The
focus of this article and its application of The Science of Leadership are on
personal and organizational leadership. This was based on the fact that,
leadership isn’t just what we do, it’s also something that we are, which then
drives what we do. The deepest and most lasting leadership comes from the
inside-out. It’s authentic. It’s real. It’s genuine. You must as leader, be able
to lead yourself within before you can lead on the outside. A central theme is
that leadership is an action, not a position – each of us, as individuals, need
to be leaders, regardless of whether or not we have a formal leadership role.
True leadership begins – "in here," before moving "out
there" to lead others. When people decide to respect you as a leader,
they observe
what you do so they can know who you really are. So, the first watch word is
“Observation”. People then use this
observation to tell if you are an honorable
and trusted
leader, or a self-serving
and selfish person who misuses authority.
A good leader must be of honorable character that selflessly serves his/her
organization. In your colleagues/employees’ eyes, your leadership is
everything. And therefore, your activities affect the organization’s objectives
and their well-being a great deal.
To be a great leader, you must concentrate on these (3) key
areas:
1. “Be” - what he/she
is, i.e. beliefs, ideologies and values
2. “Know” - what he/she
knows, i.e. job, tasks, human nature
3. “Do” - what he/she
does, i.e. implement, motivate, and provide direction
The test of time question is; what makes a person want to follow a
leader?
People want to be guided by people they respect and who have a clear sense of direction and vision for the
future. And to gain respect, such leaders must be ethical.
The Three Most Important Keys of Leadership:
Research has proven that trust and confidence in top leadership position
is the singular most reliable predictor of employee satisfaction in any
organization. And the only factor on which the future of any system/structure
lies.
Effective communication by leadership in three critical
areas is the key to winning organizational trust and confidence, and involves:
1. Helping employees understand the company’s overall business
strategy.
2. Helping employees understand how they contribute to achieving
key business objectives.
3. Sharing information with employees on both how the company is
doing and how an employee’s own division or department is doing – relative to
strategic business objectives.
So basically, you must be trustworthy
and you have to be able to communicate
a vision of where you are going.
The Process of Great Leadership:
1. Inspire a shared vision – Next,
share you vision in words that can be understood by your followers.
2. Challenge the process – First,
find a process that you believe needs to be improved the most.
3. Enable others to act - Give them
the tools, authority and methods to solve problems themselves.
4. Model the way – When the
process gets tough, get your hands dirty. A boss tells others what to do; a
leader shows it can be done.
Encourage the heart – Share the glory with your followers’
heart, keep the pains in your heart.
The 10 Principles of Leadership:
1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. In order to
know yourself, you have to understand your “be”, “know”, and “do” attributes. This is possible by continually strengthening
your attributes by reading and self-study.
2. Be technically proficient. As a
leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your
employees’ jobs.
3. Seek response-ability and take responsibility
for your actions. Search for ways to guide your organization to
new heights. And when things go wrong, do not blame others. Just move…
4. Be a VOICE: Make sound and timely decisions. Use good
problem solving, decision-making, and planning tools. Speak what you live! Live
– Learn and Leave a legacy.
5. Be the example. Be a good
role model for you employees. They will believe what they see not what they
hear. Make yourself an eye to them.
6. Know your people and look out for their
well-being. Know human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your
workers. Treat them like you will treat yourself.
7. Keep your people informed. Know how to
communicate with your people, seniors, and other key people within the
organization. Build a sound communication flow between you and your
colleagues/employees.
8. Develop a sense of accountability and mutual
trust: These traits will help them carry out their professional
responsibilities. And feel free to relate with you their suggestion and
recommendations.
9. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised,
and accomplished. Communication is the key to this
responsibility. Be a supervisor to them not an invigilator.
10. Build team culture and spirit: By
developing team culture and spirit, you will be able to move your organization,
department, section, etc. to its fullest capabilities. Make everyone a team
player and make them see themselves as pertinent to the success of the
organization as this will help instill in them the sense of responsibility and
accountability.
You
will make IMPACT!!!
Thanks…
For Info, Booking &
Feedback Contact Your Life Coach On:
To Your Summit Success,
Prince Ejeh Boniface
Great Impact International
(Executive Director)