Why A Leader Must Be A DIRECTOR?

True leaders must be, the first ones, to step forward, with relevant, sustainable, well - considered, ideas, and introduce viable solutions, to obstacles, and challenges, which are either actual, or perceived! Rather than trying, to merely, fit - in, a real leader, expands the limitations of his self - imposed, comfort zone, and realizes, one is only leading, when he directs others, towards creating the best way, to achieve the common good! Therefore, one must become ready, willing, and able, to serve as a quality DIRECTOR, and inspire and motivate stakeholders, to come together, and unify, for the common good, and the best possible results. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, some of the necessities, of achieving, what is needed, and necessary, to make the group, better and stronger.

1. Delve deeply; deliver; decide: If you don't like to, or feel comfortable with, or are unwilling, and/ or unable, to make a well - considered, decision, you probably, shouldn't be, a leader! One must delve deeply, and consider several options, which will enhance, how he might over - deliver, rather than over - promise!

2. Integrity; imagination; ideas; ideology: Integrity must be absolute, or it won't create trust! When an individual possesses a relevant, imagination, and introduces meaningful ideas, which align with the group's ideology, he begins to direct others, towards making significant improvements!

3. Relevant; reliable: What good, does anyone serve, if he simply acts, or looks busy, rather than proceeding, with relevant plans and programs? These must be well - considered, as well as truly, reliable!

4. Empathy; emphasis; energy: Listen effectively, and learn from every conversation and experience, so you better understand and appreciate, the concerns, perceptions, and priorities/ goals, of constituents. This enables you to proceed with the utmost degree of genuine empathy, and to place you emphasis, and energy, where it will do the most good!

5. Character; creative: Do you have the strength, of character, to be creative, and focused on others, rather than any personal/ political agenda, and/ or self - interest?

6. Timely: When you accept your responsibility as a director, and take this seriously, you will avoid the temptation, to procrastinate, and will consistently, proceed, with well - considered, timely actions, and plans!

7. Options; opportunities: Only when a leader, realizes, he must fully consider, several, viable options and alternatives, will he be prepared to recognize, and take advantage of the finest opportunities!

8. Responsive; responsible: When someone is the right person, for the position, he focuses on responsive solutions, as well as assuming responsibility, rather than merely, complaining, and blaming!

Are you willing to assume the responsibilities of being the DIRECTOR, when you become a leader? Are you up to this task?

Why True Leaders Must Be Willing To Think OUTSIDE The Box?

After more than 4 decades of involvement in leadership planning, development, identification, qualification, and consultation, I have come to believe, that, perhaps, the greatest challenge, to producing and developing, the best possible, most effective leaders, may, in fact, be, related to how individuals think, or fail to! It's not merely about, finding individuals, ready, willing, and able, to make well - considered decisions, based on enhanced aptitudes, etc, and recognizing, one will make little difference, for the better, until/ unless, he expands the limitations and restrictions of self - imposed, comfort zones, but becomes capable of, thinking, OUTSIDE the box! With that in mind, this article will attempt to consider, review, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means and represents, and why it matters.

1. Options; open - minded; opportunities; opinions: Pseudo - leaders, often, appear to be willing to believe, there is only one way to proceed. They strictly abide by the pursuit of the same - old, same - old, rather than considering options and alternatives, with an open - mind! Only when this is the process, will one proceed, to consider, and be prepared to recognize, and take advantage of the finest opportunities, which might present themselves! They realize, it is incumbent upon a true leader, to express his opinions, in a well - considered, inspiring, motivating manner.

2. Useful; usable; unique: Obviously, nothing will make a leader, meaningful, unless/ until, he provides useful leadership. This means his ideas must be usable, and valuable. We need individuals, who put their unique, fingerprints, on their strategic and action plans!

3. Timely: The antithesis of leading, is procrastination! Challenges, often, become problems, unless they are addressed, in a well - considered, timely way!

4. Service; system; sustainable solution: We need leaders, whose primary emphasis is on service, to their organizations and stakeholders, rather than any personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self - interest! When one perceives and conceives of, creates, and develops, a quality system, which considers present, and future needs, priorities, etc, he becomes capable of introducing the best, sustainable solutions.

5. Ideas; imagination; integrity; ideology: Absolute integrity, often, is the key ingredient, between true leaders, and the rest, of - the - pack! A leader must align his ideas, with the ideology, of the organization. To make a real difference, he needs, to possess a quality imagination, to consider the best way, to proceed!

6. Delve deeply; deliver: One must be willing, and ready, to delve deeply, to become the type of leader, his group needs, and deserves! We should evaluate one's leadership, by whether he under - promises, and over - delivers!

7. Empathy; emphasis; energize: When one begins, by effectively listening, and learning from every conversation, and experience, he becomes capable of proceeding, with the utmost degree, of genuine empathy! This should direct, him, to place his emphasis, where it will energize, and inspire, others, to greater commitment and involvement.

True leaders must be willing, and able, to think, OUTSIDE the box! Are you the right person, for this task, and responsibility?

Honesty And Integrity Have Become Rarities

In all aspects of life, we seem to be witnessing a certain loss of the basic human qualities of honesty and integrity. We have come to accept as a "fact of life" that our politicians often lie, that our government lies, and that many people lie much more often than they tell the truth. It is indeed a sad commentary that many of us find it so "refreshing" to come across a "straight shooter," who "tells it like it is."

I sometimes believe that the often vilified President James Earl Carter, because of the public's reaction to him during his Presidency, may in some ways be one of the reasons that there are so few politicians who tell you what they really think. Whether someone liked Carter or not, agreed with him or not, liked his policies or not, or thought he did a good job or not, few would doubt either his honesty or sincerity. In fact, many unbiased observers believe that one of the main reasons that arch enemies, Israel's Manachem Begin, and Egypt's Anwar Sadat, came to a "peace agreement," was because they both believed that Carter was an "honest broker." Isn't it strange that a man so heavily criticized during his Presidency, and so attacked within this country, became the most sought after mediator for so many foreign disputes? Perhaps, the lesson to be learned is that it is okay to be honest when you want to accomplish something, but it is not a politically wise decision?

I go to a local mechanic for nearly all the work on all our family cars. While most of us complain about the questionable honesty of so many mechanics, this shop has repeatedly demonstrated that they are honest and honorable. While in the short run, on a particular sale, they may make less money than the less honest mechanics, in the long run, hopefully, word of mouth will bring them many referrals because of so many satisfied customers.

Years ago, when I developed a sales training program for a financial services company, I taught representatives that, in the long run, whatever commission they might make from one sale will never compensate for the long-term damage done to their reputation by mistreating or misinforming even a single client. I kept reminding them that referrals and repeat business was the difference between success and failure. And, that way you can always get a good night's sleep!

When I look back on my consulting business, and why I have so many satisfied and repeat clients, and receive so many positive referrals, is that my personal attitude is that I would always rather lose business than sleep. I yearn for a time when that is the rule, not the exception