5 Principles for Leadership

5 Principles of Leadership for Everyone

I was reflecting on what I believe about leadership.  Don’t stop reading because you’re thinking, “I’m not a leader.”  If you have contact with another human being, you are consciously or unconsciously influencing them and that, my friend, is leadership. 

Leadership is dynamic.  When it is time to hunt, the best hunters lead, not the best farmers.  When it is time to farm, the best farmers lead, not the best hunters.  So it is dynamic according to the objective.  It’s also dynamic by size.  Leading a three person company is different than leading a 3,000 person company.  Or what about situation – in wartime are we more directive than in peacetime?  And there are always moves between interpersonal needs and organizational tasks – are you feeling ok versus are we getting something done? 

Having said the above here are five principles for everyone.  One, it is modeling and translates into being the first one to roll up his or her sleeves.  This means being an example in terms of attitude and behavior.  Do and be what you want imitated.

Two, it is forecasting.  If everyone is looking at trees and no one is looking at forest, we won’t be as productive as we could be.  Someone needs to get out in front and scout out what’s coming opportunity-wise, what’s coming need-wise.

Three, it is having courage.  If a surgeon stopped surgery because he couldn’t handle the patient being uncomfortable, comfort rules and not health.  A doctor needs courage to pursue health.  And we need courage to tell the truth about how things are and not air brush what’s going on.  And we need courage to try again when we have failed.  Leadership just plain takes courage.

Four, it is having integrity.  Honesty is the best policy.  Authenticity merges into this.  If you can be trusted and you can’t be yourself, then leadership will tank.

Five, it is having love.  People know if you care.  Love the people you are with.  Yes, they are imperfect.  So am I.  You are too.  But there is no one without a special story and a special gift.  Value the people you are with.

Earlier I said that I’d share what I believed about leadership.  Frankly, as I typed those words I asked myself, “It is what you believe but is it what you practice?”  Ahhh.  We all believe stuff we don’t practice, right?  Funny how we do that.  But I hope I’m practicing it.  I’m trying.  I hope you will too. 

Jeff Wood, Interim Pastor at Cocoa Presbyterian Church.

Read more at www.talkingwithjeff.blogspot.com