Effective Leaders Respect Themselves
A wise man once said that the only one you can be sure of controlling the actions of, is yourself.
Yet, most people, especially those in leadership positions, appear to lack the self confidence to take decisive actions, for fear of the reactions of others.
An effective leader must heed the words of the late Gertrude Stein, who said, "Let me listen to myself and not to them.
" If it is in fact important that a leader respect himself, and it is generally agreed that one's ego is often the reason he assumes a leadership position in the first place, it would seem that it should be rather simple to address this issue, and adequately train those in leadership positions.
However, in reality, this is one of the most difficult leadership traits to instill in a potential leader.
1.
Most people like to be liked and appreciated, and thus it becomes a natural tendency for many to avoid "ruffling feathers," and thus they avoid tackling many important issues.
Someone who is more concerned with obtaining the temporary adulation of others is generally an individual who lacks self confidence.
2.
In observing and training those in leadership positions for over thirty years, it is has become obvious that many seem afraid to trust their own judgment, often expressing as their opinion, the "last best idea that they heard.
" Not only is this an ineffective way of leading, but it generally causes the individual to lack direction and focus.
3.
No one should assume a position of leadership who does not possess a vision for his organization.
Those leaders who describe themselves as "representing the members," or "being a populist," generally waste a lot of time, and are rarely prepared for necessary action.
Someone without a vision of his own can never be a leader! 4.
I have heard many ineffective leaders "hold their tongues" when someone strongly disagrees with him, often using the excuse of being tactful and graceful, but in most cases merely lacking the courage of his convictions.
The most successful and effective leaders always listen intently to what others have to say, ask questions that clarify the issues, do the necessary research (or due diligence), but "stick to their guns" if they are convinced they are correct.
The reality is that ineffective leaders often find it difficult to gain the respect of others, because one who does not respect himself sufficiently, rarely is respected.
An effective leader must realize that is far more important to be respected than to be liked, and the only way to gain the respect of others is to demonstrate that you are genuine, honest, transparent, and have the best interests of the organization as your motivation.
5.
It is important to understand that respecting yourself is far different than being ego driven.
Respecting oneself is all about being self confident because you have earned your own respect.
That is only done when one follows his conscience, beliefs, and focuses on his goals and visions.
When that occurs, invariably a leader is successful and effective, and thus his organization flourishes.
Yet, most people, especially those in leadership positions, appear to lack the self confidence to take decisive actions, for fear of the reactions of others.
An effective leader must heed the words of the late Gertrude Stein, who said, "Let me listen to myself and not to them.
" If it is in fact important that a leader respect himself, and it is generally agreed that one's ego is often the reason he assumes a leadership position in the first place, it would seem that it should be rather simple to address this issue, and adequately train those in leadership positions.
However, in reality, this is one of the most difficult leadership traits to instill in a potential leader.
1.
Most people like to be liked and appreciated, and thus it becomes a natural tendency for many to avoid "ruffling feathers," and thus they avoid tackling many important issues.
Someone who is more concerned with obtaining the temporary adulation of others is generally an individual who lacks self confidence.
2.
In observing and training those in leadership positions for over thirty years, it is has become obvious that many seem afraid to trust their own judgment, often expressing as their opinion, the "last best idea that they heard.
" Not only is this an ineffective way of leading, but it generally causes the individual to lack direction and focus.
3.
No one should assume a position of leadership who does not possess a vision for his organization.
Those leaders who describe themselves as "representing the members," or "being a populist," generally waste a lot of time, and are rarely prepared for necessary action.
Someone without a vision of his own can never be a leader! 4.
I have heard many ineffective leaders "hold their tongues" when someone strongly disagrees with him, often using the excuse of being tactful and graceful, but in most cases merely lacking the courage of his convictions.
The most successful and effective leaders always listen intently to what others have to say, ask questions that clarify the issues, do the necessary research (or due diligence), but "stick to their guns" if they are convinced they are correct.
The reality is that ineffective leaders often find it difficult to gain the respect of others, because one who does not respect himself sufficiently, rarely is respected.
An effective leader must realize that is far more important to be respected than to be liked, and the only way to gain the respect of others is to demonstrate that you are genuine, honest, transparent, and have the best interests of the organization as your motivation.
5.
It is important to understand that respecting yourself is far different than being ego driven.
Respecting oneself is all about being self confident because you have earned your own respect.
That is only done when one follows his conscience, beliefs, and focuses on his goals and visions.
When that occurs, invariably a leader is successful and effective, and thus his organization flourishes.