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LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #8: SEEK RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #8: SEEK RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS

No one is perfect. Not your Mentor. Not your parents. Not your kids. Not even you. No one!

Things will happen. Good things. Bad Things. Pretty Things and Ugly Things.
That is OK. That is how leaders become leaders. They learn from not being perfect. They learn from their actions. They learn to seek out responsibility. When starting out, an individual that wants to go further, to go higher, to be a leader must be prepared to do what it takes to go further.

By going further, an individual that seeks outs to execute on more opportunities is someone that not only embraces change but also embraces the good and the bad of that change. Sounds a little masochistic but the reward is great. By engaging in more opportunities based in responsibility such as leading a group, taking point on a special project, completing an important report before it is due, escorting a VIP, or showing the new employees the ropes you are more apt to be handed more opportunities to develop and increase your level of responsibility.

When things happen, whatever they may be, your first duty is to take responsibility for your actions. Take the credit where and when credit is due. Yet, you should know that taking responsibility for your actions does include taking responsibility to the actions taken by those you lead.

You lead people, you set the example and you are responsible for what you teach them. How they use, do not use or misuse what you teach them is up to them. It falls on you when they succeed or fail based on what you teach them and by how you lead them.

Taking responsibility early and often, you will not have to worry about the issues of dealing with the failures and mistakes of those you lead for very long. All followers and leaders fail at one point of another, it is expected but when you get ahead of the learning curve, you and those you lead begin to minimize (exponentially & over time) the mistakes they make, sooner.

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this post? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.

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blog Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation Walking Leader

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #7: KEEP YOUR PEOPLE INFORMED

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #7: KEEP YOUR PEOPLE INFORMED

Everyone wants to know what is going. Everyone wants a piece of the action. Everyone must know what is going on.

Your people want to know what is going. You and I know that sometimes not all information can be passed along. Security and Privacy are two factors as to why withholding information is necessary.

However, that should never be the sole reason for withholding ALL the information. A leader that truly cares about his people / his followers will deliver just enough information that should hold people over until more information can be revealed or released.

Additionally, a LEADER should NEVER be the source of rumors. A true leader will everything within his power to quash all rumors and ensure that those that do exist end with the leader. It is a leader’s responsibility to ensure that spreading of rumors stops, not condoning their continuation or to begin, in the first place.

People will always want more. In highly sensitive matters, be careful or giving just enough information will become a slippery slope and you will find yourself in a place you have been warned to avoid.

Here is the fine line: Do you very best to keep them informed. Informed people are better understanding when it comes to accepting change. Informed people are easier to see what you bring to the table, as a leader & as a member of the organization. Informed people are more apt to follow a leader that does not pull any punches and delivers on her promise to bring valid, honest information.

Be that Leader!

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this post? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.

Categories
blog Inspiration Leadership Leadership Principles Mentor Motivation Walking Leader

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #6: KNOW YOUR PEOPLE AND LOOK OUT FOR THEIR WELFARE

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #6: KNOW YOUR PEOPLE AND LOOK OUT FOR THEIR WELFARE

No one is asking you to ask your people to move in with you or take long hayrides together. However, what is expected of you as a leader is to at least know some of the basics that make them tick. Know if they are married or seeing someone. Know their date of birth or if they have children and their date of birth. Get to know them. They create more value to you as a leader and to the organization the longer they stay with the organization. Failing to go beyond calling them by their last name will create a sense of alienation and detachment.

Alienation is the first step to creating distrust and discord between the leader and his followers. Detachment is the natural by-product of failing to get a little closer to your followers.

Once you get to know them, you create an environment based on trust and cohesion. They will turn to you in times of trouble and need. They will do so because of the bond created when you, as the leader, took the time to get to know them and trust them.
There is a train of thought trying to make a comeback: NEVER TRUST YOUR EMPLOYEES THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.
Maybe in the 1970s this was the prevalent train of thought. It has been 40 years since the mid-1970s and that mindset is not only very antiquated but also so very wrong. Today, this kind of thinking comes from individuals who use fear, intimidation, and other such scare tactics to get their way. These individuals would prefer going through life as managers rather than actual leaders.

Now to be clear, I should say that as a leader, you must make your intentions, vision, and expectations made as clear as possible to ALL your followers. Failing that, then yes I can see where your employees will take advantage of you.
If you want to be the leader, then step up and be the leader. Do not worry about what others will think. Worry about being yourself and doing it your way. Trust me; NO ONE becomes the leader by doing either or both of these things:

1. Intimidating Others
2. Imitating Others

Be yourself and the rest will fall in place. Especially, when you are getting to know those you lead. Be the one to open up first then they will open up. Now, I will offer a word of caution. You did not get to where you are by falling for every trick in the book so don’t. There is nothing wrong with calling shenanigans when those that want to scam you, pull the wool over your eyes, or whatever they do to try and fool you. It happens more times than you think. Leadership is a filled with good and bad. Leadership will be a lonely journey but it makes it a little easier knowing that you not only know your followers but you care enough to look out for them even if it means calling them out on their B.S.

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this post? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.