Improve Your Chances

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Mark Sanborn has an interesting blog that addresses various leadership issues. One of his posts caught my attention - it was “Lessons Leaders Need to Know.”

The Lessons are as follows:

* The first responsibility of leadership is to serve.

* Anyone can lead, but not everyone should lead. If you don’t have your heart in it, you will be mediocre at best.

* Leadership doesn’t make a difference; leadership makes

the

difference - both personally and organizationally.

* Anything the leader does that benefits only themselves was done out of selfish ambition; leadership done right benefits everyone involved.

* Consensus building is very hard work - yet is much more powerful than using control.

* Your impact will rarely be bigger than your vision - and your ability to communicate that vision.

* People draw big conclusions from small gestures and interactions.

* As John Maxwell says, “It shouldn’t be lonely at the top.” If it is, you’ve done something wrong getting to the top.

* I learned from the autobiography of John Ashcroft that, as a leader, more people will befriend you than be your friend. Understanding the difference is critical.

* The best way to gain cooperation is to ask, “How can I help you?”

* Effective leaders are willing to make time for what is most important.