Leadership, part III

Let's abandon the academic discussions of leadership and enter the realm of personal advice.  

I have been called a leader. I have been recognized as a leader (Phoenix 40 under 40, FBI Citizens Academy, State Bar of Arizona leadership academy, YWCA educational leader, etc.). I have held leadership positions from school groups, to non-profit boards, to jobs. I share this so you have some idea of my authority to speak on this topic. So yes, time to pat myself on the back.

But I do not engage in this post to self-congratulate, I embark on this discussion to share my views on what it takes to be a leader when one deliberately desires to be a leader. Below I share my top five elements of great leaders.

My first and perhaps most important point is: serve others.  Do not seek to elevate yourself, seek to serve others. If you have a talent or skill that can benefit someone else, use it for their benefit.  If this happens to serve a large group of people, great. If it serves one person, great. 

Listen.  Leaders typically solve problems. Listen. Figure out the problem. Listen. Figure out the solution.

Be true to yourself.  Pretending or trying to be someone you are not will guarantee failure at some point. Your palace of success will be built on a flimsy base of cards.  Be you. Be the best you possible and always strive to improve. You are not perfect. Accept it. Get as close to it as possible. But remain humble.  There is always someone out there a little smarter, a little better, a little more ambitious, a little more than whatever you are.

Ethics. Honesty. Morals. Integrity. All words describing a solid foundation of truth.

A leader is only truly as good as his/her team: be it supporters, followers, colleagues, or customers.  Very little is accomplished in a vacuum. The world is about people. Life is about people.