INSIGHT ON LEADERSHIP: EVERYTHING RISES AND FALLS ON LEADERSHIP

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
John Quincy Adams

There are two types of people in the world: those who are led and those who led. It is up to you to choose which of these two categories you wish to belong to. He who is ruled cannot reasonably acquire as much as he who rules. But very often those who are ruled make the mistake of believing it. There is no dishonor in being part of the first category but nothing is gained by staying there. Most great leaders were first followers, they become leaders because they were intelligent subordinates. With few exceptions, the man who is unable to follow intelligently will never be a good leader. An intelligent subordinate has many advantages, including learning from his leader’s conduct.

THE 11 SECRETS THAT MAKE A LEADER

  1. Unfailing Courage
  2. Self-control
  3. A strong sense of justice and fairness
  4. Safety in the decision
  5. The precision of the plans
  6. The habit of doing more than others
  7. An irreproachable personality
  8. Sympathy and Understanding
  9. Attention to detail
  10. Willingness to take full responsibility
  11. Cooperation
There are two ways to lead. The first is by far the most effective, exercised with the consent and sympathy of the followers. The second is imposed by force. Without consent or sympathy. Time and time again history has proven that dictatorship is ephemeral. The fall and disappearance of dictators and rulers mean that those who are ruled do not accept indefinitely a leadership exercised by force.
According to John C. Maxwell, there are five levels of leadership. The below figure illustrates it.
leadership_levels

According to the Author, Position is the Level 1 therefore, the lowest of leadership – the entry-level. Level 2 is based entirely on relationships and the permission level. One of the dangers of getting to the Permission level is that a leader may be tempted to stop there. Good leaders don’t just create a pleasant working environment but they get things done! That’s why they move up to Level 3, which is based on results. Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. That’s what leaders do on Level 4. The highest and most difficult level of leadership is the Pinnacle. What do leaders do on Level 5? They develop people to become Level 4 leaders.

The Pinnacle level is not a level of resting place for leaders to stop and view their success. It is a reproducing place from which they make the greatest impact of their life beyond their organization and industry.

By Gloire KONGA
Author, Entrepreneur & Public Speaker

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *