Leadership

Leadership Principles

There are hundreds of excellent techniques and rules that people may follow in leading others. But, these eight universal laws are essential. They are the very essence of effective leadership. These eight laws are simple, but as you will see when you review them, they are not always easy to implement, and one may sometimes conflict with another. However, even one of these laws can make the difference between success and failure in any project in any organization. This is because you can make a lot of mistakes and still succeed as a leader. But, if you violate these universal laws, you will probably fail, even if you are at first successful.

No one can guarantee success in anything because other factors, such as available resources, might override anything that a leader may be able to do. But, there is no question that if you follow the universal laws, your chances of success are greatly increased. I believe that these laws are that powerful and that the consequences of following them or not can be the determining factor for success for most leaders in most situations. Here are the eight laws and a short explanation of what I mean by them.

1. Maintain Absolute Integrity -- Although the other laws are described in no particular order, this one is listed first for a reason, it is the foundation upon which everything else is built. This is because leadership is a trust. Leaders who do not maintain absolute integrity will not be trusted irrespective of their implementation of the other laws. Moreover, there is more to integrity than simply not lying. For example, leaders may tell "white lies" that are of no benefit to them. Usually, this practice will not have an impact on their integrity. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

2. Know Your Stuff -- No leader can know everything, but the more you know about what you are responsible for, the better. Your team members want to know that you are competent.

3. Declare Your Expectations -- Management guru, Peter Drucker says, "The foundation of effective leadership is thinking through the organization's mission, defining it and establishing it, clearly and visibly. The leader sets the goals, sets the priorities, and sets and maintains the standards ... What distinguishes the leader from the misleader are his goals. Whether the compromise he makes with the constraints of reality--which may involve political, economic, and financial or people problems--are compatible with his mission and goals or lead away from them determines whether he is an effective leader. And, whether he holds fast to a few basic standards (exemplifying them in his own conduct), or whether 'standards' for him are what he can get away with, determines whether the leader has followers or only hypocritical time-servers."

4. Show Uncommon Commitment -- People won't follow you if they think that your commitment is temporary, or that you may quit the goal short of attainment. Why should they? Why should they invest their time, money, lives or fortune in something if the leader isn't going to lead them there anyway? Others will only follow when they are convinced that you won't quit no matter how difficult the task looks, and no matter what obstacles you encounter along the way.

There will always be obstacles. Someone said, "There are no dreams without dragons." When you show uncommon commitment, followers know that their investment of time and effort won't be wasted. They know that you won't walk away--that you will see the task through to the end. Yes, there may be dragons. But, your uncommon commitment gives everyone confidence that with you, they can--and will--slay them.

5. Expect Positive Results -- It is true that leaders who expect positive results may not actually get them because of circumstances beyond their control. But, it is equally true that leaders who do not expect positive results will probably not get them.

6. Take Care of Your People -- Believe in them and support them.

7. Put Duty Before Self -- Duty has two main components: the mission and your people. Sometimes, the mission comes first, and sometimes your people come first. However, if you are a real leader, one thing never comes first--your personal interests and well-being.

8. Get Out in Front -- Some leaders believe that they must maintain total detachment. They believe that they must coolly, carefully analyze the facts and make a decision without being influenced by outside complications. In their viewpoint, they must do so away from the action, where the noise, pressures of time, and other problems distract from their ability to think calmly and clearly.

There is a place for contemplative thinking and measured analysis in leadership. But, many leaders have their priorities all wrong. The first priority is for the leader to get out where the action is, where those who are doing the actual work are making things happen. They cannot lead from behind a desk in an air-conditioned office.

* Business Is Not War, But Leadership Is Leadership, Cohen, William A., Business Forum: 10-14, 2000. ISSN: 0733-0248, California State University, School of Business and Economics.

Characteristics of a Successful Leader

The characteristics of a successful leader are:


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