“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
~ John Quincy Adams
Good morning friends! After dealing with our emergency yesterday, life has ebbed back towards status quo, and we have Spencer off for a charter on his boat this fine morning. While the xrays did not show a broken bone, the hand is badly injured and in a splint. Fortunately, he had a friend volunteer to help him with his charter today. He’s postponed his vacation by a month, which I have a sensing is for the better …
As we continue on with our readings of Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich”, we are reminded that when we begin, if we don’t have a product or property to sell, we will need to amass our good fortune by selling personal services.
And to effectively sell personal services, with the aid of others, Hill says need to decide at the onset whether we intend to become become a leader in our chosen calling, or remain a follower.
Hill says it’s no disgrace to be a follower … Most great leaders began as followers …
To quote Aristotle:
He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.
A good follower should be able to develop into leadership rapidly, for there is “no credit to remaining a follower” if one desires to make his or her mark in this world.
Hill lists 11 Major Attributes of Leadership. Think about each one as they relate to some of the best Leaders, Coaches & Teachers you’ve know. Determine that you will work to gain each of these traits yourself, if you don’t already possess them …
- Unwavering Courage (based upon knowledge of self & your occupation)
- Self-Control
- A keen sense of Justice
- Definiteness of Decision
- Definiteness of Plans (you can’t lead by guesswork)
- The habit of doing more than paid for
- A pleasing personality
- Sympathy & understanding
- Mastery of detail
- Willingness to assume full responsibility (does not pass blame, your followers mistakes are your own)
- Cooperation
We’ll get into this a bit more tomorrow, but Hill says there are two forms of leadership:
- Leadership by Consent
- Leadership by Force.
I have always worked with my employees as team-members, implying leadership by consent. When I think about the above list of qualities, my partner in PC Paradise comes to mind. While he was very intelligent in his field, had no problem planning and making decisions, & often went the extra mile, he was lacking in the people skills department. He would often yell at people, and demand their work as terms of their employment. He was “the boss”. And in this, I think he easily created enemies. You can’t demand respect.
“People may follow forced leadership temporarily, but they will not do so willingly.”
After he left the business, through the aid of one of my staff, who rose from follower to leader, we were able to put together a team of people, all who stayed within my employment for 10 years. They become family to me, and I attribute the longevity of the business to their co0operative effort. To quote Theodore Roosevelt:
“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
Happy Sunday !!
