An important part of success in life is the ability to lead. It is
important that we not only be able to lead others but be willing to lead
ourselves. No one succeeds in life by simply following others.
Sometimes we simply must strike a bold new path for ourselves.
Being a good leader is more than simply being at the forefront of the
crowd. A leader must act. Too often in America, we simply accept that
someone looks or sounds like a leader and too rarely do we actually look
at the actions that leader performs — and that is the true test of
leadership.
However, in order to become good leaders ourselves, we need to
concentrate on actions rather than simple appearances. The title of this
article refers to eight steps, but do not think of these as progressive
steps like so many recipes or instruction manuals describe. Instead,
think of these as actions that you must take on a regular basis.
First, be alert to new potentials. “Reality” is not absolute but
rather subject to constant change. Think about inventors, explorers, and
agents of social change who have achieved greatness. Some might simply
say that certain people are successful because they are lucky to be in
the right place at the right time. Maybe so, but if they hadn’t had
their eyes open for the opportunity, then it wouldn’t have mattered if
they were in the right place.
Second, accept inspiration from wherever it comes; even your
opponents. The wisest leaders constantly study their competition. In
war, politics, and business we constantly see examples of this research
and reconnaissance. Too many times though a certain study, many
concentrate on finding a weakness to exploit. If you want to a be a
leader of positive change don’t fall victim to this trend. Instead, if
you find a weakness, make sure to avoid that pitfall yourself. If you
find the strength then find a way to strengthen your own qualities to
match.
Third, learn something new and promote in new ways every day. This
means you must continually seek to expand your horizons, internally and
externally. Feed your mind with new lessons and knowledge, but
constantly expand your social horizons as well. Seek out and meet new
people and immerse yourself in new social situations. You never know
when these new experiences will help you in your leadership role.
Fourth, search for and find answers in subtle clues. Look beneath the
surface and constantly question. This is an extension of the third step
in that you are seeking new knowledge. But this also means that you
will need to step off the traditional paths of knowledge. Don’t simply
read books in the literary canon or the bestsellers list. Take seminars
rather than classes as there is more room for questioning and debate.
Seek out the unconventional thinkers, teachers, and writers.
Fifth, improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses.
Necessity is the mother of invention. How do you know it won’t work if
you’ve never tried it before? Remember, not all approaches need to come
from the front. Look at your problem from all sides and systematically
attempt different solutions in various combinations.
Six, make at least one person you care about happy every day. If you
make it a point to be thoughtful and caring for one person every day
then soon this thoughtful, caring behavior will become a habit and that
habit will spread to the others around you. Making someone else happy
also feeds your own personal happiness. Just imagine how much better the
world would be if we all did a little bit more to spread happiness.
Seven, offer help, even if there’s no apparent advantage to you. This
means more than writing a check. It means giving of your time and
energy and yourself. Sometimes it will mean helping someone you don’t
know and sometimes it can be a very personal action.
Finally, never let negativity be your last word on the subject. If
your final words are negative than no matter how hopeful you may be
about the potential of a project or action the lasting impression you
give to others is one of negativity. Accentuate the positive and you are
more likely to see a positive outcome.
If you follow these eight action steps not only you will be a better leader but also lead yourself to a more successful life.
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