There are four traits that every great leader demonstrates, whether it is to their Scout Troop, or their sales team. The surprising thing about these four traits is that they are not genetic, they are not reserved for a lucky few, and they are not beyond the reach of anyone that wants to be an empowered leader.
Every leader of note, throughout history, from Alexander the Great to King Henry V, to Barack Obama has demonstrated these abilities and they are all learnable: 1) Clarity of Vision, 2) Dedication to a greater cause, 3) Love of his followers and 4) Clear communication.
The Vision thing. Leaders have clear goals that are known to their followers. Whether it is to overtake the entire Mediterranean or overhaul the health care system in America, their goals are understood and the road markers are obvious. Leaders have to take time to get clear on what they specifically want, and be able to articulate it in simple concrete terms. The best leaders use descriptive language that allows the followers to create mental images of what they are reaching for. Whether it is Kennedy and his Moonshot speech or asking for someone’s hand in marriage, the vision thing is made real by imagery.
The Cause. Motivating people is like trying to move a piece of string. Pushing it will only get you so far, and usually not along the path that you want. But pull a string, and it will go anywhere you want. People are the same. When I try to tell my staff that “they have to make 10 sales calls a day” I’m pushing them. That will work for a short term, but if instead I set a goal, and say “We want to be the most well-known company in our field. That is why we do what we do, to reach as many people as possible.” Now I’ve given them a purpose, as Simon Sinek says, a Why.
The Men and Women. If you don’t honestly love and care for your staff and followers – get out of whatever leadership role you are in – you will not be successful in the long run. Loving and caring for the people who you are asking to give heart and soul to a project is not only good manners – it’s mandatory for long term success. When a leader doesn’t love their staff, they know it. I had a boss that I could tell had utter contempt for the staff – it was a constant source of coffee room chatter. No matter how much lip service they paid to the “value they place on our ‘family’ here at…” it never rang true, and we all knew it. It’s what led to my eventual quitting, I was belittled for a nominal expense, that no one in the company, but my boss, would have thought twice about.
If you are asking someone to give you their best efforts – you have to give them YOUR best efforts. And don’t think you can phone this one in – they’ll know. You can learn this trait by making a list of everything you like about each staff member, and focusing on their skills and what they bring to your team. Celebrate their best, and you’ll get more of it. Look for the good in their work, before you correct the bad.
Talk Like a Leader. Clear Communication is the single greatest skill in work and home life. Being able to state your thoughts in a precise, even, and enjoyable manner will allow you to reach people and motivate and inspire them to greater things. Whether it is revving up a sales team on Monday or keeping the romance alive in your primary relationship – speaking well and with clarity of thought, will pay huge dividends. This is a completely learnable skill and I highly recommend the Toastmasters International program for public speaking. It is a non-profit organization that has chapters in every state in the nation and is the most economical way to improve your public speaking in the shortest amount of time.
Whether you have to give a rousing speech to an army, or just explain to your sweetheart why you love them so much, the ability to speak and think on your feet will serve you well. The four traits of 1) Clarity of Vision, 2) Dedication to a greater cause, 3) Love of his followers and 4) Clear communication can all be taught and developed – you just have to take the first step, and then the next, and the next….
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