Step Forward… Take Charge!

Mick Moore

What makes a True Leader Within?
True Leaders are assertive
True Leaders are decisive
True Leaders have integrity
True Leaders encourage others

Ask yourself, do you have any of these qualities?
Most of us know what leadership is but do we really know what it takes to become an effective leader?

There are many well-educated and motivated people who lack the skills and integrity to lead others.  Most people don’t aspire to be bad leaders.  They just fail to see the big picture.  We assume that these individuals weren’t born to be real leaders.

That’s too bad, because we all need good leaders. Big Corporations, small associations, and our favorite sports teams all need good leaders. Even our parents had better be good leaders or they run the risk of having our families becoming dysfunctional.  I think it’s safe to assume that our very success as a country depends solely upon good leadership.

Many think being a leader is prestigious. Many romanticize about the title, but fail to see the hard work that really takes place behind the scenes. The responsibility given to a leader can be enormous. Not only does he or she run the risk of being publicly ridiculed, blamed, or criticized, but when the ship goes down, it’s the Captain upon whom the blame falls.

Many will ask why someone would take on the responsibility of being a leader. Why would someone risk the criticism and responsibility for the outcome through the work of others?

Sometimes situations arise that call for an individual to step forward and take charge, whether it’s because of their superior skill or just plain courage. This is where the “Leader Within” begins to develop. A true leader takes that first step and risks being ridiculed by his peers. A true leader steps forward and says “I’ll do it” when no one else wants the job.

A true leader takes the proverbial “Bull by the horns” and is able to gain the support of his or her followers in order to reach an objective or goal. If this person cannot, then they find themselves ineffective and therefore fail in the responsibilities or goals that have been set.

Like George Washington, a true leader must lead from the front, so get out in front.  Be assertive in your step and decisive in your decision making.  Set the example, and be where the action is. Don’t sit in an air-conditioned office snapping off orders and call that leadership. Most people, in general, are lost and need direction. Given a choice to follow someone with integrity, intelligence and a pleasant personality to guide the way, they most likely will follow. If you are that someone, then by default you become their leader. No formal ceremony necessary.

When you discover the leader within, you discover a person that maintains absolute integrity. Leadership is a trust. If others don’t trust you completely, they will not follow you. Instead, they will try to dissect each and every situation on its own, thus creating chaos and confusion in the process. If the environment they are in is a relatively stable one, a less than ideal person for the job may be able to lead without much difficulty.

But if your situation requires you to place real demands on others, at a time when it really counts, and they don’t trust you or have confidence in your leadership, they may hesitate to support you. Then the lack of trust will become apparent and may well cause you to fail in your plans or objectives.

A good leader is an excellent listener. He treats each and everyone he encounters as an equal and with respect.  This doesn’t mean you have to agree and implement every suggestion, but by considering another persons input, you gain respect and your peers will know they have someone who cares.

A good leader jumps into the trenches with his troops. If you won’t get your hands dirty and do the things you ask of your subordinates, you are already at a disadvantage. Leaders do whatever they have to do to achieve the objective. You are never too important to do the most menial of tasks.

You’ll notice great leaders surround themselves with strong administrators. Being a great leader yourself, you would certainly only surround yourself with the brightest and most creative people.  These administrators will do your bidding, and are the cogs that drive the entire machine.

Imagine, if you will, a wagon wheel on a cart.  If one or two of the spokes are missing, the wheels integrity is in danger of collapse. Would you trust a heavy load on a cart with a broken wheel?  Of course you wouldn’t.  Without the spokes the hub and axle are useless and the fruit doesn’t go to market. The same holds true with people.  Without a strong and assertive staff, the greatest of leaders will ultimately fail in reaching his or her goals or that of the company for which they are employed.

A great leader is 100 percent committed to the objective. If you're not committed 100 percent to your cause or objective, neither will your people be.  When they see a person that looks out for the group, and is willing to suffer the consequences of any risks taken, they will follow without hesitation. This is a sign of true leadership.
By demanding the most of yourself, your strongest critics will seldom have a single thing to complain about.  All you can do is… give it your all.  The rest is history.

When you encourage others to show their qualities of leadership, not only do you help them to develop their own leader within, you further develop your own leadership qualities. And it shows.  You will be rewarded many times over with their continued support, courage and loyalty.  When you, as a leader, are rewarded for a job well done, share the rewards and give others the credit they deserve. If you do, they will want to do more and work harder to help you in any endeavor. Most people will always give their best for someone they admire and trust.

Abraham Lincoln described it best when he said, "You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's independence and initiative."

Here is the number one reason letting things happen can be your Trump card.   It gets results. Putting an end to accepted belief may not happen all at once. You'll often fail. But keep trying. Fail forward, fail better. Never give up!

Expect positive results. Winners expect to win and losers expect to lose. Vincent Lombardi, one of the greatest football coaches of all time said, “We never lose, but sometimes the clock runs out on us.” You can expect positive results and still not get exactly what you want. But, research has proven that those who “think positive” achieve more wins than losses and overall better results than those that don’t.

“Make Ever Day a Saturday”

 Mick Moore
“The Internet Entrepreneur”

Designer, Internet Marketing Expert, Public Speaker and
Author of the “Home Business Success Kit”
Website: www.QuickStartExpert.com
Website: www.HomeBusinessSuccessKit.com
Website: www.KillerGraffix.com
Phone: 619-226-2877