Why We Need Public Leaders, Worthy Of Our TRUST?

Among, the most concerning aspects, of the numerous challenges, we face, both, domestically, and internationally, is, apparently, there are so many Americans, who merely follow, someone, based on empty promises, rhetoric and vitriol, personality and/ or celebrity, or an unwillingness, to thoroughly examine positions and possibilities, and/ or proceeding, in an apathetic manner! Most observers believe, the present period, is, perhaps, one of the most challenging, especially, in recent memory, because, rather than our leaders, articulating a cooperative message, based on unification, and the common good, based on emphasizing, a polarizing message, focused on serving their core supporters, and/ or personal/ political agenda, and/ or self - interest! Now, perhaps more than ever, we need public leaders, worthy of our TRUST. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly, consider, identify, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and represents, and why, it matters.

1. Timely: Donald Trump, successfully, ran a campaign for President, in 2016, based on a central message, Make America Great Again. If we look at that slogan, we should recognize, it represents, a philosophy, stating, this nation, is no longer great, and needs, to go, back to the past! Only when our public officials, seek timely, well - considered solutions, will this nation benefit, and become, the best, it might possibly be!

2. Relevant; responsive; realistic: What good is achieved, until/ unless, the leadership focuses on relevant needs, and attempts to be responsive to realistic priorities, rather than any personal/ political agenda? We need, to come together, for the common good, and remain true, to the freedoms, liberties, rights, and Constitutional requirements, represented by the Constitution, and Bill of Rights, as well as evolving needs, goals, and priorities, for all, not only when we support, or benefit, from any specific one!

3. Useful; usable: Rhetoric, vitriol, empty promises, misstatements, lies, distortions, etc, are never useful, in making the nation, serve all the people! We have witnessed, President Trump, reportedly, average about 6 lies, per day, and how is that usable, or worthwhile?

4. Service; system; sustainable solutions: Our leaders must prioritize service, to nation, and all the citizens, not just their supporters, or those who agree with them! They can't, merely, proceed, without effective planning, but rather, ones, with a well - considered, system, to seek, sustainable solutions, for the common good!

5. Truthful; tells: Demand officials, proceed, in a truthful way, and tell, how they will transform challenges, towards a relevant, sustainable solution!

Wouldn't it be better, if we had public officials, worthy of our TRUST? Wake up, America, and demand better representation, if you hope, to have a nation, to be proud of!

How A Leader Earns RESPECT?

Many of us remember the famous, Rodney Dangerfield, comedy routine, I don't get no respect. The similarity between Rodney's complaint, and, that, of many pseudo - leaders, is, while they feel, they aren't getting the degree of RESPECT, they believe they deserve, a true leader recognizes, one must earn that respect, because it doesn't automatically come, as a result of any position, and/ or status. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly identify, consider, and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, why this is something sought, and needed, by a quality leader, and what it might mean, and represent.

1. Relevant; responsive; reliable: Quality leadership must be, consistently, and meaningfully, relevant, both, to the organization's sustainability, etc, as well as to the stakeholders, served and represented! A real leader must be responsive to the essential goals, and priorities, as well as perceptions, or why would others, grant him that desired, respect! He must also proceed, towards seeking, the most reliable courses, of actions, which might make a quality difference, for the better, for the group, and constituents!

2. Empathy; emphasis: Only when/ if, someone realizes, he doesn't know - it - all, or have all the answers, and makes a concerted effort to listen, far more than he speaks, and learns, from every conversation, and experience, will he place his emphasis, where it is most appreciated, and his efforts are, therefore, most respected!

3. Service; systems; sustainable solutions: Why should anyone respect you, unless your focus is on service to stakeholders, and organization, rather than any personal/ political agenda, and/ or, self - interest? What systems someone puts into place, often differentiate a true leader, who deserves to be respected, and the rest - of - the - pack! A quality leader perceives and conceives of, discovers, creates, and implements, sustainable solutions, rather than merely, blaming, and complaining!

4. Priorities; planning: How someone determines his priorities, and how others perceive them, often is a major differentiation, between one, who earns the respect, and others! To achieve, and make a change, for the better, requires professional, well - intentioned, leadership planning!

5. Excellence; energize: Will you demand the highest degree of your personal excellence, or accept, merely, good - enough? Only one who follows the first path, will positively, energize others, to care more, become more committed, and involved!

6. Character; clarity; creative; choices: The measure of one's character, should be measured by whether he articulates, with utmost clarity, considers various options and alternatives, and makes his choices, after creative, thorough, consideration, and with a positive, can - do, attitude!

7. Timely: We often witness fearful individuals, who fear, making timely, well - considered, choices, and decisions, and observe, how this tendency towards procrastination, hurts their leadership, and the organization's potential relevance, and sustainability!

This article has touched upon some of the aspects of a leader, earning RESPECT. Are you willing, and able, to proceed, in that way?

Essentials of FINEST Leadership

Although, many people, are elected, selected, or ascend to positions of leadership, very few, actually become the FINEST possible leader. In this age, where we are witnessing, and ever - increasing, dearth of genuine leadership, which is one of the primary reasons, so few organizations, remain strong, relevant, and sustainable, wouldn't we better served, if groups' leaders, were better prepared, to make a difference, for the better? In my, over four decades, of identifying, qualifying, training, developing, and consulting, to thousands of actual, as well as, pseudo - leaders, I have attempted to emphasize, some of the characteristics, traits, abilities, etc, a real leader, needs to possess. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly examine, consider, review and discuss, using the mnemonic approach, what this means, and why it matters.

1. Face facts; future; furnish; fruition: One must avoid burying, his head, in the sand, and be willing to face the facts, and consider, both present needs, and challenges, as well as how to proceed forward, to ensure the best future! He must furnish the skills, and true leadership, to transform ideas, to fruition, in a relevant, sustainable manner.

2. Integrity; imagination; ideas; ideology: We, unfortunately, witness, far, too few, individuals, who possess, and proceed, with absolute integrity! A true leader must start there, and then possess, a relevant imagination, to consider options and alternatives, with an open - mind, and introduce the best ideas, to achieve great objectives, which align, with the ideology of the organization.

3. Needs: If it doesn't focus on, and address the genuine needs, of stakeholders, and the group, it isn't leading! To do so, a meaningful leader must put the needs of others, ahead of any personal/ political agenda, and. or self - interest!

4. Empathy; emphasis; energize; excellence: Begin by effectively listening, far more than speaking, and commit to consistently learning from every conversation, and experience, so as to proceed, with relevant, inspiring, genuine empathy! This must direct, where one's primary emphasis, should be placed, in order to energize others to greater commitment and involved, and, thus, become more capable of providing, the degree of excellence, an organization deserves!

5. Service; system; sustainable solution: Measure one's quality, and degree of leadership, on, whether it provides the utmost service, to those he serves and represents! It's essential to develop, a quality system, and avoid empty rhetoric and promises, while introducing the finest, sustainable solutions!

6. Timely: Since procrastination, is, generally, the death, of genuine leadership, one must proceed, forward, with well - considered, timely action!

Will you use the essentials of FINEST leadership? Why do you wish, to be, a leader?

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?

Concerns Need To Be Addressed On A Timely Basis

Organizations and their ineffective leaders are often their own worst enemies. In more than three decades of consulting, I have observed repeated occurrences when effective leaders would have taken decisive action to address a concern before it became a larger issue, but that untrained, unskilled and ineffective leaders refrained from responding, using excuses like, "I don't want to blow this out of proportion," or "It's just a misunderstanding." As bad as those excuses are in terms of competent leadership and management, it is even worse when someone in a leadership position states that they will find out what's going on, often using cliched expressions like, "I'll get to the bottom of it," and then neglect the issue entirely.

Effective leadership is a hands-on exercise. If someone does not want "to get their hands dirty," they probably should avoid leadership roles. Procrastinating on taking action when there is a first indication of a potential issue, generally results in the issue becoming more and more difficult to resolve.

One of the first warning signals of potential issues is when their is consistent tardiness, in terms of getting promised items completed. If deadlines are constantly missed, errors are constantly made, etc., that usually indicates that something is going wrong. While there will always be some errors made, when that becomes the norm, there should be an indication that their is a potential wider issue.

If I received even a small amount of money for every excuse I have heard both volunteer leaders as well as paid staff use in the past three decades, I would never have to work again. Those that often do not take heed of issues, or say that they "don't want to rock the boat," or that they will "wait and see, and let it work out" often come back later, with a bit of revisionist history, stating that they were against something or wary of it for a long time. Individuals who do not act on concerns are not part of the solution, but rather perpetuate an issue into turning into a problem.

Having assisted numerous organizations in interviewing, qualifying, and recommending paid staff, as well as having served as both a Director of Operations as well as a Development Director for a few not-for-profit organizations, I can certainly state with certainty that most staff members are ill-prepared for their positions, and that most volunteer leaders do not even fully understand what their needs are. Because of this, when staff under-performs, it takes many of these volunteer leaders far too long to properly handle the situation.

There are many sports stories about coaches that considered players late if they did not get to team meetings at least fifteen minutes before it was scheduled for. Without timeliness, issues develop, and are far more difficult to resolve because by the time they are acted on, it is quite late.