A leader has to impress the group with his actions, complaining and whining have a counterproductive effect, and what we wish to achieve through the efforts of the team, we do not since haranguing leads to poor performance and poor performance leads to poor results. The leader should lead from the front and reflect the qualities in the acts that he wants to see in his team.
“IN ANY GROUP, THE PERSON ON TOP CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY SETS THE TONE. IF LEADERS ARE FEARFUL, HESITANT TO TAKE ANY RISKS, OR OVERLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR EGO AND REPUTATION, THEN THIS INVARIABLY FILTERS ITS WAY THROUGH THE ENTIRE GROUP AND MAKES EFFECTIVE ACTION IMPOSSIBLE. COMPLAINING AND HARANGUING PEOPLE TO WORK HARDER HAS A COUNTERPRODUCTIVE EFFECT. YOU MUST ADOPT THE OPPOSITE STYLE: IMBUE YOUR TROOPS WITH THE PROPER SPIRIT THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, NOT WORDS. THEY SEE YOU WORKING HARDER THAN ANYONE, HOLDING YOURSELF TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS, TAKING RISKS WITH CONFIDENCE, AND MAKING TOUGH DECISION. THIS INSPIRES AND BINDS THE GROUP TOGETHER. IN THESE DEMOCRATIC TIMES, YOU MUST PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.”
Don’t relax and rest on your name:
The worst mistake people make is they rest and get relaxed when they achieve something big, they feel proud of their past achievements and do not look forward to competing with others since they feel they are complete. When they become passive, other competitive people excel in their fields. True leaders do not cling to past achievements, they live in the present and plan for the future.
“In this world, you cannot relax and rest on your name, your past achievements, your title. You have to fight to impose your difference and compel people to follow your lead.”
Listen less to people who slow you down:
People who have the ability to lead listen less to people who belittle them. They stand out from the huge crowd owing to their uniqueness and charm, and everyone around feels that person deserves to be the boss, the person can lead us. A true leader cares less about other people’s opinions and cares more about his words since he knows he is the one who can lead and control.
“WHEN I REACHED THE TOP IN BUSINESS, I ADJUSTED TO MY NEW POSITION—I BECAME BOLDER AND CRAZIER THAN BEFORE. AND I LISTENED EVEN LESS TO PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO SLOW ME DOWN.”
Trying to control everything:
Trying to control everything is a sign of weakness and insecurity, trying too hard to control people and make them work under pressure just escalates things. Great people and leaders do not try too hard to control everything, but rather impress the team with acts and bend to their energies to get the job done.
“Now they are alone and on the top, their every decision and action scrutinized by the group and the public. The pressures can be intense. And what inevitably happens is that many of them unconsciously succumb to all kinds of fears. Whereas before they might have been bold and creative, now they grow cautious and conservative, aware of the heightened stakes.”
Making the hard decisions:
Great leaders are ready to embrace setbacks, they are not afraid of a bleak future. They have the ability to make tough decisions and make bold moves in the midst of chaos. They are fearless; they are bold; they are decisive, and they are willing to play with fire, and this is what makes them different from others.
“People like Napoleon Bonaparte, Mahatma Gandhi, and Winston Churchill. What links these people together is not some mysterious skill or bit of knowledge, but rather a quality of character, a temperament that reveals the essence of the art.”
Lead from the front:
Great leaders do not hide behind closed doors and give orders from distances. All the great generals and all the great leaders in history lead their troops and teams from the front and walk with them side by side to earn their respect and loyalty. Shouting orders from a distance is not strong enough to motivate people, they just get lazier and dull. While setting close to the group, taking tough decisions, and discussing things unite the team together to fight for a great cause.
“Leaders who work harder than anyone else, who practice what they preach, who are not afraid to be accountable for tough decisions or to take risks, will find they have created a well of respect that will pay great dividends down the road.”
Conclusion:
Leaders are courageous and bold and can make firm decisions. What makes them different from other people is their sheer persistence and confidence that attract others to them, shine them as bright as stars, and make them the center of attention. Leaders lead from the front, not from the distance, and face hardships in life.
References:
- Greene, R. (2010). The 50th law (Vol. 1). Profile Books.