Making Leadership Work For You - One Of The Best Decisions You Have At Your Command

What is leadership? Do you want to influence from the front or follow another, that is the question? And what would your answer be . . . ? It can be making a good decision really count. It can be taking command of the situation at hand. It can be in control of yourself while being prey to the whims of the winds of life. It can be knowing the direction of your life and being determined and resolute in your efforts to see things through.

It may seem glorious to be a commander or general, but think of the responsibility that comes with it. Think of the decisions that you have to make and the people that you would have to look after. Think about the challenges you would meet and the consequences of each action. Think of what would be under our control. Just think that the buck would stop with you.

It might seem easier to be a follower but is that really the case? For when we follow we lose the right, we might say, to make up our own minds. But when we follow we may well have to follow the lead of others, the direction of others. And while at times this might be a direction that we have faith in, what would we do if or when this situation changed.

So what is it to be, a middle course where we take control sometimes and follow other times? And how would that work out? And would it even be possible?

Perhaps if we look at the required qualities or skills this will help us to decide which of the fence we might like to stand up on.

What is it that makes a leader? What are the qualities that are needed?

The ability to do with authority and for others to look at you with authority. The need to control situations and circumstances, and be aware of consequences. The skill to make decisions, both straightforward and simple ones, as well as those made under stress or under pressure situations.

The ability to command other people and gain their respect and loyalty. To be able to oversee the efforts of others and to help, assist and direct them as necessary.

What should we not do if we are a leader? We should not abuse our situation in any way. We should not feel that we are superior to the people we are leading. We should act thoughtfully and with care because our actions not only effect ourselves but also the people within our care.

We should try not to dominate those in our care. While to lead demands of other people a certain respect, this needs to be earned and not expected. We need to treat other people as we would like to be treated if the role was reversed.

We need to be able to supervise other people and sometimes manage them but not control them to our will and our will alone. What we do should be for the greater good.

The people in our care may look at us as if we were captain of the team and we should act accordingly. They might do us as the chairman of the committee. They might think of us as the president or director. They may just view us as the chief or boss.

With authority comes influence, and probably greater than we imagined. With these responsibilities we need to be able to adopt a well thought out and balanced attitude and approach to decisions and decision making.

On these pages we will be looking at leadership qualities and how they affect the people in their care.

What will we be looking at on these pages?

What questions might we ask?

• Are you assertive by nature?
• Do you understand the nature of leadership?
• Are you the determined by nature?
• Does your ego get in the way?
• What experience of leading do you have?
• Do you follow your heroes?
• Are you a good listener?

Hope you enjoy these pages and get what you need from them. Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts, comments, ideas or suggestions.

All best,Martin