“We want leaders to be likable, personable, regular people; at the same time we want them to be above reproach, better than average, and demonstrative of our high standards.” Building an Authentic Leadership Image
PAL is all about leadership. I have learned about leadership from the assigned books I read, the instruction I received, the assignments I completed, and the leadership opportunities I have taken. I have evaluated my leadership style, and looked for ways to improve.
Leadership Defined
No two leaders are the same; everyone has their own personalities, their own strengths and weaknesses. However, I believe that there are some important traits that help people be effective leaders.
So how do I define leadership? Several words and phrases come to mind.
· Service, true leaders serve those they lead.
· Consistent, a leader does not change their stance when a little criticism is shown, they stand true to the position they know is right, even when they stand alone.
· Willing to make tough choices, a leader cannot pass the buck to anyone else; they must make the tough decisions.
“We want leaders to be likeable, personable, regular people; at the same time we want them to be above reproach, better than average, and demonstrative of our high standards.” Building an Authentic Leadership Image
Leadership Philosophy
An effective leader must be willing to make the tough decisions and accept responsibility for those decisions. Never blame others for your bad decisions, admit when you have made a mistake.
An effective leader must be willing to jump in and go to work, never expect others to do something you are unwilling to do yourself.
An effective leader must never compromise their values and integrity. Always be honest and upfront with everyone. People will not follow someone they do not trust.
An effective leader must be willing to listen to all sides of an issue before jumping to a conclusion. “If you will listen, it is amazing how much people will tell you”, Jim Tobin.
An effective leader looks and acts the part. Image is very important; you must look and act professional in order to gain respect. First impressions can be difficult to overcome, be sure to make a good first impression.
An effective leader always treats others with respect. She/he is no better than the people they lead.
An effective leader communicates with people. Everyone should know what is going on and why; they should feel like they are part of the team, involved in every decision that affects them.
An effective leader helps others to succeed and recognizes their contributions. Everyone wants to feel important and will work harder when they do.
An effective leader recognizes the strengths of others and does not feel threatened by them, rather looks for ways to incorporate each person’s strengths.
