16 Ways to be the Leader of Choice
Know and maximize the value you bring others.
Would you choose to follow you?
Why would anyone follow you?
16 ways to be the leader of choice:
- Succeed in an arena that matters to others. Those who value money respect leaders who make money.
- Choose meaningful goals. Leaders we love to follow, go where we want to go. Identify shared goals if you want followers.
- Elevate others. Take people somewhere they wouldn’t go without you. Reach high.
- Live generously. Spend more time thinking about others than you spend thinking about yourself.
- Respect others. If you want followers, don’t ask for respect. Extend it. Only extend respect when it’s earned.
- Maximize the talent of others. We follow leaders who believe in us, even as they push us to be better.
- See something in others that they don’t see in themselves. Successful leaders navigate tension between accepting who we are and believing in who we could be. If you want followers, propel people forward. Don’t hold them back.
- Remain steady during uncertainty.
- Make people feel understood.
- Sacrifice for the benefit of others.
- Address tough issues. No one wants to follow a pushover.
- Be great at something. We don’t follow incompetence.
- Exude confidence gently but don’t minimize challenges to get there.
- Shift from serving yourself to serving others, the more the better.
- Define leadership. You can’t develop it if you can’t define it. Try Gary Wills’ definition on for size. “The leader is one who mobilizes others toward a goal shared by leader and follower.” (Certain Trumpets: The Nature of Leadership)
- Have enough ego to aspire to leadership but not so much that you forget leadership is about service.
Those who aspire to leadership aspire to make life better for others.
How can leaders become the leader of choice?
Which of these qualities seem most relevant to you?
Dan,
I think people follow leaders because they connect for some reason, typically common interests seem to be the norm but not the standard. Life throws many challenges to us, the individuals who are apt at adapting seem to stand out, they have weathered all the storms along the way and lead us through the tough times. Some Leaders are blessed with the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel were others see darkness. These leaders, I refer too have a sense of guidance that illuminates our world so they do!
Thanks Tim. I’m glad you introduced the relational aspect of being a leader of choice. Learn how to be likeable without needing to be liked. 🙂
Optimism is inviting to people who want to make a difference.
To your question: Which of these qualities seem most relevant to you?
No. 6 – Maximize the talent of others. We follow leaders who believe in us, even as they push us to be better.
When we seek to maximize the talent of others, we take the focus off of “me” and focus on “we.” The inclusive mindset makes us present to be see the very best in others as the focal point of our attention. The challenged, opportunities, or weaknesses–all synonymous here–are at the periphery of our attention. How can we encourage the growth of another when we have “Johnny’s” weakness at the forefront of our minds?
Thanks Bruce. Your insights really helped expand this idea. The way you include taking the focus off of “me,” is powerful to me.
Your blogs are always so welcome and uplifting (even when you’re ranting). Thanks.
Thanks James! 🙂
Elevate, Live And Shift are important to me. I believe staying to close with myself, being me and not pretending as an actor does. Be genuine and allow people in your surroundings, be a model for them. Be inspiring but again myself without making sacrifices. Thanks Dan for this great post.
Thanks Dennis. Glad you added your ideas. “be a model”…can’t believe I left that one out.
All points are combined together makes one great but as a leader could not go far from being real. People could follow one day and unfollow you next day when they find out that something in you was not real as they have been told or treated previously.
The saying goes ” Respect is commanded and not demanded. A true leader put his people before self and dedicate himself in the development of his people. A true leader believes in the grooming and nurturing of the talent in his people and try to bring maximum out of them without offending their ego and self respect. however , there are other set of leaders who sacrifice their people for petty gain for themselves. A true leader is emotionally strong and committed and shows genuineness in his approach. A true leader understand the needs of his follower and elevate them to the level of their maximum and bring them to the height of achievement.
Great reading! I also think a leader should try to develop herself, and don’t believe that you can reach a point where you are “done” learning and developing. This will be good for the leader herself and of course all the people around her 🙂
It’s an interesting topic. I believe people follow leaders because they offer a voice for the rest of the people. The voice can be defiant, happy or whatever, but there is that unifying voice which connects the leader to you, so you feel empowered and strong! Thanks for the read 🙂