Think Like a Leader
How do you measure success? At the superficial level it is about accomplishment, material prosperity, being noticed and regarded. As good leaders mature, they think differently about success, and the focus begins to shift away from self to others.
And that is often about making others successful, helping them thrive and grow. The acid test for you is where your thinking is just now – all about you, or all about others?
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Feel Like a Leader
Sometimes our doubts about our own leadership skills and abilities are based on how we compare our status or material rewards to others. But the most successful people have usually known failure, yet not seen themselves as failures, and have grown through failure to see that the real meaning in success lies in putting others first.
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Act Like a Leader
Success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. So, act to create opportunity. Being prepared means working hard before the opportunities are obvious. Practise being a better leader now.
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The science of success is another of my bookmarked podcasts. Each episode brings a rigorous and evaluated look at a key contemporary topic. This long listen looks at the work of one man who set out to interview the world’s most successful people.
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11 Powerful Traits Of Successful Leaders by Deep Patel is another article from Forbes.com, consistently one of the best online and print resources for business leaders. This is an extract from the article, summarising the key points. Click through to the link at the end of the article for a good read!
“Successful leaders are the power and intellect behind their organisations. They are the visionaries charged with steering their brand around pitfalls. They must know when to seize opportunities and how to rally employees to work hard toward their company’s goals. Effective leaders transcend the title of “manager” or “boss.” They have found a way to achieve the right combination of charisma, enthusiasm and self-assurance, probably with a healthy dose of luck and timing. It may seem like some people are just gifted with these skills, but the truth is most leadership traits can be learned and sharpened with time and practice.
You can begin building your success by developing these 11 must-have traits of a powerful and successful leader.
1. Self-Managing
2. Acting Strategically
3. Being an Effective Communicator
4. Being Accountable and Responsible
5. Setting Clear Goals and Persisting in Achieving Them
6. Having a Vision for The Future
7. Managing Complexity
8. Fostering Creativity and Innovation
9. Team Building and Promoting Teamwork
10. Creating Lasting Relationships
11. Learning Agility
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Another short classic from TED – this is one of the very early ones. Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes presented by Richard St. John.
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Oil rigs are a familiar sight across the east and north coasts of Scotland. This one was spotted just off Invergordon. In recent years the town has become known for the repair of oil rigs which line up in the Cromarty Firth on which the town is situated. The success of towns across our country depends on continuous adaptation to new opportunities and the changing economy.
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Success Built to Last Creating a Life that Matters written by Jerry Porras, Stewart Emery and Mark Thompson, published by Wharton School Publishing, 2006.
This is a book with an enduring message. I first read it shortly after it was published and its words still resonate with me today. The three authors bring significant expertise and experience and this book is regarded as one of the classic research based business books. Here are a few of their key messages:
- People who experience "success built to last" believe achievement means more than money, fame or influence. They focus on meaningful accomplishments.
- Despite opposition or misunderstanding, these "builders" pursue purposeful goals.
- Builders fail, but they learn all they can from their mistakes.
- Builders believe they can change the world - but not alone.
- Builders cultivate relationships, recruit great teams and pursue outrageous goals.
- Builders are all different types of people. Personality matters less than persistence.
- Those who succeed "enduringly" follow their own ideas instead of seeking praise.
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...without a little reflection, there is no Insight Added.
'Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself.'
Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
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Lead well
Graham and Lesley
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This email is brought to you by The Leader (Scotland). It encourages leaders at any age or stage, in all sectors, to deliberately improve their leadership.
The Leader also provides confidential support, learning and development for leaders.
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