Attributes of Great Leaders

Today I am going to share with you something from one of my favorite books; the timeless classic book "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. It's an amazing reading; if you haven't read it, I highly recommend that you do when you get a
chance. One the subjects that is covered in this book is leadership.

Leadership is what sets you apart from the crowd. I believe that from this hard times we are going through new corporations will be forged, with new ideas, new philosophies. New leaders will be born and jumpstart this economy. However, what is to be an effective leader? Today I want to share with you 11 attributes of great leaders, as well as the 10 major causes of failure in leadership, as described by Napoleon Hill in Think & Grow Rich.

11 Attributes of Great Leaders:


1. UNWAVERING COURAGE

No follower wishes to be influenced by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be following such a leader very long.

2. SELF-CONTROL

A person who lacks self-control cannot effectively motivate a group of individuals to a common goal. Self-control sets a mighty example for one's followers, which the more intelligent will emulate.

3. A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE

Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his/her followers.

4. DEFINITENESS OF DECISION

A person who wavers in his decisions, shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully.

5. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS

The successful leader must plan his/her work, and work her plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later she will land on the rocks.

6. THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR

One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers.

7. A PLEASING PERSONALITY

No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a Pleasing Personality.

8. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING

The successful leader must be in sympathy with her followers. Moreover, she must understand them and their problems.

9. MASTERY OF DETAIL

Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader's position.

10. WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY

The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed.

11. COOPERATION

The successful leader must understand, and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce her followers to do the same. Leadership calls for POWER, and power calls for COOPERATION.


10 Major Causes of Failure In Leadership

Now let's look at the 10 major causes of failure in leadership... When it comes to leadership, it's just as important to know what NOT TO DO as it is to know what to do.

1. INABILITY TO ORGANIZE DETAILS

Efficient leadership calls for ability to organize and to master details. No genuine leader is ever "too busy" to do anything which may be required of her in his capacity as leader. The successful leader must be the master of all details connected with his
position. That means, of course, that he must acquire the habit of relegating details to capable lieutenants.

2. UNWILLINGNESS TO RENDER HUMBLE SERVICE

Truly great leaders are willing, when the situation demands, to perform any sort of task which they would ask another to perform.

3. EXPECTATION OF PAY FOR WHAT THEY "KNOW" INSTEAD OF WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT WHICH THEY KNOW

The world does not pay people for that which they "know." It pays them for what they DO, or influence others to do.

4. FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM FOLLOWERS

The leader who fears that one of her followers may take her position is practically sure to realize that fear sooner or later. The able leader trains understudies to whom he may delegate, at will, any of the details of his position. Only in this way may a leader multiply himself and prepare himself to be at many places, and give attention to many things at one time.

It is an eternal truth that people receive more pay for their ABILITY TO GET OTHERS TO PERFORM, than they could possibly earn by their own efforts. An efficient leader may, through her knowledge of her job and the magnetism of her personality, greatly increase the efficiency of others, and induce them to render more service and better service than they could render without her aid.

5. LACK OF IMAGINATION

Without imagination, the leader is incapable of meeting emergencies, and of creating plans by which to guide his followers efficiently.

6. SELFISHNESS

The leader who claims all the honor for the work of her followers, is sure to be met by resentment. The really great leader CLAIMS NONE OF THE HONORS. She is contented to see the honors, when there are any, go to her followers, because she knows that most people will work harder for commendation and recognition than they will for money alone.

7. INTEMPERANCE

Followers do not respect an intemperate leader. Moreover, intemperance in any of its various forms, destroys the endurance and the vitality of all who indulge in it.

8. DISLOYALTY

Perhaps this should have come at the head of the list. The leader who is not loyal to his trust, and to his associates, those above him, and those below him, cannot long maintain his leadership. Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life.

9. EMPHASIS OF THE "AUTHORITY" OF LEADERSHIP

The efficient leader leads by encouraging, and not by trying to instill fear in the hearts of her followers. The leader who tries to impress her followers with his "authority" comes within the category of leadership through FORCE. A real leader will have no need to advertise that fact except by example -- sympathy, understanding, fairness, and a demonstration of expertise on the job.

10. EMPHASIS OF TITLE

Competent leaders don't need a fancy "title" to win the respect of his followers. People who make too much of their titles generally have little else to emphasize.

These are among the more common of the causes of failure in the role of leadership. Any one of these faults is sufficient to produce failure. I think we should study this list carefully if you want to become a leader in your career, business or field, and make sure that you are free of these faults.

Share your thoughts and let me know what you think about these leadership qualities. Do you agree? Do you have other qualities that are not mentioned here that we should consider?


Action Exercise

Pick one of these areas that represents a "weak link" in your
leadership skills and resolve to do something about it.


Have a great week!