Sunday, March 3, 2013

3 Qualities of Great Leaders


Anyone can improve their leadership skills if they have the desire and they are willing to make the changes necessary.  I have been fortunate to get to know some amazing individuals who are amazing leaders.  Here are three qualities of great leaders:
  1. Charisma.  They don't force others to follow them, they get others to want to be around them.  They take the time to find out what motivates each person they are in contact with.  Once they discover what others want in their lives, they find a way to connect their goals with the task at hand.  Followers are eager to help out because they see what's in it for them.
  2. Energy.  Every great leader I know has this special quality.  They never appear tired or weary.  They find a way to stay positive on challenging days.  They eat right and exercise.  They rest before they get tired.  They are sparky all the time, no matter how heavy their workload.
  3. Empathy.  They care about others.  They connect with people at all levels.  They get to know what the people around them are thinking.  They are experts at communicating, especially listening.  They are masters at body language and use this to dig deep in their conversations.
You don't have to become a great leader overnight.  Take small steps first.  Decide today to get to know the people around you.  Find out what they want in life.  Listen to them.  Remember their names.  A little empathy goes a long ways.

If you find yourself getting tired, make sure you are taking a 15 minute break every two hours throughout your day.  Cut out all the foods from your diet that drain your energy.  Get consistent with your sleep and don't cheat yourself.  Your body needs time to rebuild every night.  If you wake up too early or go to bed too late, your energy levels will drop.

Charisma comes from being comfortable with who you are and with others.  Relax and be yourself.  Be attentive.  Smile.  Maintain a positive attitude.  Make an effort to do this every day.  Before you know it, you will become like a magnet and others will want to follow your lead.

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