By Joan Marques
Leading is the one skill that we should practice
toward ourselves first, and then to others: There is no good leadership
possible without proper self-leadership. If you don’t know how to carry
yourself, you will never be able to show others the right way. It is only
when people respect how you present yourself over time, that they will really
accept your leadership, whether you are their official superintendent or not.
However, in order to be a great self-leader and an accepted leader for
others, there are some priceless facts of life that you should continuously
practice. Listed below are these 10 vital facts and the way they should be
perceived:
Learning is the only thing we do from day one after birth:
every new experience, every disappointment or victory, is a lesson that we
should use in our decisions later.
Listening is not just a polite
activity, but it can be the determining factor in being accepted or not. When
people know that you lend them an empathetic ear, that you also listen to the
unsaid, and that you listen with more than just your ears and your mind, you
will earn their timeless respect and loyalty.
Loving is the single
emotion that will weed out all negativity that is presented to us in the
course of time. It will lead us to the realization that the world will be a
much better place if we all start practicing it just a little bit more
intense.
Laughing is the one act that we should practice more often: not
only when we hear something funny or when we experience a great progress, but
also when we catch ourselves making silly mistakes: for if you cannot laugh
about yourself, you are in big trouble.
Looking is one of the most
misinterpreted words in the alphabet. Most of the time we consider it as an
act to be executed with the eyes only. But looking with the mind, heart, and
soul into other people’s character and their spirit can guide you to the
right decisions…more than anything else.
Leaping may be considered the
most daring act in life: It comes after looking, but it requires much more
than insight. It also demands bravery and decisiveness. Some leaps may have a
life-changing effect.
Legacy is what every self-respecting person would
like to leave for others. What a wonderful idea that people will continue to
think of us, quote us, use our wisdom or our strategies, long after our
physical presence has faded away. Leaving a legacy begins with living in an
exemplary way.
Loyalty toward friends, co-workers, subordinates, and not
in the least to your own principles, will be recognized by the ones who
follow your acts. They will learn from your behavior, and carry forth this
skill toward others.
Luck cannot be bought or ordered. But it can be
found in the most unexpected corners of life. It will manifest itself when
least expected: as a result of a good deed done to someone, somewhere,
somehow. Luck is the karma that some people mention when they encourage you
to do well unto others. Luck is the positive reward we get for the unknown
blessings we brought unto others.
Living, finally, is the one requirement
without which none of the above would be possible. If you want to be a good
leader for yourself and others, you should realize that the art of living
lies in a good balance in everything you do: enough hard work, enough
exercise, enough fun, and enough rest. You just perform better when you are
in balance. Remember: you exude what you are, whether you are aware of it or
not.
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Some Comments on Leadership
The best way to determine for
yourself what good leadership means for you is to wonder what you would
answer at age 85 to the following questions: · What would I have liked to
become? · What would I have liked to acquire? · What would I have liked to
experience? · What would I have liked to be my contribution? (How would I
like to be remembered?)
Is it perfection or achieving your personal best?
What is the difference between
healthy perfectionism or striving for excellence and neurotic perfectionism?
Much research has gone into answering this question.
The Secret to a Life of Success and Fulfillment
16th century essayist, Michel Montaigne, wrote, "the great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose." Though this refers to the personal aspects of our lives, when applied to business, successes often occur when our
businesses are also operating on purpose.
