Leadership

Good  leaders are typically known for their communication skills, positive attitude, and ability to inspire and motivate their team. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." Said Steve Jobs(1955-2011), the co-founder of Apple Inc.

They need to be adaptable, responsible, and able to handle pressure.

Leaders must be able to clearly convey instructions, strategies, and expectations to their team, in various settings, including one-on-one conversations, team meetings, and public speaking.

They should be good listeners, understanding the concerns and perspectives of their teammates. They should be positive and encouraging, even in challenging situations."A great leader doesn't only inspire us to have confidence in what THEY can do. A great leader inspires us to have confidence in what WE can do. Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.”Said Simon Sinek (born 1973)English-born American author and inspirational speaker on business leadership

They should be able to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook.The quote, "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit" is often attributed toArnold H. Glasow (1905-98), American author and humourist, best known for his book "Glasow's Gloombusters".

Leaders should lead by example, demonstrating the values and behaviours they expect from their team."Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." Stated Peter Drucker (1909-2005), Austrian American management consultant, educator, and author, whose writings contributed to the philosophical and practical foundations of modern management theory

They should be able to motivate their team to achieve their full potential.Bill Bradley's quote, "Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better,"emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to grow and develop.It highlights that true leadership is not about control or authority, but about fostering the capabilities and potential within others. William Warren Bradley(born 1943) is an American politician and former professional basketball player. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a United States senator from New Jersey from 1979 to 1997.

Leaders should foster a positive and supportive team environment."Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders."Said Thomas J. Peters(born 1942), an American writer on business-management practices, best-known for his 1982 book ‘In Search of Excellence’.

Leaders should be able to adjust their strategies and tactics based on changing circumstances."Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."Said John Fitzgerald Kennedy(1917-63), also known as JFK, the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was the first Roman Catholic and youngest person elected president at 43 years.

They should take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their team.

Good leaders always promote ethical and moral behaviour in the workplace, and hold their teams to the same standard. They focus on professionalism and want to ensure everyone else does as well. The quote "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves" is attributed toLao Tzu (possibly 551-479 BCE), Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism.

 They lead by example, but also have clear expectations when it comes to their values so there can be no misunderstanding.

Key qualities of good leadership include vision. We heard from Warren Gamaliel Bennis (1925-2014), American scholar, organizational consultant and author, widely regarded as a pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership studies that, "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."

Great leaders lead by example, they are innovative, they admit their mistakes they are good listeners, they create commo values, they embrace inevitable changes, they make everyone feel important and they work as a team.

A few quotes to help you focus on your leadership at home, work and your community.

“The best way to lead people into the future is to connect with them deeply in the present., “wrote Otis McGregor (born 1941), who  served in the U.S. Army and Special Forces for 25 years, working his way up from private to lieutenant colonel. 

After retiring from the military, he helped both large and small firms build their companies and led multi- million-dollar programs for the government. He has been a certified professional coach and project trainer since 2017.

“True leadership lies in guiding others to success.” Stated Bill Owens  (1914 – 1999), English actor and songwriter. He is best known for portraying Compo Simmonitein the Yorkshire-based BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine for over a quarter of a century.

“Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work,” saidSeth Godin(born 1960), also known under his pen name as "F. X. Nine", is an American author, marketing expert, entrepreneur, and a former dot-com business executive.

The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. –Ralph Nader(born 1934), American lawyer and political activist involved in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. He is a perennial presidential candidate.

“Good leaders inspire people to have confidence in their leader.Great leaders inspire people to have confidence in themselves,” declared Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), the longest-serving first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms as president from 1933 to 1945.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be,” said Rosalynn Carter(1927-2023), American activist and humanitarian who served as the first lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981, as the wife of President Jimmy Carter. Throughout her decades of public service, she was a leading advocate for women's rights and mental health.

“Great leaders are willing to sacrifice their own personal interests for the good of the team.” –said John Wooden (1910-2010), American basketball coach and player. Nicknamed "the Wizard of Westwood", he won ten National Collegiate Athletic Association national championships in a 12-year period as head coach for the UCLA Bruins, including a record seven in a row.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,” wrote John C. Maxwell (born 1947) American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ and ‘The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader’

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence,” saidSheryl Sandberg (born 1969), an American technology executive, philanthropist, and writer. Sandberg served as CEO of Meta Platforms, retiring in 2022.

Albert Einstein, who needs no introduction stated that, “The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity, out of discord, harmony, and out of difficulty, opportunity.” 

 “Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control,” stated Tom Landry(1924-2000), American professional football coach, player, andWorld War II veteran. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time,[1]he was the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboy. sin theNational Football League(NFL), a position he held for 29 seasons.

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority,” wroteKen Blanchard

(born 6.5.1939 – exactly same age as me), American author, business consultant and motivational speaker who has written more than 70 books. His most successful one, “The One Minute Manager”, sold more than 15 million copies.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. Leaders should be aware of their own emotions and the emotions of others. Leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well,” said Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, 1953 to 1961, who during World War II,  was Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe.