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10 Things You Do Not Know About Leadership #1

Glitz, Glamour and Glory are usually the words most people associate when they hear the word LEADERSHIP. Well, in perfect conditions the 3Gs are correct and spot on. However, life is NOT all glitz, glamour, and glory. It never its. Life is not perfect and thus the misconceptions of the 3Gs sadly refuses to go away.

Life is usually the opposite of perfect. Life is more often than naught dirty, rough and tumble, and downright mean. However, for some odd reason or another people seem to gravitate only to the opposite of reality. They would rather believe the life of a leader is problem free and the easiest thing to achieve. Of course, those that have tasted LEADERSHIP, even if was for a brief moment or for the long term know anything claiming to be easy is a falsehood, a tall tale.

On the premise of anything worth having or being is easy, I have compiled this list. I ask you, the reader, to let me know if I have missed something or need to fine tune the content on this list, I invite you to please reach out either via email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DaveGuerra and fill me in.

Of course, some, if not everyone, may know these 10 things but for those that do not know these 10 things please review them and I also invite you to take a look and check it out as there may be a different perspective for you to think about.

Without hesitation and delay, let’s get started…

#1 ANYONE CAN BE A LEADER

There is absolutely nothing in writing declaring LEADERS ARE BORN, NOT MADE. There is no resolution, no declaration, no proclamation. There is bias. There is laziness. There are people not wanting to step up and be a leader, in doing that they put others down.

As a young child, I was witness to others that by today’s standards were quite extreme. There I was and yet my elders were quick to point out that some people were just born to be leaders. ‘If you are not born a leader then you can never be one’ was the overtone, the “party line”, if you will, that was fed to me for a good part of my early life.

Then one day, someone saw that I had the ability to lead others. I didn’t see that. I stopped seeing that a long time before that day. That day was the day I decided to join the US Army. While I am the oldest child in my family as well as the oldest cousin (on both sides), some people were too wrapped up in their misery they never thought about that by using a couple of words of encouragement, growing up I would have felt good about myself.

Then again, they did not feel good about themselves so naturally all bets were off for anyone else. Most people don’t see that their words or actions can have a lasting impact on the growth of a child into adolescence and then into young adulthood.

Over the years, I have discovered and met others that had those individuals in their lives that were negative and quick to put them down. I also met others that were encouraged from an early age and have done good for themselves because they had a head start in life. Please note, the head start was not a silver spoon but instead, positive encouragement. Encouragement through the use of words like ‘I have trust in you’, ‘I believe in you’, ‘you have my support’, ‘I got your back’, ‘I am in your corner’, and so on throughout their early life. Folks, words have a deeper impact than actions. Then again, actions rooted in ignorance and incompetence also play a role in stunting the development of a child.

Sure, it is easy to say “leaders are born and not made” when the response is based on not knowing the difference. What is difficult is knowing that everyone has the potential to be not just a leader but a Great Leader. Everyone has it in them to be the leader they have always wanted. Unfortunately, for far too many people it is their past experience that curtails their ambition and in turn, brings others down.

The negativity that others pass along can be disheartening and demotivating to others especially when the others are young and highly impressionable. However, as we grow, we realize that it is not too late to be a leader. It is never too late to step up and lead. We know this because we also know that NO ONE is born a leader and EVERYONE has it in them to lead.

Thank you for your time and please come back next week for the second of the 10 Things You Do Not Know About Leadership

-David

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Accountability blog Change Ethics Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation positive Work Ethic

Leading From The Front

When it comes to leadership in all its varying forms and style nothing and I do mean NOTHING will beat the penultimate leadership style of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

Up until recently, there were very few real world examples of LEADING FROM THE FRONT.

The current and most relevant example is Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Yes, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the current situation with Russia invading Ukraine, the Zelenskyy is out there fighting to push back the invaders, he is also out there fighting on behalf of his country to more international support.

The Ukrainian President is out there, on the front lines, walking his talk. How many “leaders” do that on a daily basis. How many leaders, today, are willing to walk out there where the bullets are flying.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the definition of Leading From The Front. He is out there fighting for his country, his constituents, his family and for his life. He is the epitome of walking his talk. He could have opted to rule from behind a desk far from the fighting. Instead, he opts to walk out to where the bullets, mortars, missiles, and tank shells are flying.

Sure there are many politicians that “claim” they lead from the front. Without shame they claim that they are out there and “no one works harder for their constituents than they do”. Yet when the opportunity to go to the front comes, they go there in a chauffeured limo. Then the moment things look like they are going sideways these politicians duck back in, speed away. Soon they find comfort in their nice cozy, comfy office chairs as far away from the front-lines as they can get.

Then there are some political officials that will flat out ignore a direct order to go to the front-lines. When questioned about why they are not going to the front-lines, their only response is a dirty look and a “cackled” laugh. Next question, please.

So much for working hard or is it working hard at avoiding any hard work? I challenge anyone to prove me wrong or try to change my mind when it comes to those politicians.

But, this post is not only about politicians. It is also about business managers, military personnel and the countless others that want to be great leaders but do not want to put in the work. They may claim they are putting in the work but yet, they are continually found behind their desk managing by email or zoom or by text (this is the worst of all). Again, I ask how can you become great if you REFUSE to get your hands dirty.

Who does not want to be known as one of the great leaders of our time? I promise you this: The person is lying if they claim they do not want to be great.

Sure, some people may be satisfied with their life if they never are seen as great. Some may be perfectly fine if they can achieve some level of greatness. No matter if a little, some or none and sure as the sun rises, everyone wants to be great.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being great. As many have said (including myself) time and time again, to be great you have put in great work.

WORK! W-O-R-K!

There’s that nasty four-letter word. It will never go away especially when you want to do something and be something. You have to put in the work. THERE IS NO SHORTCUT TO BEING GREAT.

However, you can move the process along by getting out there and Leading from the Front and by leading from the front means you are out there ACTIVELY participating.

You are out there NOT getting in the way. You are out there not for a photo-op but to actually do something that is helping. The following is what you can do to become a great leader:
• Stand Up
• Step Up
• Go To The Front-lines
• Dig Foxholes, Fill Sandbags, Chop Wood, Carry Water
• Stay Out of The Way

That is it. It does not get any clearer and better than that. Get To Work!

Thank you for your time and consideration,
David G. Guerra, MBA

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Accountability Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” aka Hypocrisy 101

“Do As I Say, Not As I Do” aka Hypocrisy 101

Why is this still a thing? For as long as I can remember, leading by example is the number one way for leaders to lead. Leading by Example, sets a standard that challenges followers to either match or exceed. Leading by Example is what all great leaders, either intentionally or unintentionally, do 100% of the time.

As unfortunate as it is to say, that even though it is 2022 there are still managers that believe that leading by example is not the way to lead. While, they may be aware that they cannot club someone/anyone over the head to get them to do something they want done. Those managers then resort to talking down to those they manage. They resort to threat. Worst of all, they resort to a tactic known as “Do as I say, not as I do” process.

A manager will set the expectation of the employees or staff or team members then almost immediately the manager does the opposite. For example, the manager demands all employees be at their desk and working by no later than 8:01am. Sounds plausible. Yet, the manager rolls in around five minutes to nine or sometimes around fifteen after 9:00am. Then when questioned by a team member the response from the manager is almost always “if they don’t like it, they can leave.” Now that’s hardly the sound of a genuine leader. That is the action of an authentic hypocrite.

That someone who engages in the “same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform”. Yes, that hypocrite.

That type of individual is not alone. they are not the anomaly, not the exception but they are, also, not the standard. Hypocrites are out there. How they are made can vary. Some say hypocrites are created when others they saw as mentors did to them that they now do to others. Sadly, those individuals grow to become managers (please note I never said they grow up to become leaders). They do so because they do not know any better.

The other train of thought when it comes to the birth of hypocrites, is that they have a deep-rooted sense of entitlement. Look at those individuals that obtain a degree and immediately that sense of “I know better than you do because I have a degree” comes into play. Sure enough, those individuals are truly believing that their degree trumps real world experience. As opposed to putting in the work and learning the right way, their mind is wrapped around the concept of that degree is the end all and be all.

Yet, there are “managers” that self-proclaim as leaders are out there behaving in a manner completely opposite of the “Lead by Example” mindset. Let me be the first to confirm what many are thinking when it comes hypocrites most will never change. That is why most will never understand why those they are supposed to be leading will never see them as leaders.

The ability of the manager to change for the better is there ONLY if they want to change. Only when they realize that as managers, they can be more to the people that report to them, can they begin to change.

Changing for the better is realizing that the dictatorial mindset that comes with the “do as I say, not as I do” attitude is not the way to lead. Every manager must strive to become a leader. Every leader must do what it takes to fully understand that Leading by Example will be easier to set any standard than it is to dictate or, heaven forbid, micro-manage.

Managers if you do not believe that those that follow you are NOT watching you but following your ONE-SIDED demands let me be the first to tell you: YOU ARE WRONG!

They are watching everything. They are watching everything YOU say. They are watching everything YOU do.

If you do not believe me then prepared for the end results that are sure to follow because of your naivete, your ignorance or your arrogance.