Powerful Leadership

LEADERSHIP
By Jay Block, IJCTC, CPRW

“There are three types of leaders: Those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who wonder what happened.”
- Anonymous

“Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure.”
- Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

“To be a leader, you have to make people want to follow you. And nobody wants to follow someone who doesn’t know where he is going.”
- Joe Namath

“A Leader is a dealer in hope.”
- Napoleon Bonaparte

“Leadership is the ability to get people to do what they don’t want to do and like doing it.”

- Harry Truman

There are so many definitions of leadership, many conflicting and at odds with one another, while others duplicate each other suggesting identical implications. But there can be little doubt that, today, competitive excellence requires strong leadership however it is defined. Leadership is a corporate president or CEO piloting his organization through a highly competitive global marketplace. Leadership is a school principal directing her staff and students to excel academically, positioning them for life success. Leadership is a president of a nation leading his/her people in a volatile and ruthless world in pursuit of a better life. Leadership is a father and mother playing an influential role in the nurturing and development of their children so that they gain a competitive advantage in becoming contributing members of society.

Obviously, many of us assume leadership roles on a number of challenging fronts. After studying leadership concepts over the past ten years, I thought I would offer my own two cents on this abstract and, often times, neglected subject. I don’t pretend to cover all the bases in this essay. Furthermore, what is viewed as leadership qualities today may by antiquated and ephemeral viewpoints tomorrow. The purpose of this presentation is to make the reader stop and think - to ponder the essence of leadership - and to provide a starting point for developing one’s own personal philosophy on the subject. This is imperative in order to meet the plethora of challenges we will surely meet individually and collectively in the months and years ahead. If one wants to make a difference tomorrow, she must master leadership skills today. If one seeks to influence others and create a compelling future, he must develop core leadership skills in order to ensure manifestation of that reality.

Today, particularly in the political theater, leadership, if one calls it that, consists of little more than engaging a pollster to evaluate and detect the pulse of a targeted constituency and developing policy in harmony with that pulse. But leadership by popular consensus can be a dangerous and reckless stratagem. Is it possible, even in a democratic arena, that the “majority” can be dead wrong? What would have happened if Abraham Lincoln took a poll and discovered that the “majority” of Americans supported slavery? What if a poll was taken prior to the 1960’s and advent of the “Women’s Movement,” and it was discovered that the “majority” (a slight majority at that) of Americans were against equal rights for women? And what if the “majority” of Americans polled during World War II felt it was in the “national interest” to incarcerate Americans of Japanese ancestry? As we can plainly see, throughout the annals of history, leadership is knowing what’s right… even when the majority can’t see it yet.

This author believes that one of the pressing challenges, as the world prepares to cross the threshold into a new millennium, is a striking void in leadership – worldwide. There are so few current-day Winston Churchills, Franklin Roosevelts, Harry Trumans, Abraham Lincolns, Charles De Gaulle, Vince Lombardis, Waldo Emersons, and Jackie Robinsons. And it seems that role models of “leadership quality” are, for the most part today, scorned and even ridiculed as being an “old fashion” and, sad to say, passé concept. In fact, it seems that “visionaries” are being replaced with “polsteraries.” Evidently, today’s so-called leaders are more concerned about “staying in power” for the sake of their own self-interests rather than doing what’s best for their constituency, regardless of the risks. General Dwight Eisenhower, before he led the Allied attack on D-Day, wrote a letter, accepting FULL responsibility in the event that D-Day failed. He never had to send the letter. He stood up for what he deeply believed in, never compromised his values and convictions, took the necessary risks, and was prepared to either share the victory or accept sole responsibility in defeat. That’s leadership. That’s greatness. Do we have that kind of leadership today?

The 12 Core Characteristics of Great Leaders

When we delve into the surfeit of leadership material available in libraries, on the World Wide Net, and through other similar reference sources, we can easily extract many similar character traits that nearly everyone agrees make effective leaders. They include, but are not limited to, respecting the dignity of others, effective communication skills, having compassion and empathy, setting goals, maintaining a positive attitude, integrity, intelligence, and so on. But are there CORE characteristics that truly distinguish “managers” from “leaders, ” “caretakers” of the status quo from true “visionaries” who see change before its time? I think so. I have studied and analyzed hundreds and hundreds of leaders from Moses to Jesus; from Alexander the Great to Napoleon; from Constantine the Great to Thomas Jefferson; from Queen Elizabeth I to Martin Luther King Jr.; from Magic Johnson to Larry Bird. Yes, they all shared many of the same attributes, but there are just a few core traits that this author believes discriminates genuine greatest from all other levels of lesser success. I call these the 12 Core Characteristics of Great Leaders.

Core Characteristic #1: Leaders are Visionaries

President Kennedy challenged America in 1961 to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Lincoln saw a republic free of slavery. Gandhi envisioned his country free of foreign rule through the process of non-violet revolution. Henry Ford saw a country transformed by the automobile, even though there were no roads on which to drive. Jonas Salk envisioned a day where children no longer suffered from the horrible effects of polio. And we all know that Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream – a vision. Leaders are able to visualize and unconditionally commit to things that do not yet exist. Moreover, they commit to their dreams without knowing “how” they will generate and bring about the change. Leaders can see, in their mind’s eye, a better tomorrow, and will pay any price, make any sacrifice, bear any burden to turn their visions and dreams into reality. One of the greatest visionaries / dreamers of all time said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” And that was Walt Disney.

Core Characteristic #2: Leaders have a Laser Sharp Focus and Major in “Major Things”

Leaders have the uncanny ability to stay razor sharp and focused. They see the outcome at the outset or, as Dr. Stephen Covey says in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, they “begin with the end in mind.” Leaders focus on only the important issues that need to be address whereas everyone else is majoring in “minor things.” They are detailed oriented, resourceful, and hands-on. There are in touch and in tune with everything. They have the power of concentration. Andrew Carnegie said, “Concentration is my motto – first honesty, then industry, then concentration.” Great leaders grasp the issues, understand all challenges, and call upon any and all resources that will benefit the overall objective, not their own personal egos.

Core Characteristic #3: Leaders Inspire Emotion

Football coach and legend, Vince Lombardi inspired emotion. “The difference between a successful person and all others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will,” he said. His players loved him and would do anything for him. Mother Teresa inspired emotion when she said; “I am but a tiny pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” FDR inspired emotion and optimism during America’s most troubling years – the Great Depression and World War II. He said, “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Great leadership begins when leaders are able to touch the hearts and souls of their constituency, and rally them to greatness. Harry Truman may have said it best, “The successful (person) has enthusiasm. Good work is never done in cold blood; heat is needed to forge anything. Every great achievement is the story of a flaming heart.” Leaders are charismatic and inspire high emotion in pursuit of noble and worthy objectives.

Core Characteristic #4: Leaders See Things from Other’s Points of View

Leaders are compassionate, empathetic, and reach out for the concerns and viewpoints of others. Great leaders make an in-depth study of their enemy. Successful business leaders understand and know their competitors. Leaders in the athletic arenas know their opponent and prepare accordingly. But great leaders are also open-minded and embrace the ideas and thought of others. They value differences and by understanding the emotions and feelings of others, are better able to lead them – even if they disagree. Again, Dr. Stephen Covey says in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, that “you first must seek to understand, then to be understood.” The antithesis of seeing things from other people’s points of views is the notion that “my way or the highway, Jack!” That is also the antithesis of leadership.

Core Characteristic #5: Leaders Don’t Feel Threatened by Others

One of my heroes growing up once told me that the key to his success was his ability to surround himself with strong people in all the areas that he was weak. That was my dad! Theodore Roosevelt agreed with my father. He said, “Leaders are ones who have 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.” Leaders involve everybody and everybody feels like they are part of the team and by surrounding themselves with quality talent, there is no need to “micromanage.” And in the end – leaders give credit to others for success rather than accept it as their own. “A good leader,” according to Arnold H. Glasgow, “takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of credit.”

Core Characteristic #6: Leaders are Highly Disciplined

What can be more important than discipline? A leader is not only disciplined, but inspires others to be as well. Discipline is the mother of mastery and mastery is the mother of success. Discipline is working hard even when you don’t feel like it, doing the extra push-up, making the extra sales call, and going the extra mile – even when the extra mile seems like a hundred miles. General Robert E. Lee said, “I cannot trust a man to control others who has not the discipline to control himself.” Parity for all exists only in that everybody has 24 hours in a day. Great leaders leverage these 24 hours better than others and that leverage is born out of discipline. Basketball great Jerry West puts it all into proper perspective. “You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days you feel good.” Discipline and sacrifice – there is no substitute.

Core Characteristic #7: Leaders Don’t Stick Their Heads in the Sand

Great leaders acknowledge and face obstacles head on. They don’t sweep things under the rug and hope it disappears. Jim Rohn, one of the world’s most sought-after success coaches and business philosophers, calls this “mastering the negative.” “Negativity is not to be ignored,” he says. “It has to be mastered.” When a Hitler, Stalin, or Saddam Hussein come along, we can’t stick our heads in the sand and hope they go away. “You’ve got to be prepared to do battle with the enemy,” Rohn preaches. Motivational guru Tony Robbins says, “You can’t ignore the weeds in your garden. You can’t say, `I’m positive and by being positive the weeds will all go away.’ You have to see the weeds, acknowledge the weeds, and then kill them. If not, they’ll take your garden.” Leaders see what others don’t want to see… then seek effective ways to initiate positive change.

Core Characteristic #8: Leaders are Not Deterred by Failure

Leaders manage stress. Leaders flourish in chaotic environments. Leaders embrace and learn from their mistakes and those of others. In fact, all success is born out of failure. From the infant who tries to walk for the first time and fails, to the child who attempts to ride her first two-wheel bicycle – no one gets it right the first time. The only true failure in life is giving up. Think about this – would victory be so sweet if there was no such thing as failure? Edison tried 10,000 to develop the light bulb and conducted more than 50,000 experiments before he created the alkaline battery. Babe Ruth struck out twice as many times as he hit home runs, and Oprah Winfrey had her share of setbacks, adversity, and failures on the way to the top. In the end, there are no failures in life – only results. Leaders, when they don’t get the results they want, learn from the experience so that they acquire new references on how to make better decision and initiate successful outcomes in the future. NBA great Michael Jordan says, “ I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career; I’ve lost almost 300 games; 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed; I’ve failed over and over again in my life… and that’s why I succeed.” So never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. And finally, remember this… you’ll never know what’s possible until you attempt, over and over again, what seems at the moment to be the impossible.

Core Characteristic #9: Leaders Have a Sense of Humor

General Louis Wilson was quoted as saying that “People are afraid of a leader who has no sense of humor. They think he (or she) is not capable of relaxing, and as a result of this, there is a tendency for that leader to have a reputation for pomposity, which may not be the case at all. Humor has a tendency to relax people in times of stress.” All great leaders have an inner sense of humor. Churchill said, “The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.” Lincoln was a master of humor. Given all the great challenges he faced, he said, “The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.” Humor makes us laugh and laughter is one of the most powerful medicines in the world. What’s critical, however, is that effective leaders know when and how to use the valuable art of humor. General Aubrey Newman said, “Humor is an effective but tricky technique in leadership; beneficial when used wisely and with skill, but it can backfire into a dangerous booby trap if overworked or crudely employed.” Great leaders make key points using humor. McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc once quipped, “When you’re green you’re growing and when you’re ripe, you start to rot.” And finally, who was it that said, “Don’t complain because 80% of the people don’t care and the other 20% are glad it’s you, not them?”

Core Characteristic #10: Leaders Exhibit Patience

There is no such thing as an unrealistic goal – only unrealistic timetables. The problem in our modern day world is that instant gratification can’t come quick enough for most people. Patience is not only a virtue, but also a critical component for effective leadership. Patience, not only in performing or undertaking a challenging task, but patience with other people as well. Earl Nightingale said, “Every time a person admits to himself – usually much later – that he has made a fool of himself, he can trace it back to a lack of patience; if he had only waited a while, everything would have been alright.” Most people seem to be in a hurry to get nowhere – turning into human “doings” rather than human “beings.” Benjamin Franklin wrote, “He that has patience, can have what he will – to know how to wait is the great secret of success.” D-Day was supposed to take place on June 5, 1944. The weather was horrible – rainy, damp, and cold. Though thousands and thousands of men and women were ready – they had to wait in the freezing rain and endure another 24 hours of hellish weather. Twenty-four hours later, these brave men and women began to free Europe and the world from the bitter grasp of Nazism. Patience set the world free.

Core Characteristic #11: Leaders Take Action

It has been said that most people know what to do but don’t do what they know. Procrastination is the silent killer – one that inhibits success. Leaders take action... massive action in pursuit of their goals and objectives. Knowing is not enough. Knowledge is not power. You must take action on what you know. Leaders who are committed to an outcome are prepared to take whatever action is appropriate to achieve the results they seek – regardless of the obstacles or risks. How many times have we had groundbreaking ideas only to see “our” ideas manifest itself through someone else’s efforts? Why is this? Well, others had similar thoughts and ideas, yes - but they took action while we did not. So why do leaders succeed in taking action while most do not? They overcome their FEARS. They do not allow the fear of failure or rejection to enter the equation. They are CERTAIN of the outcome in advance, Franklin Roosevelt said, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” It is accomplishment through action that makes great leaders. Henry Ford wrote, “Leadership and success, joy and happiness come from the realization that we have accomplished something.” Finally, Booker T. Washington sums it up when he says, “The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.”

Core Characteristic #12: Leaders Don’t Sell Out

Integrity, character, and adhering to core values are keys to outstanding leadership. Great leaders never compromise their values. Great leaders never sell out to enhance their own image or agenda. Great leaders don’t settle for less than they aspire to. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the greatest battle of all time – the Allied Invasion of Europe during World War II. It was a unique blend of integrity, humility, character, and undaunted persistence in the name of freedom, peace, and global friendship that made this American so special. He never sold out and never compromised what he thought was right – even when he had to go head to head with other world leaders.

John Wooden was one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history – possibly of all time. He led UCLA to a record 10 NCAA championships winning seven straight between 1967 and 1973. I believe Wooden best describes the 12th Core Characteristic of Leaders - of not selling out – in the following quote. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Leaders don’t sell out.