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