Leading By Example......

Leadership does not come with authority or position. It is always our choice to lead. In my opinion, no person or organization can announce you as a leader. It is something that is defined by your actions. If your actions can influence others, then you are a Leader. If your thoughts can move people, then you are a Leader. In short, this is what “Leading by Example” actually is.

                                         

                                        deliberateleadershipdevelopment.wordpress.com

In one of my previous posts, I talked about “Get started to discover the leader within” because I completely believe that Leadership starts within you. It does not really require a higher position to be a Leader but it is always an example which you set as a leader that inspires and influence people to follow you.

And the most important of all is that good leaders do not preach what they do not practice. It reminds me of a story from the life of Mahatma Gandhi which I have heard from my dad and I would like to share it with you all because I think that nothing else can explain what “leading by example” is, better than this story.

There was a lady who was fed up due to his son’s bad habit of eating too much sugar. She decided to take her son to Mahatma Gandhi so that he could explain her son that eating too much sugar is not good for health. She explained the whole story to Mahatma Gandhi but he said that bring your son back after two weeks.

After two weeks, she brought her son back to Mahatma Gandhi and he explained the boy that eating too much sugar is harmful so he should avoid it. The boy promised him but the lady was confused and asked Mahatma Gandhi that why did not he explain the same thing two weeks before and he replied that “Mother, two weeks before, I myself was eating a lot of sugar”.

I find this as a best explanation for “Leading by Example”. Mahatma Gandhi have always led people by example. He never preached anything, which he did not practice. He always believed and followed that “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”.

He was the one who truly led people by example.

"Don't be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try"

I remember one day, my dad asked me “Are you afraid of Failures”? I answered “Yes, nobody likes to fail and then he said that “Make your own way and try to learn from your mistakes. This is the best practice to avoid failures.

                                             

  

                                          https://www.google.ca/search?q=failures

I know what my dad said is ‘hard’ but there is nothing wrong in trying.

You must be wondering that why am I talking about failures but as they say that “Failure is the first step to success. Failures does not mean that you can not do anything good in life. In fact, it is the beginning.

Overcome this fear of failure that holds you back from your goals and this is what a good leader do. He tries to learn from his mistakes and lead his team in a better way.

Let’s take it further…..

What, according to you, are the qualities that bring out the positive attitude in a leader?

Everybody will have a different opinion on this because the leaders are not confined to just one or two qualities, instead it takes a sea of positive attitude and good qualities to become a good leader.

A true leader is not afraid of failures, rather he faces it with courage and motivates his team to overcome failures and achieve their goals.

So, what is required “as a leader” to motivate a team during the phase of failure?

Dedication and Determination: I believe that person’s dedication and determination during hard times encourages him to overcome failures and a leader inspires these qualities by example, doing anything and everything it takes to reach the next step towards accomplishing a task.

Decisiveness: Taking right decisions is the rare quality but there are times, when a leader has to take quick decisions so a leader should have the ability to decide or take decisions spontaneously.

Communication skills: A leader should be convincing and be able to express his ideas with clarity. He should use new ways to do effective communication and provide positive feedbacks to motivate the team.

Apart from these, I truly believe that a leader must be strong willed and assertive to achieve the targeted goals. Along with assertiveness, a leader must have the ability to comprehend the expectations of his followers from him.

What do you think about this?

Can you think of other qualities which we can add on to this list? I am waiting for your response.

"Get Started to discover the Leader Within"

 I was just looking through the Leadership blogs when I found this amazing video on Personal  Leadership shared by Michael Rogers. Believing in yourself when no one else do can really make a  difference and you will understand this better when you will watch this video.

                            

                                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU0BzZlwU4o

The most important thing that I have learnt from this video is “ Never Give up”. It is never too late to start. Yes, there are hurdles in your way. You will fall and may fail for several times, but what makes you stand out of the crowd is your Willingness and Perseverance to keep going and succeed eventually.

I truly believe that no one can lead you better than yourself. If you can lead yourself and discover your strengths and overcome your weaknesses through your hard work and will power, then nobody can stop you from achieving your goals and this is what leadership is all about.

The man in this video defines the true meaning of Personal Leadership and has eventually discovered the Leader within himself through his positive attitude and will power. If you will never try, you will never be able to realize your potentials.

You must have heard him saying that Just because he cannot do it today, does not mean that he will not be able to do it someday.

So, Are you ready to be your own leader?

 What are you waiting for?

Start believing in yourself and get started to discover the leader within.

I hope you liked this video and do let me know what you think about this.

 References:

Rogers, M. (2012, May 17). Teamwork and Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.teamworkandleadership.com/2012/05/powerful-personal-leadership-story-video.html#sthash.ikjfmB0v.ZFmQjRST.dpbs

Leader: Chief, not the Lord

Authority, Command, Order: These are some of the words that hit our minds whenever we talk about Leadership.

Why do you think, it happens?

The answer is quite simple. This is because we hold certain stereotypes regarding leadership and this is how we have formed our mindsets. These ideas and stereotypes may not be true.We often forget that “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent” ( Abraham Lincoln).

By now, You must have known that I am going to write about Leadership qualities. Yes! you got that right. So, let’s get started with “What makes up a good leader” or What are the elements of a good leadership?

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I believe that good leadership requires three basic things:

i.Good Leader          ii.Good Followers          iii.Common Purpose

This is because a good leader knows it very well that how to lead his/her followers to achieve that “Common Purpose”.

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I have mentioned in my previous post that “Leaders in any field have extraordinary qualities which may be inborn or acquired”.

But what are those ‘extraordinary qualities’?

I believe that there are times in life when we may need to act as a Leader. It does not really matter whether you are a Professor, Engineer, Manager but sometimes situations are such that you have to take the charge.

So, what can be done under such circumstances?

According to me, the most important quality that a leader should have is Honesty. Honesty, absence of tantrums, and well-controlled emotions are the attributes of a good leader.

2. Discipline and Responsibility: A leader should have willingness to take responsibility and achieve particular goals and objectives through discipline and directs his team members towards that goal in a same manner.

3. Friendliness and Affection: I feel that friendliness is one thing that differs boss from a leader because it reminds me of popular saying of E.M. Kelly that “A boss says GO and a leader says LET’S GO”.

I will write more about leadership qualities in my next post. Till then, stay tuned and leave your feedbacks. It really helps me to improve.

References:

Guffey, L. R. (2013). Business Communication: Process & Product.(4th edition). Toronto, ON, Nelson Education Ltd.