Do you ever stop being a leader? Are you a leader at work, but not at home? A true leader takes up the responsibility of leadership what ever situation he or she may be in. Leadership is a lifestyle, not a role or position.
Professional and personal relationships. Spirituality and success. I write about
leadership, because in every part of life, we are leaders. We make decisions. We
affect others. We want to accomplish goals. There are people in every part of
our respective lives who look to us for help, for guidance, or for direction.
No matter where you go in life–you are there. Your character, values,
and way of being are what you bring to each relationship and to each setting.
The results you produce in each setting are dependent on your understanding of
life principles. For example, the principle of responsibility. When you take
responsibility for your situation you become powerful. When you insist on
remaining a victim, you are powerless. Principles such as responsibility are
unchanging in all parts of your life. You are a leader everywhere you
go.
The principles that make you successful in one setting, make you
successful in other settings. For example, the principle of responsibility tells
us that we create our own reality. No one else is responsible for who we are or
for the decisions we make. We each own our respective lives. We own the roles
that we play. In your work, everything you do has your signature on it. The
relationship you have with each person has your signature on it. Many people
perform various tasks just because they are told. This is the wrong reason to do
something. If you do something because someone else tells you to do it, it’s not
yours.
Responsibility means that you do things because you want to do
them. For example, in my business, I don’t especially like record keeping. I
need to keep records. I need to know where I stand. Therefore, I want to do the
task. I do the task because it is the right thing for me to do. As a leader at
home and at work, embrace the roles you play. Own your role as a parent or
grandparent. Own your role as a spouse. At work, own your job. Your
effectiveness is diminished if you don’t own it. If you are blaming and
complaining about others, you aren’t owning it. As an owner of your role, the
question is: “What do I want to have happen and what can I do right now to move
in that direction?”
Responsibility in relationships means you own each
relationship that you have. People tend to feel that they are innocent receivers
in relationships. In fact, you are an active participant in your relationships.
The assumptions you hold about others; what you say and what you don’t say; how
you say it; and your judgments and opinions all have an impact. Everything you
think, feel, say, and do is teaching other people how to respond to you. Own
your relationships rather than complaining about them. A leader is a center of
influence. Your focus is on what effect you are having on others and how you are
teaching them to respond to you.
If you hold a leadership title (Manager,
COO, CEO, CFO, Teacher, Principal, VP, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Director,
Team Leader, Committee Leader, Board Member, Consultant, Author, Coach,
Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Chairperson, etc.) you are a leader of leaders. Your
role is to help others to take responsibility and own their roles. You do this
through your example; praising the efforts of others; thanking people for what
they do; helping them with their problems; offering clear, yet compassionate
feedback; and helping them clarify their goals. In addition to responsibility,
there are two other principles, or keys, that I believe are essential to your
ability to help others lead. They are:
• responsiveness and
• clarity.
If you are responsive to others, you treat all people with care and respect.
You think of people in terms of their needs, not your needs. If you have
clarity, you know who you are and what your priorities are. You make your
thoughts, words, and actions consistent with your priorities.
If there
is an area of life where you would like to be a more effective leader, think in
terms of these three keys.
* Where in this situation or relationship can I
take more responsibility? More ownership?
* Where can I be more responsive to
other people, more understanding of their needs?
* Am I clear? What is the
direction of this group or relationship, and am I focusing my energy on what is
most important in terms of the mission, the goals, and the values of this group?
Wherever you are, you can lead. You are a center of influence whose thoughts,
emotions, words, and actions all have a ripple effect. In any situation where
something is needed, the opportunity is there. You are the
leader.
By William Frank Diedrich
For a deeper and more comprehensive explanation of
the three keys with examples, listen to The Leader’s Edge: Three Keys to
Exceptional Leadership. Reasonably priced at $12 USD, it can be ordered in Cd or
in Mp3 form. Order now at
William Frank Diedrich
is a speaker, executive coach, and the author of three books. Bill speaks at
conferences and to organizations. Contact him at bill@noblaming for speaking.
Bill also offers coaching to executives and to executive teams. Contact him at
bill@noblaming.com for executive coaching, interventions, strategic planning, or
leadership development.