Monday, December 12, 2011

The Right to Lead

Posted by Lee Miller | Monday, December 12, 2011 | Category: , , |

The Right to Lead by Drew Maddux with thoughts taken from John Maxwell

WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?
It certainly isn’t gained by election or appointment.  Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn’t qualify anyone to lead other people.  And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience either.  No, it would be accurate to say   that no one can be given the right to lead.  The right to lead can only be earned.  And that takes time.  Leadership emerges.

The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making you the kind of   person they want to follow.  You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:  

1.  Let go of your ego.  
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people.  Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked,  "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.

2.  Become a good follower first.  (We are going to take orders our entire life)  
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.    
     
3.  Build positive relationships.  
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.    

4.  Work with excellence.  
No one respects and follows mediocrity.  Leaders who earn the   right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not   only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work.  They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.  


You need to meet someone who expects greatness from you.
EXPECT GREATNESS, INSPECT FOR GREATNESS, ACCEPT ONLY GREATNESS



5.  Rely on discipline, not emotion.  
Leadership is often easy during the good times.  It’s when everything seems to be against you when you’re out of energy, and you don’t want to lead that you earn your place as a leader.   During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up and giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.  
        
6.  Make adding value your goal.    
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential.  That is the highest calling of leadership and its highest value.  


7.  Give your power away.  
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself.  You’re meant to be a river, not a reservoir.  If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.    
  
Human Needs: 1. Live 2. Love 3. Learn 4. Leave a Legacy

“The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we.  As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers.  Leadership isn’t learned or earned in a moment.” -John Maxwell


Drew Maddux
Tennessee Director
Elite Hoops/NIKE Basketball Camps
"Release Your Potential"

Currently have 0 comments:


Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)