Leadership

Would you rather be ordinary or extraordinary?

Charmaine FERNANDO

All men are born ordinary but some aspire to break limits to achieve extraordinary feats. It’s all because they believe in their capacity to reach out and go beyond, that they discover the extraordinary, within them. That is the essence of the miracle of great leadership!

The essence of leadership

The world admires a leader who inspires his followers, stands by them in turmoil and shares their joy in triumph. Whether a leader is born or made, what actually matters is the ability to lead from the front, confidently, winning the confidence of those who look up to you.

When confronted with challenges, for that matter, every challenge is a unique one, a leader will have enough strength to face it and enough stamina to sustain throughout the period and enough brilliance to come through, blazing new trails, shedding new light, leading through innovation and foresight that spell victory.

Quotes wow leadership

There are many witty sayings and quotations on what leadership means to the people and society at large. Harold R. McAlindon says that ‘A leader may not follow where the path may lead. Instead he goes where there is no path and blazes a trail’.

Thomas Carlyle describes leadership in simple words; ‘The history of the world is but the biography of great men’. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said many things about many things; but on the subject of leadership he wows, ‘What chance gathers, is easily scattered. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together’.

The real leader has no need to lead; he is content to point the way says Henry Miller. ‘Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star, your self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry. Don’t take too much advice; keep at the helm and steer your own ship, and remember that the great art of commanding is to take a fair share of the work. Fire above the mark you intend to hit.

Energy, invincible determination with the right motive, are the levers that move the world’, insists Noah Porter. John Quincy Adams believes that ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’. Do you have what it takes?

What’s your metal?

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander warns Aristotle, the great philosopher who left his mark on the minds of the world, with his powerful thinking.

‘A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him’ outlines General Douglas MacArthur, showing the other side of the leadership coin leaving us food for thought to munch over.

‘Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing’ defines Warren Bennis, giving us a clearer picture as to who the actual and true leader is.

Defining leadership

Some people argue and counter argue whether leaders are made or born. The true leader ignores such concerns and instead concentrates on how to become better at leading people.

The followers determine if a person is a great leader or not. Leadership can be defined as one’s ability to get others to willingly follow. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you have the leadership character traits.

Leadership mettle

A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. A leader sees the big picture. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it.

We in Sri Lanka experienced the dawning of peace after three decades of blood shed and suffering. Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion. That’s what great leaders are made of.

Leadership in action

A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.

A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.

Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values.

A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.

Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.

Leading by example

Dedicating whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs, only opportunities to achieve something great.

Magnanimity, another great trait of a leader means giving credit where it is due.

A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the territory. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures.

This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the people closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.

Feeling the pulse of the people

Mahatma Gandhi was an ordinary man who transformed humanity, paving the way for equality and the raising of human consciousness unlike any other in the 20th century. He was so ordinary in every way that he inspired millions and still does today, 60 years after his death.

The Reverend Martin Luther King, stood up with courage to raise his voice of hope to millions of fellow Americans, white and black, to dare to believe in a world where all people could share the bounties of the earth without prejudice.

He opened the doors for possibilities that did not exist before then, possibilities that are now becoming real.

So, what separates these people who lived such extraordinary lives from the many who don’t? It’s Great Leadership. It’s the paradigm of spirited human beings living their purpose, giving back to humanity and the entire world through their life work.

Openness and being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking is a good leadership quality.

Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of.

Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the people well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.

Be assertive; not aggressive

Assertiveness, is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings.

A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.

Many have difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness. It seems that being under-assertive or over-assertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders. This is where true self-discipline applies.

Think different; be the difference

Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions.

Fairness in dealing with others consistently and justly is a must. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence.

When people feel that they are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication. These are the best practices of good governance and great leadership.

A sense of humour is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers.

Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.

Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader.

Grow tall not in mere inches; cultivating proper leadership traits can lift you to amazing heights.