The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Security

We continue our learning and growing with the lessons contained in John C. Maxwell’s book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. This book carries the subtitle: "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow".

Everything rises and falls on leadership. And leadership truly develops from the inside out. If you can become the leader you ought to be on the inside, you will be able to become the leader you want to be on the outside. People will want to follow you.

Quality #17 - Security: competence never compensates for insecurity.

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it." - Andrew Carnegie, Industrialist


from quotes.lifehack.org

 

Insecure leaders have several common traits:

1. They Don't Provide Security for Others.
   1. An old saying states, "You cannot give what you do not have."
   2. And for a person to become an effective leader, the kind that others want to follow, he needs to make his followers feel good about themselves.
2. They Take More from People the They Give.
   1. Insecure people are on a continual quest for validation, acknowledgment, and love.
   2. They are primarily takers rather than givers, and takers do not make good leaders.
3. They Continually Limit Their Best People.
   1. Show me an insecure leader, and I'll show you someone who cannot genuinely celebrate his people's victories.
   2. He might even prevent them from realizing any victories.
   3. Or he might take credit personally for the best work of his team.
4. They Continually Limit the Organization.
   1. When followers are undermined and receive no recognition, they become discouraged and eventually stop performing at their potential.
   2. And, when that happens, the entire organization suffers.

In contrast, secure leaders are able to believe in others because they believe in themselves ... They go out of their way to bring the best people together and then build them up so that they will perform at the highest level. And when a secure leader's team succeeds, it brings him great joy. He sees that as the highest compliment he can receive for his leadership ability.

When a person realizes that he is created with a particular personality type and has unique gifts, he is better able to appreciate the strengths and successes of others.

“Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself." - Honore de Balzac, French Novelist
 

Bringing it home:

1. Know Yourself.
   1. Ask several people who know you well to name your three greatest talents and your three greatest weaknesses.
   2. Don't defend yourself when you hear their answers; gather information and then reflect on it.
2. Give Away the Credit.
   1. If you assist others and acknowledge their contributions, you will help their careers, lift their morale, and improve the organization.
   2. And it will make you look like an effective leader.
3. Get Some Help.
1. If you cannot overcome feelings of insecurity on your own, seek professional help.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc