Right now everywhere you turn we in America are in short supply of something vital to our country; we are in short supply of true leaders. Oh sure there are lots of people running about claiming to be leaders simply because they have been placed in leadership positions, but simply occupying a place of authority does not make a leader. If that were so the military could pick any first day recruit and make them a general with no ill effects. I am one of those people who believe that leaders are made and must be made from those who posses some basic personal characteristics.
If you feel that you have these characteristics and more I implore you to strongly consider becoming a leader and work your way into a position of responsibility.
1.) You have integrity. I mean you do more than tell the truth but you live your live according to your core values. You are transparent in your dealings. You don’t need to be sly or crafty simply because you are upfront and honest even when it is inconvenient. You have the kind of integrity that goes beyond show but is instead an integral part of who you are. You can see this in Martin Luther King Junior. Here was a man who faced hostile crowds, violent police and people who constantly urged him to fight back. He stuck to his core belief however of non-violence even in the face of violence, even when those who worked with him urged violence. Even when others of influence towards the same ends espoused and beget violence. Martin Luther King Junior stood stalwart and firm in his beliefs and eventually changed the world through how he lived. How he lived lent credence to what he publicly espoused and to what he called others to do.
2.) You serve people. Leaders, true leaders are servants and someone who cannot be a good servant cannot be a good leader. I cannot think of a clearer example than the image of Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples. Here is the Messiah, the Lion of Judah, the Son of God here washing the feet of these men who are supposed to be under him. Why is this? Simply because Jesus understood that to be a leader means that you serve those under you in order to realize the greater good. He realized it wasn’t about him, it wasn’t about them it was about what they were doing, it was about the end result. A leader places his or her people before themselves.
3.) A can see the big picture. Abraham Lincoln was faced with a terrible choice. Draft men and send many thousands to their deaths in order to maintain the Union or spare these men and see the nation torn apart. He made a tough choice but the only choice that could be made in order to preserve the Union that was the United States of America. The only way he could make this type of decision with any measure of conviction is to understand and keep the big picture in perspective at all times.
4.) A leader is stalwart and convicted but can admit when they are wrong even when not asked to do so and they do not do so just for the sake of their own image. Then they learn from their mistakes and carry on.
5.) A leader is compassionate and can empathize with people. They do not let emotions cloud their judgment but instead can understand the feelings of others and have compassion upon their situation.
Do you have these 5 traits? Do you have most of these traits and see value of all of them? The world needs more leaders and leaders are developed.
Education is a key component of a good leader. If you want to become a leader education is absolutely necessary whether you get it formally from a school or informally through the school of hard knocks and experience. It is my personal opinion that college is much quicker and easier than the school of hard knocks and there are a lot of leadership focused degrees available.
Check out:
Ashford University’s MBA with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership
The Leadership MBA from St. Joseph’s College of Maine
A Master of Science in Leadership from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS
The MBA at Fort Hays State University with an emphasis in Leadership
The Master of Science in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University
The Regis University Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Etc.
Whatever you choose make sure that you not only acquire the skills and knowledge to be an effective leader but that you also work on those personal characteristics, those traits that make a truly good leader. The world needs you, trust me.