Musings and Ideas on Leadership

Musings Scattered Across My Domain

The word musings is a period of reflection or deep thought, and any ideas on Leadership should start there. If Leadership is influence, it means Leadership should be taken seriously by those who exercise it.

Some think people are “natural born leaders,” and they either have it or don’t. Some people have natural gifts that allow them to influence, inspire, motivate and lead people. However, Leadership is mainly developed, learned, and gained through experience. Any natural gift gives a person a great head start.

Let’s take a look at ideas on leadership qualities.

Develop skills

Outstanding Leadership is intentional, and skills need attention to become an effective leader. Develop solid skill sets to lead well. Here are some ideas to get started.

Read leadership books every day.
Take an online leadership course.
Attend conferences that focus on Leadership
Attend conferences that focus on your particular industry or business
Have coffee with someone who is a great leader and ask questions
Work on verbal and written communication
Lead by example by doing what you are asking others to do

Gain wisdom

Wisdom is a deep understanding of or knowledge of a subject. A great leader needs to pursue wisdom by increasing knowledge and then applying it. The best way to gain wisdom is by learning Leadership through experience.

Learn from mistakes
Learn from success
Learn from experience
Learn from others who have already done it
Learn from case studies
Learn from trial and error
Learn from writing a journal of your experiences
Learn by asking good questions
Learn with continued education
Learn by reading leadership books

Allow new understanding and knowledge to provide wisdom.

Develop character

Character is a sign of personal growth and vital to leadership development. Follow leaders with great character, which will accelerate the development process. Character is the quality of being an individual excitingly or unusually. It is also an indication of a person’s good reputation.

Your character matters because you will attract who you are. If you want good people to follow you, you need to be that type of person first.

People are attracted and inspired by people of good character. It is also a matter of trust, knowing that they can rely on you and that you can trust them.

The best leaders are the best followers.

Leaders know how to take direction and follow through because they learned it following others. Leaders are curious and eager to move forward. They are also wise enough to ask for help along the way because that is what they do, following others.

Being a great follower teaches you what it means to be a great leader. A great follower earns the reputation that a potential leader will need. A great follower sets an example and builds leadership skills in the process.

A great leader is most likely still a great follower because they are hopefully following someone who is coaching them.

Leaders are readers

Leaders love learning new things and studying successful people. The single best way to do this is with a book. A book is always available on demand 24/7/365.

The greatest minds are available to you through a book: incredible stories, practical applications, disciplines, ideas, knowledge, and wisdom in books. Pick up a book and go on a treasure hunt for knowledge! You will become a better leader with a reading habit.

Leaders surround themselves with other leaders to learn great habits and skills. You can do this in person as much as possible, and you can do this anytime with a book.

Leaders take action

Leaders are willing to take the ball, be the team captain, volunteer to take the project, accept the challenge, speak up and accept opportunities.

Leaders jump in with both feet and do things to grow. Accomplish personal growth by exercising Leadership. Just like a bodybuilder builds muscles, a leader needs to push through the weight of resistance to build strength.

Taking action is the most important thing you can do to build momentum as a leader. Leaders who take action inspire others who will take action. Active leaders have the potential to be great leaders.

Leaders need a coach.

Leaders need good advice and encouragement along the way. I read a book that reminded me that Michael Jordan had a coach. You can be the absolute best at what you do and still benefit from having a coach.

Coaches remind you to focus on the fundamentals.
Coaches see your flaws and correct your skill sets
Coaches see your performance and offer perspective
Coaches instill discipline and encouragement
Coaches have a vested interest in seeing you win
Coaches are your additional eyes and ears
Coaches help you focus on the goal

Go back and read the section above on wisdom. A coach can help you get it! Never stop seeking the guidance of a good coach in your life.

Leaders never give up.

PersistenceIs part of pushing through the resistance that will make you a more decisive leader! Circumstances will get in the way, and trials will occur for sure. Challenges will most definitely cause setbacks from time to time. Leaders will always get back up and keep going no matter what happens.

Even with doubt and fear, you need to let people know that you will figure it out and not quit until the problem is solved. Followers need to be able to count on the leader in tough times. If they see confidence in a leader who will not quit, they will most likely hang in there with you to the finish line.

You can admit that you do not have all the answers and are even afraid but do not ever let them think that you will quit on them.

Failure is not an option for the leader who intends to win—attitude matters.

Leaders are thankful

Leaders reflect on past accomplishments just long enough to inspire forward progress. If things are good, be thankful. If things stink, be grateful that your leadership skills will help you work through it.

Not every meal is a banquet, and not every day is a holiday. However, every day is an opportunity to move ahead regardless of the circumstances. Be thankful on every occasion and know that this too shall pass.

Spouses, children, and parents are a gift that needs to be cherished. They are usually the most excellent support system for a leader. There are endless reasons to be thankful if you stop and think about it.

Leaders consider the following steps:

Leaders sleep on “it” if they don’t have the answer. Leaders ask for help and get all the information to make good decisions.

It is good to muse about your next move. Leaders schedule a time to focus on what matters. Scheduling is where the leader intentionally builds time in the calendar to stop and think for a change. Yes, a good leader stops and thinks. It goes back to where we started with a period of reflection and deep thought.

I schedule a time to sit and be quiet. I can do this at my desk, at Starbucks, or on a rock in the mountains if I have time. The point is to stop and think before you make big decisions.

Time is your friend when it comes to making big decisions. Take your time to consider the following steps and build them into your schedule! Seek counsel from your boss, spouse, and coach, then sit down and think about it.

Leaders are not afraid to fail.

All leaders will fail, period. Failure is a learning opportunity and proves that all leaders are human, no matter how good they are.

Great leaders will ask for forgiveness when they wrong someone and be willing to forgive when others let them down.

Leaders always need to work on better communication. Communicating is the foundation of making things happen and often the most significant cause of failure. Through communication, leaders cast a vision, help people pursue success, and work through challenges.

If the vision is not worthwhile, you have failed before even getting started. Failure is your friend if you are willing to learn from it and make corrections.

Leaders celebrate success

Leaders enlighten the people who helped along the way. Leaders give others credit when they deserve it. Nothing great happens alone, and a leader understands that any success reflects what the team did.

If it is a “big deal,” someone helped, and they need to receive thanks. It might inspire someone on the team to take on Leadership at some point if they feel appreciated.

Leaders grow other leaders.

Leading adds to the success of the team. However, developing leaders in the process multiplies the win of the group.

How many seeds are in an apple? How many potential apple trees come from that apple? This question inspired me when I heard it. Leaders growing leaders can multiply productivity at an incredible rate.

A leader will produce results with a team. A leader building another leader will have results from two groups, and the leaders built out of that will continue to multiply exponentially. More success and more friends will be the result. As a leader, you need to learn how to support and mentor other leaders.

5 Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell

What leaders use to succeed

Ability

Leaders understand their ability. Focus on capabilities to accomplish goals. Each one of us has specific skills that come naturally to us. A strong leader understands those abilities and will focus on building upon those strengths.

Influence

One of the definitions of Leadership is to influence. Leaders understand that influence moves people in a direction. Impact motivates people towards a particular action. The correct effect causes activities that accomplish the right goals.

Willingness

Effective Leadership will cause people to do what is necessary. Leading by example and working with others causes a willingness to act. Cooperation and synergy are produced by a group of people voluntarily moving forward together.

Goals

Leaders need a target. The result needs to be in sight. A clear map with the destination marked keeps the team on the right path toward the finish line.

Accountability

Leaders are accountable and set the example of accountability for the team. If you want responsible followers, you better be an accountable leader. Do what you say you are going to do.

Encouragement

A positive word is powerful. Leadership thrives on encouragement. Leaders believe in people more than they believe in themselves so that they can believe in themselves more—you breathe life into a team by encouraging them.

Empowerment

Work hard at putting the right people in the proper position, and then get out of their way! Support them, encourage them and then empower them to do it. A happy leader has a team of people doing their part with skill, confidence, and support.

Clarification

Have huddles to go over the next play. Clarify the process, clarify the goal, and repeat as often as necessary to keep everyone unified. Be available to reset the sails to keep the ship on course.

There are many things a leader does to succeed.

Musings on Leadership

Musings on Leadership is a period of reflection and deep thought. Leadership deserves consideration and deep thought because it causes influences other people. Lives can be helped or hurt depending on the quality of Leadership provided in any given circumstance.

Ideas on Leadership

My ideas on Leadership are ever-changing and growing as I pursue, learn, apply and gain wisdom. I think this post will need to be revised over time as I continue to learn about this very complex topic of Leadership.

I know some of my thoughts are right on point, while I anticipate that some may also be slightly off base. I will have to think deeper and reflect more often until I get closer to being the leader I have the potential to be.

Success starts with personal growth. Personal development can move you toward your potential, and your potential is always farther along than you are right now! Pursuing potential is a lifelong journey and well worth the trip! It is the only way tomorrow gets better.

I desire to help you (and me) develop the right attitude, discover strengths, tap into passion and become driven with purpose. I write this to remind myself that I need to learn, grow and take action consistently! However, If you happen to read something that will help you in your journey, then I consider it a bonus, and I am truly thankful!