Make Someone Famous

There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don't care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.
- George Matthew Adamsnn There is a great deal written about leadership today. It seems to be the topic that will bring us to the promised land of efficient and effective staff. The questions become: How do I get staff to follow my lead? What training do I need to become a good leader? Much of what leadership has been centered around in the past has been closely associated with ego: position, title, office size or location, having a college education, a parking spot and the key to the executive wash room.

I'm being facetious of course, leadership is serious business. Someone has to take the lead to move a department or company forward. But I don't think it has to be difficult or a complex process to develop or learn. Anyone who has spent time in the military learns that leaders are not born, they're made.

A leader has a different attitude than other staff members. It is an attitude of action, inclusion, cheering, encouraging, accountability, continuous learning and passion. He or she has no doubt that all things are possible. Everything will work out. Without the skills and resources of others and goals to be accomplished there is no need for a leader.

Ronald Reagan is credited with saying. "You can accomplish anything you want if you don't care who gets the credit." I have a similar view; it is about finding ways to make people famous. Seek out ways to acknowledge, praise, reward positive and exceptional efforts of staff at all levels of the organization. Sometimes it's hard work making people famous. Your success as a leader will be judged by the famous people you help to develop in your organization who outshine you.

So find ways to publicly celebrate achievements of others. Send them a handwritten note describing the accomplishment. Send the note home, walk up to the person in the employee break room and congratulate him or her. Ask him or her for their autograph.

Make a commitment each day to discover people doing things right and make them famous. I 'm making you famous!
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