Leadership. Webster’s dictionary defines it as the act of leading. Warren Bennis defines it as “a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential.” John C Maxwell, in his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, sums up his definition of leadership as “leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.” I say that leadership is a compelling intellectual or spiritual force that moves people to action. However you define it, leadership is either effective or ineffective.

John McKenna writes of leadership on his blog, The Leadership Epidemic. His actual premise is that “most leadership sucks, including yours.” I disagree. While there is certainly evidence to support that some aspects of individual leadership are ineffective and perhaps lacking, there is also a great deal to get excited about. Leadership requires real leaders. Are you up to the task?

Take for example tennis legend Andre Agassi. His passion in life is educating kids, both in areas of academic excellence and personal development. He is an incredible inspiration and has been featured in former President Bill Clinton’s book, Giving. He has a proven formula for transforming the public education system into a working, successful and functioning institution. Agassi has provided stunning leadership in this area, making a real difference in the lives of countless children and their families. He carefully used his resources and celebrity status to springboard his efforts. He has developed a winning system that can be transposed elsewhere.

This same kind leadership example is necessary in the selling arena as well. We must take charge and lead the selling conversation. We must demonstrate for our customer that we seek what is best for her as we work with others to provide a solution for her needs. How do we accomplish that?

1. Take responsibility for the process.

2. Genuinely desire to be of service.

3. Ask probing questions and listen carefully.

4. Take action and make progress.

5. Demonstrate commitment.

6. Follow through and follow up.

7. Communicate effectively through each selling stage.

8. Represent your customer’s best interests to others.

Customers are looking for your leadership. They want and need solutions. They want to feel confident that once they expose their needs to you, the solution process commences under your watch-care and leadership. They will never consider your competitors when you demonstrate this kind of commitment and leadership.



Thanks to Daniel Sitter for contributing this article to our Leadership Development blog:

Executive Leadership Training Program

Today morning I was thinking about leadership. Nearly 200 business gurus and management leaders have defined leadership. I had also observed very minutely leadership in 18 countries. “Change in the leadership style.” is seen and feel by all of us. Leadership was very different in 1970 and in the year 2008, leadership is dramatically different. Even in different sectors, you find change in leadership  styles. Leadership is completely different in Army and Not profitable Organization. Leadership is very much different in education and Business world.

Leadership in Beijing - 2008 is shown by all of us. The way china have participated and organize the Olympics were mind blowing and matchless.

Leadership is demonstrated by Army of any country and Terrorist are totally different. Principle, Cause, Discipline, Civic sense, Financial benefits, human rights -policy are found at 180 degree of these two different institutions. I had not find any match except dying. Both the organizations are leading and performing. OHH, YES!

Leadership of political institutions is also found unique. In Business houses we train managers to create leaders at all levels. In politics, Leader is always a leader and follower is always a follower. I had found that political leaders play with the emotions of the people. They are so good in finding out the emotions of people, and then they play with it very intelligently. In Business houses managers lead with intelligence and motivate people to perform with emotions.

Leadership is never position or power or star on your sleeves and cap on your head and multi colour printed visiting card or revolving chair. It is always regardless of power. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther king are the examples of leadership. Even in home  you are able to distinguish difference between power and authority. Father most of the time lead with fear and mother lead with love. Father is a power centre but mother is an authority. Leaders are authorities. They lead with WALK AND TALK formula, that’s why they do not need power or position.

Leadership is not moving in an open car and receiving salutes from the citizens or civilians but making those people ready to die for you.

You receive actual certification and amount of respect in your absence. Whatever demonstrated in front of you is most of the time fear, not love .

How many executives and managers remember you after your retirement or resignation?

How world will recall you in your absence?

What people will write on your cemetery after your departure from this world.?

Leadership for 2020 is going to be very different. What will be Values, Psychology, Technology, Sociology, Business world and management world in the year 2020? We have to prepare young children in classrooms for the year 2020. TRUST me, it is going to be a great challenge for all of us. Right now how many of us are working on it.? How many of us have put up some amount of efforts after this huge task.

Leadership 2020 should be taken as a mission of the all countries and futurologist should put some sincere thoughts on it. I sought for thinkers and doers.

Each country has to develop leadership 2020 cell and missionary team with empowerment

Let brain bank starts thinking on the future.



Thanks to lucid leagueltd for contributing this article to our Leadership Development blog:

Leadership Coaching Training

Leadership style plays a crucial role in the development of an organization. Transactional leadership is of the leadership style that is often used by many companies. Transactional leadership believes that punishment and reward motivate people. This leadership also assumes that when people agree to do a particular assignment, a part of that agreement is that they give up all authority to their boss. The leader holds control and power over the subordinates. The main goal of the employee is to obey the orders of their managers. The idea is that when a subordinate takes up a job, he or she agrees to obey their manager totally. The ‘transaction’ is the money or any other award that the company pays to its subordinates for their compliance and effort. The relationship between the subordinate and the leader becomes transactional. In transactional leadership the leader has the right to punish his or her subordinates if their performance is not according to the predetermined standard. 

Transactional leadership makes clear that what is required and expected from their subordinates. It also mentions that subordinates will get award if they follow the orders seriously. Sometimes punishments are not mentioned but they are understood. In the early stages of transactional leadership, subordinate is in the process of negotiating the contract. The contract specifies fixed salary and the benefits that will be given to the subordinate. Rewards are given to subordinates for applied effort. Some organization use incentives to encourage their subordinates for greater productivity. Transactional leadership is a way of increasing the performance of its subordinates by giving them rewards. Transactional leadership is also called as ‘true leadership style as it focuses on short term goals instead of long term goals.

In Transactional leadership, when the leader assigns work to its subordinates, then it is the responsibility of the subordinate to see that the assigned task is finished on time. If the assigned task is not completed on time or if something then punishment is given for their failure. But if they accomplish the task in time then the subordinates are given reward for successfully completing the task. Subordinates are also given award and praised for exceeding expectations.  A subordinate whose performance is below expectation is punished and some action is taken to increase his or her performance.

Transactional leadership has more of a ‘telling style’. Transactional leadership is based on the fact that reward or punishment is dependent on the performance. Even though researchers have highlighted its limitations, transactional leadership is still used by many employers. More and more companies are adopting transactional leadership to increase the performance of its employees. This approach is prevalent in real workplace.

The main limitation of this leadership is that it assumes that people are largely motivated by simple rewards. Under transactional leadership, employees can’t do much to improve job satisfaction. Transaction leadership has been ineffective in providing skilled employees to their organization. This style of leadership is least interested in changing

the work environment. Experts do not recommend this approach. Transactional leadership focuses more on management of punishments and rewards.



Thanks to Muna wa Wanjiru for contributing this article to our Leadership Development blog:

Developing Leadership Qualities

When you think about leadership, what do you think of?

Do you think of people leading the cause, marching up front, moving ahead, intent on vision and ddressing whatever challenges may come their way? Serious, intent, focused?

Do you think of people setting the course, “bringing people with them,” moving ahead of everyone else, “daring to go where no other man has ever gone”? Engaging, trustworthy, risk-taking, empowering?

These are pretty common images that come up with leadership. But what about these:

·         The individual who leads from the back, making sure that no one is left behind, that people continue to move forward, that the guy in the front has what he/she needs to be successful?

·         The individual who stands on the side, cheering people on, giving them direction, letting them know when they’re getting too close to the edge, or moving off course? Challenging and championing those on the trek to be their best, hit their goals and stay engaged as a team?

·         The individual in the middle who champions and support those around him/her, see’s opportunities that those in the front or the back may miss (and points them out), turns complaints into requests, and serves as a core piece of the puzzle? This person engages with each person in different ways, his/her main focus being to “help us all achieve success and lead in our own unique ways”?

·        Or the individual who dances with all 4 spots, leading in the front, from the back, on the side or from the center, going wherever he/she is needed to get the job done?  

It is easy to forget about these “places” as opportunities for leadership. Often leadership is abdicated to the “guy up front” or the person in the official “leadership role.” The secret is that we all have an opportunity to lead. All of the time. The roles, and what leadership requires of us may just look different.

For sometimes we’ll be driving initiatives, setting direction, “leading the way”, while at others, it’s our job to serve the people we lead. To be great “participant leaders”, to practice “servant leadership”, to do whatever we need to do to ensure that the mission is successful, that we’re all successful; to stay engaged.

To forget that we have an opportunity to lead in every situation, is to give up a huge place of power in ourselves that enables us to be strong, productive, engaging human beings that make contributions in the most useful ways. It is also a lost opportunity for growth and deep connection with others.

Complaining, abdicating, sitting back and watching someone else lead; waiting for “leadership do its thing” will “get you nowhere fast.” But showing up as a leader in your life, in even the simplest way, and creating an impact with that leadership, will move you forward in big ways. When we move from “waiting” to “leading” - it’s powerful. We step into places we didn’t know we had in us, and we inspire the same in others. Inspiring others to lead? Yet another act of leadership. 

Regardless of where we stand in any situation, there is always the opportunity to “lead from where you stand” or to “lead from where you sit.” It’s up to you to step into it. What do you see that needs leadership? Where can you support others who have the responsibility of “up front” leadership? Where can you evoke leadership in those around you? Where can your authentic leadership help move your team, and the initiative you are working on, forward? It’s worth thinking about. And it’s definitely worth doing. In fact it’s vital. To your success, to your team’s success, to the cause you support. We can’t do it alone. We need leadership in every direction. 

So go forth and lead. And consider: Where am I truly leading in my life and organization? Where am I missing opportunities for leadership? Where am I waiting for leadership? Where can I be empowering more leadership? Where (or who) can I help move things forward? Where might I be sitting on my complaints? What am I going to do about it? 

Answer just one of these questions, do something about it, and see what you can shift today. You may be surprised at what even the littlest act of leadership can do.  

And this, my friend, is how mountains get moved.  

 



Thanks to Anese Cavanaugh for contributing this article to our Leadership Development blog:

Developing Leadership Qualities

Your leadership traits will tell the manner in which you will lead your followers. Effective leadership traits will make that company successful. Leadership traits will convince voters, wins negotiations and overcomes objection. Leadership should have the potential to lead others to accomplish goals.

Leadership traits build excellence but do not command excellence. To achieve excellence, you should be a leader having good qualities. A leader must be of good character. Your leadership should honestly perform the tasks and set an example for his or her followers. The leader should set a goal for the organization and strive hard to achieve it. An important leadership trait of a good leader is the flexibility to changes without compromising his or her morale principles.

It should be most adaptive to any change in the organization. Leadership should be able to build to motivate and inspire the followers to reach common goals. Your leadership should keep on motivating the followers to accomplish the desired task. It should guide the followers in the right direction. Leadership should be such, that it energizes and activates the followers. It should develop enthusiasm and passion among its followers to achieve the desired goal. It should be aggressive and risk taking to accomplish certain tasks. 

It should be practical and be comfortable with criticism low Leadership should demonstrate a determination to achieve the required goal of the organization. Your leadership should instill sense of responsibility among your followers. It should train your employees as a team. Your leadership should ensure that job to be done by the employees is well understood and supervised. His or her leadership should be a source of enthusiasm. Your leadership should not be emotional and should not hesitate to take tough decisions. Your leadership should be tolerant and should handle stress and frustration effectively. Overall, a leader should have the maturity to handle anything in an organization.

It should have the dominance, positive attitude and assert ness to overcome any obstacles. It must be optimistic and should be open to any change. Your leadership should inculcate a soaring standard of excellence among its followers. It should make timely decisions. Leadership should be compassionate but should also take tough decisions at the right time. It should also listen to its followers patiently if they want to give any suggestion regarding the task allocated to them. Leadership should try to develop a friendly relationship with its followers. That is, it should develop a team spirit. It should have the self-confidence to guide anyone who is going wrong. It should be unaffected by failures or prior mistakes. It should always look out for the welfare of its employees and keep them well informed.

It should employ candidates according to its capabilities. Your leadership should take responsibility for your wrong actions. It should also seek self-improvement. It should also be technically profient. Your leadership should at times be offensive if your follower is not at all listening to you.  At times, it should arouse emotions to captivate and unite them to achieve the desired purpose.



Thanks to Muna wa Wanjiru for contributing this article to our Leadership Development blog:

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