The 21 Indispesable Qualities of a Leader - Vision

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 #21 - Vision: you can seize only what you see.

“The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."
- John Scully, Former CEO of Pepsi and Apple Computer

Vision is everything for a leader. It is utterly indispensable. Why? Because vision leads the leader.

To get a handle on vision and how it comes to be a part of a good leader's life, understand these things:

1. Vision Starts Within.
   1. For Walt Disney, vision was never a problem. Because of his creativity and desire for excellence, he always saw what could be.
   2. If you lack vision, look inside yourself.
   3. Draw on your natural gifts and desires. Look to your calling if you have one.
2. Vision Draws on Your History.

   

   From Pinterest

   1. Vision isn't some mystical quality that comes out of a vacuum, as some people seem to believe.
   2. It grows from a leader's past and the history of the people around him.
3. Vision Meets Others' Needs.
   1. True vision is far-reaching. It goes beyond what one individual can accomplish.
   2. And if it has real value, it does more than just include others; it adds value to them.
   3. If you have a vision that doesn't serve others, it's probably too small.
4. Vision Helps You Gather Resources.
   1. One of the most valuable benefits of vision is that it acts like a magnet - attracting, challenging, and uniting people.
   2. The greater the vision, the more winners it has the potential to attract.
   3. The more challenging the vision, the harder the participants fight to achieve it.
   
   

To find the vision that is indispensable to leadership, you have to become a good listener. You must listen to several voices:

1. The Inner Voice
             Vision starts within.
2. The Unhappy Voice
              Discontent with the status quo is a great catalyst for vision. 
3. The Successful Voice
              Nobody can accomplish great things alone.
              To fulfill a big vision, you need a good team.
4. The Higher Voice

“The first thing you do is teach the person that the vision is very important and nearly impossible. That draws out the drive in winners."
-Edwin Land, Founder of Polaroid

Bringing it home:

1. Measure Yourself.
   1. Talk to several key people, such as your spouse, a close friend, and key employees, asking them to state what they think your vision is.
   2. If they can articulate it, then you are probably living it.
2. Write it Down.
   1. Writing clarifies your thinking.
3. Do a Gut Check.
1. What makes you cry?
2. What makes you dream?
3. What gives you energy?

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Teachability

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 #20 - Teachability : to keep leading, keep learning.

“Value your listening and reading time at roughly ten times your talking time. This will assure you that you are on a course of continuous learning and self-improvement." - Gerald McGinnis, President and CEO of Respironics, Inc.

If you want to grow your organization, you have to remain teachable.

Here are five guidelines to help you cultivate and maintain a teachable attitude:

1. Cure Your Destination Disease.
   1. Ironically, lack of teachability is often rooted in achievement.
   2. Some people mistakenly believe that if they can accomplish a particular goal, they no longer have to grow.
   3. The day they stop growing is the day they forfeit their potential - and the potential of the organization.
2. Overcome Your Success.
   1. Effective leaders know that what got them there doesn't keep them there.
   2. If you have been successful in the past, beware.
   3. If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today.
3. Swear Off Shortcuts.
   1. As you desire to grow in a particular area, figure out what it will really take, including the price, and then determine to pay it.
4. Trade in Your Pride.
1. Teachability requires us to admit we don't know everything, and that can make us look bad.
2. In addition, if we keep learning, we must also keep making mistakes.
3. To gain growth, give up your pride.
5. Never Pay Twice for the Same Mistake.
   
   1. As a teachable leader, you will make mistakes.
   2. Forget them, but always remember what they taught you. If you don't you will pay for them more than once.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

“It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
- John Wooden, Hall of Fame Basketball Coach

Bringing it home:

1. Observe How You React to Mistakes.
   1. Do you admit your mistakes?
   2. Do you apologize when appropriate?
2. Try Something New.
   1. Go out of your way today to do something different that will stretch you mentally, emotionally, or physically.
   2. Challenges change us for the better.
3. Learn in the Area of Your Strength.
1. Continuing to learn in an area where you are already an expert prevents you from becoming jaded and unteachable.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Servanthood

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 #19 - Servanthood: to get ahead, put others first.

“The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price." - Eugene B. Habecker, Author

Servanthood is not about position or skill. It's about attitude.

And the truth is that the best leaders desire to serve others, not themselves.

What does it mean to embody the quality of servanthood? A true servant leader:

1. Puts Others Ahead of His Own Agenda.
   1. The first mark of servanthood is the ability to put others ahead of yourself and your personal desires.
   2. It is more than being willing to put your agenda on hold.
   3. It means intentionally being aware of your people's needs, available to help them, and able to accept their desires as important.
2. Possesses the Confidence to Serve.
   1. The real heart of servanthood is security.
   2. How we treat others is really a reflection of how we think about ourselves.
   3. The Law of Empowerment (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership) says that only secure leaders give power to others. It's also true that only secure leaders exhibit servanthood.
3. Initiates Service to Others.
   1. Great leaders see the need, seize the opportunity, and serve without expecting anything in return.
4. Is Not Position-Conscious.
1. Servant leaders don't focus on rant or position.
2. If anything, being the leader gave him a greater sense of obligation to serve.
5. Serves Out of Love.
1. Servanthood is not motivated by manipulation or self-promotion.
2. In the end, the extent of your influence depends on the depth of your concern for others.
3. That's why it is no important for leaders to be willing to serve.

“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The ones among you who will be really happy are those who sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer - Theologian, Philosopher, Physician, Medical Missionay

Bringing it home:

1. Perform Small acts.
   1. When was the last time you performed small acts of kindness for others?
   2. Find ways today to do small things that show others you care.
2. Learn to Walk Slowly Through the Crowd.
   1. The next time you attend a function with a number of clients, colleagues, or employees, make it your goal to connect with others by circulating among them and talking to people.
   2. Focus on each person you meet.
   3. Make your agenda getting to know each person's needs, wants and desires.
3. Move Into Action.
1. Sign up to serve others for six months at your church, a community agency, or a volunteer organization.
2. If your attitude still isn't good at the end of your term, do it again.
3. Keep at it until your heart changes.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Self-Discipline

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 #18 - Self-Discipline: the first person you lead is you.

from bookboon.com

“The first and best victory is to conquer self." - Plato, Philosopher

If you want to become a leader for whom self-discipline is an asset, follow these action points:

1. Develop and Follow Your Priorities.
   • "To do important tasks, two things are necessary: a plan and not quite enough time."
   • If you can determine what's really a priority and release yourself from everything else, it's a lot easier to follow through on what's important.
   • And that's the essence of self-discipline.
2. Make a Disciplined Lifestyle Your Goal.
   1. To be successful, self-discipline can't be a one-time event. It has to become a lifestyle.
   2. One of the best ways to do that is to develop systems and routines, especially in areas crucial to your long-term growth and success.
   3. I'll do it every day for the rest of my life.
3. Challenge Your Excuses.
   1. To develop a lifestyle of discipline, one of your firsts tasks must be to challenge and eliminate any tendency to make excuses.
4. Remove Rewards Until the Job is Done.
1. Author Mike Delaney wisely remarked, "Any business or industry that pays equal rewards to its good-offs and its eager-beavers sooner or later will find itself with more goof-offs than eager-beavers."
2. If you lack self-discipline, you may be in the habit of having desserts before eating your vegetables.
5. Stay Focused on Results.
   1. The next time you are facing a must-do task and you're thinking of doing what's convenient instead of paying the price, change your focus.
   2. Count the benefits of doing what's right, and then dive in.

“A man without decision of character can never be said to belong to himself... He belongs to whatever can make captive of him." - John Foster, Author

Bringing it home:

1. Sort Out Your Priorities.
   1. Think about which two of three areas of life are most important to you.
   2. Write them down, along with the disciplines that you must develop to keep growing and improving in those areas.

      

      from myquotesclub.com

   3. Develop a plan to make the disciplines a daily or weekly part of your life.
2. List the Reasons.
   1. Take the time to write out the benefits of practicing the disciplines you've just listed.
   2. Then post the benefits someplace where you will see them daily.
3. Get Rid of Excuses.
1. Even if a reason seems legitimate, find a solution to overcome it.
2. Don't leave yourself any reasons to quit.
3. Remember, only in the moment of discipline do you have the power to achieve your dreams.

Donald G Rosenbarger

Senior Vice President

Delta Companies Inc

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

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Responsibility

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 #16 = Responsibility: if you won't carry the ball, you can't lead the team.

“Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility ... In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility." - Michael Korda, Editor-In-Chief of Simon & Schuster

Good leaders never embrace a victim mentality. They recognize that who and where they are remain their responsibility ...

Take a look at the following characteristics of people who embrace responsibility:

1. They Get the Job Done.
   1. No one can do the minimum and reach his maximum potential.
   2. How do people maintain a get-it-done attitude?
      - They think of themselves as self-employed.
      - If you want to achieve more and build your credibility with followers, adopt that mind-set.  
2. They Are Willing to Go the Extra Mile.
   1. Responsible people never protest, "That's not my job."
   2. They are willing to do whatever it takes to complete the work needed by the organization.
   3. If you want to succeed, be willing to put the organization ahead of your agenda.
3. They Are Driven by Excellence.
   1. Excellence is a great motivator.
   2. People who desire excellence - and work hard to achieve it - are almost always responsible.
   3. Make high quality your goal, and responsibility will naturally follow.
4. They Produce Regardless of the Situation.
   1. The ultimate quality of a responsible person is the ability to finish.
   2. If you want to lead, you've got to produce.

“A leader can give up anything - except final responsibility."
- John C. Maxwell

from leanleader.org

Bringing it home:

1. Keep Hanging In There.
   1. Sometimes an inability to deliver despite difficult circumstances can be due to a persistence problem.
   2. Creativity can bring responsibility to life.
2. Admit What's Not Good Enough.
   1. If you have trouble achieving excellence, maybe you've lowed your standards.
3. Find Better Tools.
1. If you find that your standards are high, your attitude is good, and you consistently work hard - and you still don't achieve the way you'd like - get better equipment.
2. Do whatever it takes to become better at what you do.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Relationships

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 #15 - Relationships: if you get along, they'll go along.

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people." - Theodore Roosevelt, American President

The ability to work with people and develop relationships is absolutely indispensable to effective leadership.

What can a person do to manage and cultivate good relationships as a leader? It requires three things:

1. Have a Leader's Head - Understand People.
   1. The first quality of a relational leader is the ability to understand how people feel and think.
   2. As you work with others, recognize that all people, whether leaders or followers, have some thing in common:
      - They like to feel special, so sincerely compliment them.
      - They want a better tomorrow, so show them hope.
      - They desire direction, so navigate for them.
      - They are selfish, so speak to their needs first.
      - They get low emotionally, so encourage them.
      - They way success, so help them win.
   3. Recognizing these truths, a leader must still be able to treat people as individuals.
   4. The ability to look at each person, understand him, and connect with him is a major factor in relational success.
   5. That means treating people differently, not all the same as one another.
   6. You have to adapt your leadership style to the person you're leading.
2. Have a Leader's Heart - Love People
   1. "Being a leader is more than just wanting to lead. Leaders have empathy for others and a keen ability to find the best in people ... not the worst ... by truly caring for others." Henry Gruland, President & CEO of Difinitive Computer Services.
   2. You cannot be a truly effective leader, the kind that people want to follow, unless you love people.
3. Extend a Leader's Hand - Help People.
1. People respect a leader who keeps their interests in mind.
2. If your focus is on what you can put into people rather than what you can get out of them, they'll love and respect you - and create a great foundation for building relationships.

“People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - John C. Maxwell

Bringing it home:

1. Improve Your Mind.
   1. If your ability to understand people needs improvement, jump-start it by reading several books on the subject.
   2. Then spend more time observing people and talking to them to apply what you've learned.
2. Strengthen Your Heart.
   1. Don't wait until you feel like it to help others.
   2. Act your way into feeling.
3. Repair a Hurting Relationship.
1. Do what you can to rebuild it.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Problem-Solving

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 #14 - Problem-Solving: you can't let your problems be a problem.

“The measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether it is the same problem you had last year." -John Foster Dulles, Former Secretary of State

http://www.buzzquotes.com/quotes-solving-problems

Effective leaders always rise to a challenge. That's one of the things that separates winners from whiners.
No matter what field a leader is in, he will face problems. They are inevitable for three reasons. First, we live in a world of growing complexity and diversity. Second, we interact with people. And third, we cannot control all the situations we face.

Leaders with good problem-solving ability demonstrate five qualities:

1. They Anticipate Problems.
   1. Since problems are inevitable, good leaders anticipate them.
   2. If you keep your attitude positive but plan for the worst, you'll find yourself in a good position to solve problems that come your way.
2. They Accept the Truth.
   1. People respond to problems in these ways: they refuse to accept them; they accept them and then put up with them; or they accept them and try to make things better. Leaders must always do the latter.
   2. Effective leaders face up to the reality of a situation.
3. They See the Big Picture.
   1. Leaders must continually see the big picture.
   2. They cannot afford to be overwhelmed by emotion.
   3. Nor can they allow themselves to get so bogged down in the details that they lose sight of what's important.
4. They Handle One Thing at a Time.
1. Richard Sloma has this advice: "Never try to solve all the problems at once - make them line up for you one-by-one."
2. If you're faced with lots of problems, make sure you really solve the one you're working on before moving on to the next one.
5. They Don't Give Up a Major Goal When They're Down.
1. Effective leaders understand the peak-to-peak principle.
2. They make major decisions when they are experiencing a positive swing in their leadership, not during the dark times.

Every problem introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you're made of.

The ability to solve problems effectively comes from experience facing and overcoming obstacles. Each time you solve another problem, you get a little better at the process. But if you never try, fail, and try again, you'll never be good at it.

“You can measure a leader by the problems he tackles. He always looks for ones his own size." -John C. Maxwell

Bringing it home:

1. Look for Trouble.
   1. If you've been avoiding problems, go out looking for them.
   2. You'll only get better if you gain experience dealing with them.
   3. Find situations that need fixing, come up with several viable solutions, and then take them to a leader with good problem-solving experience.
2. Develop a Method.
1. Some people have a hard time solving problems because they don't know how to tackle them.
2. Try using the TEACH Process:
   - Time - spend time to discover the real issue
   - Exposure - find out what others have done.
   - Assistance - have your team study all angles.
   - Creativity - brainstorm multiple solutions.
   - Hit it - implement the best solution.
3. Surround yourself with problem solvers.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Positive Attitude

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 #13 - Positive Attitude: if you believe you can, you can.

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind." -William James, Psychologist

If you desire to be an effective leader, having a positive attitude is essential. It not only determines your level of contentment as a person, but also has an impact on how others interact with you.

To learn more about what it means to be positive, think on these things:

1. Your Attitude is a Choice.
   1. The average person wants to wait for someone else to motivate him.
   2. No matter what happened to you yesterday, your attitude is your choice today.
2. Your Attitude Determines Your Actions.
   1. Denis Waitley: "The winner's edge is not in a gifted birth, a high IQ, or in talent. The winner's edge is all in the attitude, not aptitude. Attitude is the criterion for success."
   2. Your attitude is crucial because it determines how you act.
3. Your People Are a Mirror of Your Attitude.
   1. The Law of Magnetism (The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership) really is true: who you are is who you attract.
   2. Thomas Edison: "If the only thing we leave our kids is the quality of enthusiasm, we will have given them an estate of incalculable value."
4. Maintaining a Good Attitude is Easier Than Regaining One.
   1. If you already have a positive attitude, I want to encourage you to keep it.
   2. On the other hand, if you have a difficult time expecting the best of yourself and others, don't despair.
   3. Because you choose your attitude, you can change it.

The best way to retrain your attitude is to prevent your mind from going down any negative forks in the road.

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks other have thrown at him." -David Brinkley, Television Journalist

Bringing it home:

1. Feed Yourself the Right "Food."
   1. If you've been starved of anything positive, then you need to start feeding yourself a regular diet of motivational material. Read books that encourage a positive attitude. Listen to motivational CDs. Visit educational websites.
   2. If you consume a steady diet of the right "food," you can become a positive thinker.
2. Achieve a Goal Every Day.
   1. Begin setting achievable daily goals for yourself.
3. Write it on Your Wall.
1. We all need reminders to help us keep thinking right.
2. As incentive, people put up awards they've won, inspirational posters, or letters they've received.
3. Find something that will work for you and put it on your wall.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Passion

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 #12 - Passion: take this life and love it.

“When a leader reaches out in passion, he is usually met with an answering passion." - John C. Maxwell

What makes it possible for people who might seem ordinary to achieve great things? The answer is passion. Nothing can take the place of passion in a leader's life.

Take a look at four truths about passion and what it can do for you as a leader:

1. Passion is the First Step to Achievement.
   1. Your desire determines your destiny.
   2. Anyone who lives beyond an ordinary life has great desire.
   3. The stronger your fire, the greater the desire - and greater the potential.
2. Passion Increases Your Willpower.
   1. There is no substitute for passion.
   2. It is the fuel for the will.
   3. If you want anything badly enough, you can find the willpower to achieve it.
   4. The only way to have that kind of desire is to develop passion.
3. Passion Changes You. 
   1. If you follow your passion - instead of others' perceptions - you can't help becoming a more dedicated, productive person.
   2. In the end, your passion will have more influence than your personality.
4. Passion Makes the Impossible Possible.
   1. Human beings are so made that whenever anything fires the soul, impossibilities vanish.
   2. A fire in the heart lifts everything in your life.
   3. A leader with great passion and few skills always outperforms a leader with great skills and no passion.

The truth is that you can never lead something you don't care passionately about. You can't start a fire in your organization unless one is burning in you.

“Concentrate on what you do well, and do it better than anybody else." - John "Papa John" Schnatter

Bringing it home:

1. Take Your Temperature.
   1. You won't become passionate until you believe passion can be the difference maker in your life.
2. Return to Your First Love.
   1. Think back to when you were just starting out in your career - or even further back to when you were a child. What really turned your crank?
   2. Try to recapture your old enthusiasm.
   3. Then evaluate your life and career in light of those old loves.
3. Associate with People of Passion.
1. Passion is contagious.
2. Schedule some time with people who can infect you with it.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Listening

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 #11 - Listening: to connect with their hearts, use your ears.

“The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people." - Woodrow Wilson, American President

Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand. That's the Law of Connection. But before a leader can touch a person's heart, he has to know what's in it. He learns by listening.

As you think about how to spend your listening time, keep in mind that you have two purposes for listening: to connect with people and to learn. For that reason, you should keep your ear open to these people:

1. Your Followers.
   1. Good leaders, the kind that people want to follow, do more than conduct business when they interact with followers. They take the time to get a feel for who each one is as a person.
2. Your Customers.
   1. A Cherokee saying states. "Listen to the whispers and you won't have to hear the screams."
   2. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said, "Unhappy customers are always a concern. They're also your greatest opportunity."
   3. Good leaders always make it a priority to keep in contact with the people they're serving.
3. Your Competitors.
   1. Larry King says, "I remind myself every morning: nothing I say this day with teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening."
   2. As a leader, you don't want to base your actions on what the other guy is doing, but you should still listen and learn what you can to improve yourself.
4. Your Mentors.
   1. No leader is so advanced or experienced that he can afford to be without a mentor. Do more than just grab onto facts. Start listening not only for words, but also for feelings, meanings, and undercurrents.

“A good leader encourages followers to tell him what he needs to know, not what he wants to hear." - John C. Maxwell

Bringing it home:

1. Change Your Schedule.
   1. Do you spend time listening to your followers, customers, competitors, and mentors?
2. Meet People on Their Turf
   1. The next time you meet with an employee or a customer, discipline yourself to ask four or five questions about him as a person.
   2. Get to know who he is, and see common ground to build your connection with him.
3. Listen Between the Lines.
1. Don't ignore the emotional content.
2. Sometimes you can learn more about what's really going on by reading between the lines.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Initiative

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 #10 = Initiative: you won't leave home without it.

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." - Conrad Hilton, Hotel Executive

Leaders are responsible for initiating a connection with their followers. But that's not the only area where leaders must show initiative. They must always look for opportunities and be ready to take action.

What qualities do leaders possess that enable them to make things happen? There are at least four:

1. They Know What They Want.
   1. "The starting point of all achievement is desire." - Napoleon Hill
   2. If you are going to be an effective leader, you've got to know what you want. That's the only way you'll recognize opportunity when it comes.
2. They Push Themselves to Act.
   1. There's an old saying: "You can if you will."
   2. Initiators don't wait for other people to motivate them. They know it is their responsibility to push themselves beyond their comfort zone. And they make it a regular practice.
3. They Take More Risks.
   1. Proactive people always take risks.
   2. But one of the reasons good leaders are willing to take risks is that they recognize there is a price for not initiating, too.
4. They Make More Mistakes.
   1. "The way to success is to double your failure rate." - Thomas J. Watson, Founder of IBM
   2. "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert Kennedy, Senator
   3. If you want to achieve great things as a leader, you must be willing to initiate and put yourself on the line.
 

If you haven't pushed yourself lately and gotten out of your comfort zone, you may need to jump-start your initiative.

It will take a bold step from you today to reach your potential tomorrow.

"Even the right decision is the wrong decision if it is made too late." - Lee Iacocca, Former Chairman of Chrysler Corporation

Bringing it home:

1. Change Your Mindset.
   1. You won't be able to move forward on the outside until you can move forward on the inside.
2. Don't Wait for Opportunity to Knock.
   1. Opportunity doesn't come to the door knocking. You've got to go out and look for it.
   2. Opportunity is everywhere.
3. Take the Next Step.
1. Pick the best opportunity you see, and take it as far as you can.
1. Don't stop until you've done everything you can to make it happen.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Generosity

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 #9 - Generosity: your candle loses nothing when it lights another.

“No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." - Calvin Coolidge, American President

Nothing speaks to others more loudly or serves them better than generosity from a leader.

Effective leaders, the kind that people want to follow, don't gather things just for themselves; they do it in order to give to others. Cultivate the quality of generosity. Here's how:

1. Be Grateful for Whatever You Have.
1. Generosity rises out of contentment.
2. Put People First.
   1. The measure of a leader is not the number of people who serve him, but the number of people he serves.
3. Don't Allow the Desire for Possessions to Control You.
1. If you want to be in charge of your heart, don't allow possessions to take charge of you.
4. Regard Money as a Resource.
1. "Money is a wonderful servant but a terrible master. If it gets on top and you get under it, you will become its slave." -  E. Stanley Jones
5. Develop the Habit of Giving.
1. The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make it your habit - your time, attention, money and resources.
2. "Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon greed." - Richard Foster.
3. If you're enslaved by greed, you cannot lead.

 “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." - John Bunyan, Writer

Bringing It Home:

1. Give something away.
2. Put your money to work.
   1. Put your money to work for something that will outlive you..
3. Find someone to mentor.
1. Once you reach a certain level in your leadership, the most valuable thing you have to give is yourself.
2. Find someone to pour your life into.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Focus

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 #8 - Focus: the sharper it is, the sharper you are.

“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.” – Unknown

What does it take to have the focus required to be a truly effective leader? The keys are priorities and concentration. A leader who knows his priorities but lacks concentration knows what to do but never gets it done. If he has concentration but no priorities, he has excellence without progress. But when he harnesses both, he has potential to achieve great things.

How should you focus your time and energy? Use the guidelines below to help you:

1. Focus 70% on Strengths.
   1. Effective leaders who reach their potential spend more time focusing on what they do well than on what they do wrong.
   2. To be successful, focus on your strengths and develop them. That's where you should pour your time, energy, and resources.
2. Focus 25% on New Things.
1. Growth equals change. If you want to get better, you have to keep changing and improving.
2. If you dedicate time to new things related to areas of strength, then you'll grow as a leader.
3. Don't forget: in leadership, if you're through growing, you're through.
3. Focus 5% on Areas of Weakness.
1. Nobody can entirely avoid working in areas of weakness. The key is to minimize it as much as possible, and leaders can do it by delegating.

To get back on track with your focus, do these things:

• Work on yourself.
• Work at your priorities.
• Work in your strengths.
• Work with your contemporaries.

“What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things.” – Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

Bringing it home:

1. Shift to strengths.
   1. Dedicate 70% of your time to your strengths.
2. Staff your weaknesses.
   1. Develop a plan.
3. Create an edge.
   1. Rethink how you do things, and be willing to make sacrifices.
   2. Time and money spent to take you to the next level are the best investment you can make.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Discernment

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 #7 - Discernment:  Put an end to unsolved mysteries.

“Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear.  Discerning leaders know which half to believe."  John C. Maxwell
 

"Life is not easy for any of us," Madame Curie once said. "But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this must be attained."

Curie observed, "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."

Discernment can be described as the ability to find the root of the matter, and it relies on intuition as well as rational thought.

Discernment is an indispensable quality for any leader who desires to maximize effectiveness. It helps to do several important things

1. Discover the Root Issues.
   1. Researcher Henry Mintzberg of McGill University stated, "Organizational effectiveness does not lie in that narrow-minded concept called rationality. It lies in the blend of clearheaded logic and powerful intuition."
   2. Discernment enables a leader to see a partial picture, fill in the missing pieces intuitively, and find the real heart of the matter.
2. Enhance Your Problem Solving.
   1. If you see the root issue of a problem, you can solve it.
   2. If you want to tap into your discernment potential, work in your areas of strength.
3. Evaluate Your Options for Maximum Impact.  
   1. Management consultant Robert Heller has this advice: "Never ignore a gut feeling, but never believe that it's enough."
4. Multiply Your Opportunities.
   1. Although great leaders often appear to be lucky to some observers, I believe leaders create their own "luck" as the result of discernment, that willingness to use their experience and follow their instincts.

Are you a discerning leader? If not, you need to cultivate it. Value nontraditional thinking. Embrace change, ambiguity, and uncertainty.  Broaden your horizons experientially. Your intuition will only increase with use.

“The first rule of holes: When you're in one, stop digging." Molly Ivins, columnist

Bringing it home:

1. Analyze past successes.
   1. Look at some problems you solved successfully in the past.
   2. If you can capture the heart of the matter in a few words, you can probably learn to do it with future issues.
2. Learn how others think.
   1. By learning how other discerning leaders think, you can become more discerning.
3. Listen to your gut.
1. Try to recall times when your intuition "spoke" to you and was correct.
2. Look for a pattern that may give you insight into your intuitive ability.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc

The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader - Courage

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 #6 - Courage: One person with courage is a majority.

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities ... because it is the quality which guarantees all others." - Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister

Larry Osborne offers this observation: "The most striking thing about highly effective leaders is how little they have in common. What one swears by, another warns against. But one trait stands out: the willingness to risk."

As you approach the tough decisions that challenge you, recognize these truths about courage:

1. Courage Begins with an Inward Battle.
   1. Courage isn't an absence of fear.  It's doing what you are afraid to do.
   2. It's having the power to let go of the familiar and forge ahead into new territory.
2. Courage Is Making Things Right, Not Just Smoothing Them Over.
   1. Courage deals with principle, not perception.
   2. Your dedication to potential must remain stronger than your desire to appease others.
3. Courage in a Leader Inspires Commitment from Followers.
   1. A show of courage by any person encourages others.
   2. But a show of courage by a leader inspires. It makes people want to follow him.
   3. "Courage is contagious," asserts evangelist Billy Graham. "When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
4. Your Life Expands in Proportion to Your Courage.
   1. Fear limits a leader.
   2. British theologian John Henry Newman said, "Feat not that your life will come to an end but that it will never have a beginning."
   3. Courage not only gives you a good beginning, but it also provides a better future.

Eleanor Roosevelt acknowledged, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

A courageous act often brings unexpected positive results.

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers." - Karl Barth, Swiss Theologian

Bringing it home:

1. Face the music.
   1. Go out and do something stretching simply for the sake of growing in courage.
2. Talk to the person.
   1. Most people are avoiding confrontation with someone in their lives - an employee, a relative, or a coworker. If that's true for you, talk to that person this week.
3. Take a giant step.
1. If it's the right thing to do, then do it.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc