call yourself a leader, take definitive actions.
- Help
others to imagine how your vision will result in helping to make
their lives better. Nobody wants to make their life worse.
However, it is your job as a leader to help those you lead to see the
light, the glimmering light of hope through ultimate actions. As you
inspire your organization to be better, to do better, through your own
personal actions. They are “listening” to what you “do” more
than listening to what you say. Be the example of what’s right,
rather then embody the problem.
- Celebrate
every milestone on the way. As you steer your organization toward your
vision, have milestone markers set up along the way and be sure to
celebrate every marker reached. This helps those in your organization
to viscerally realize that the organization is moving toward the
intended vision.
Leading
others is about building a trusting relationship with them; they have to
trust your direction, strategy, and implementation tactics. Trust is the
most powerful relationship glue on earth. You earn trust; trust is not
bestowed upon you based on title, position, or any other outward
trappings. Nor is trust instant but rather an accumulation of all that you
say and do. You must keep your word in all aspects; actions, rewards, and
penalties—otherwise your word is only partially valid which actually
translates to: no trust. Say what you are going to do, do what you say,
and say what you did—therein
are found your successful leadership strategy.
Copyright
© 2010 Ed Rigsbee
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As
an internationally recognized keynote speaker on partnering, alliance, and
relationship ROI, Ed Rigsbee helps corporate and non-profit audiences to
end the anxiety of lost opportunities and unfulfilled promises and get
what they say done. Ed Rigsbee, Certified Speaking Professional, has been
fumbling, bumbling, and stumbling his way through the organizational mazes
of for-profits and non-profits for over four decades. For the last two
decades, Ed has been an observer, researcher, and teacher; helping
organizations of all sizes to build successful internal and external
collaborative relationships. In addition to serving corporate and
non-profit clients in their partnering, alliance and relationship ROI
needs, Ed also serves as the executive director of a (501 c 3) public
non-profit charity. Ed has authored three books and over 1,500 articles
helping organizations to take full advantage of their potential. Contact
Ed, through www.Rigsbee.com for
assistance and to access a number of his complementary resources for doing
better.
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