The HEART of Leadership: Thoughts and Questions from a Leadership Speaker
Whether you are a leader yourself, in business or in a volunteer capacity, you know that there are certain qualities that set you apart from the pack. If you’re reading this, and you consider yourself a follower, you know the same thing. Some assigned and elected leaders have it; some do not.
As a leadership speaker, I’ve found that the questions and thoughts below have stimulated the hearts and minds of groups I’ve worked with.
Three Quick Questions:
- Do you like taking the lead in discussions, meetings, etc.?
- Do you speak up with original ideas to create a new product, service, or increase the bottom line?
- Do you communicate well with your superiors, peers, and subordinates?
This assessment gives you a flavor of some of the requirements to be a great leader, not just an average one.
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To get to the HEART of Leadership, it’s important to realize that leaders take 100 percent responsibility for not only their own actions, but for their organization’s. They have the highest level of integrity, following through on all agreements made. They keep on top of all that is going on around and within their organization, industry, and world. They make concerted efforts to continually keep the big picture in mind, while making sure that the details are not forgotten.
Try this preliminary exercise:
Think about your world and the leaders you know—in your business, your community, your spiritual organization, your country, even your family structure.
Who do you know who has great leadership qualities?
Name them by writing them down.
Now write or ruminate about which specific qualities these people have that you admire.
Which of these qualities do you also possess?
Which do you need to improve?
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Now take the knowledge from the above exercise and apply it to this one to find out about the leader within you.
Imagine that you’ve been asked to lead an organization. (You get to pick the organization. It can be your company, the Boy Scouts, or your church or synagogue. Even if you’re already in a leadership position, it might be interesting to try choosing a different organization all together to find out about yourself in an atypical situation.)
What activities, duties, etc. will you do yourself and what will you delegate?
How will you accomplish this task?
What is the most important thing that you do as a leader for this organization?
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What does it mean for you to be an influential leader?
Do you believe in your organization so deeply that your excitement will carry the rest of the group?
Are you convinced that your group is the best it can possibly be?
Do you show your appreciation for your group? How? List the ways.
Do you listen to your people with earnestness, allowing them to truly express their thoughts, ideas, frustrations, or excitement without judgment, indifference, or lack of concern?
Are you completely committed to this group?
These types of questions will allow you to get to the HEART of Leadership within your organization.
Are you ready, able, and willing to change your environment to bring successful leadership into your workplace?
It’s up to you.
