“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams
Are you a leader?
Just because you own a business or have a team doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a leader. All of us have known someone in a leadership position who wasn’t really a leader, and you know what I’m talking about. Hopefully that doesn’t describe you.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of leadership, and what it really means. So I’ve come up with this list of questions, some mine and some gathered from different places, to help you think about your own qualifications as a leader.
1. Do your team members or others follow you?
2. Do you enable problems or solve problems for your team?
3. Do you inspire people to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more?
4. Do you have a vision you can communicate to your team? Have you communicated it to your team?
5. Do you have influence . . . or just authority?
6. Can you encourage people to accomplish things because they want to or because you want them to?
7. Do you accept the status quo or do you change it?
8. Do you do things right, or do you do the right things?
9. Do you ask how and when, or what and why?
Think about these questions for a bit, chew on them. Don’t you feel like a better leader already? Leadership is something you can work on. If you think you want to hone your leadership skills, there are a number of organizational leadership training programs at colleges and universities. Every business owner should aspire to become a better leader.
Part 3: How to Be a Better Leader: Be More Follow-Able



{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Marcia ~
#5 and #8 really jumped off the page for me!
I believe it’s because I’ve been under the leadership (sadly) of people who just throw their weight around and follow company policies to a “T” even when it’s to the detriment or demise of others.
Like any other skill under the sun, leadership is something you can and should work on.
The greatest leaders I’ve encountered in my lifetime have been the greatest “listeners”.
Thanks for another wonderful post,
Melanie
Hi Melanie,
I’m with you there — listening is a fantastic leadership trait. Thanks for bringing it up!
M