One of the most desperate needs in the world today is the need for quality leaders. There is a severe shortage of men and women with character who can lead the three sectors of our society (business, non-profit, and government). The Bible says "...A nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders." (Proverbs 28:2) Over the years, as I worked with hundreds of leaders in various projects, I've developed a list of what I call "Laws of Leadership" - principles that real leaders operate by. Here are six of them:
1. Nothing happens until someone provides leadership for it. Everything rises or falls on leadership. There was no NASA space program until Kennedy said "Put a man on the moon by the end of the decade. McDonald's was a single restaurant until Ray Kroc assumed leadership. Most problems in any business can be traced back to a lack of competent leadership at some level. Leaders provide vision. "Without a vision, the people perish."
2. Leadership is influence. Every time you influence someone...for good or bad, positively or negatively...you are assuming leadership. Whether on the playground at school, with a group of teenagers hangin' out, or in a corporate committee meeting - it's easy to pick out the leader: find the person who is influencing everyone else. Often, that person isn't the "official" or "elected" leader. Just because you have a title doesn't make you a leader.
3. The test of leadership is: IS ANYONE FOLLOWING? If you want to know if you are a leader just look over your shoulder! If no one is following you, guess what? There's an old proverb that says "He that thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him is only taking a walk!" If you have to tell people you are their leader - you aren't! Being a boss and being a leader are two different issues.
4. The foundation of leadership is character, not charisma! Leaders come in all different shapes, personalities, and temperament. But what great leaders have in common is character. Image and reputation is what others think you are but character is what you really are. Character is what you are in the dark. Character is the basis for credibility. And without credibility you can't lead anyone.
5. Leadership can be learned. But it can only be learned from someone who is already a leader. Leaders reproduce other leaders. If you want to sharpen your leadership skills, get up close to someone who is modeling what you want to learn.
6. The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. All leaders are learners. They are always on the lookout for ways to improve what they do. "If the ax is dull, and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success." (Eccl. 10:10) When you stop growing, you're dead!
