HOW TO BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER II

Success Digest with Olusegun Samson G.

Week 46.

How To Become An Exceptional Leader II

Last week I started a teaching on the above caption and like I promised will continue from where we stopped. I know you must have been wondering within your mind why we were considering some of the myths of leadership that, how then can one become a leader and build legitimate influence. Not to worry, this week we will be looking shortly at steps to becoming an exceptional leader. Follow these steps and people will follow you. To be an exceptional leader the following steps are very essential:

1. Develop a Vision: if you don't know where you are going, how will you ask someone to follow you. The question, "Where are we going?" is what you will most likely get when you ask someone to follow you. Many leader are clueless with no sense of purpose and yet they demand for follower-ship. The first thing that qualifies you as a leader is purpose; vision is borne out of purpose. Your purpose is the destination (I.e the future you seek) you which to take your organization or team to and vision is the mental picture of the future. The reason why your eyes are found in your head and not any other past of the body is because the head is the leader of the body and if it must lead its need to see what other parts of the body can not see and lead them in the right direction. Check the records every great leaders are seers. Blind leaders always lead their team to mess. Learn to see beyond the physical, obstacles and challenges if you desire to be a leader. See a glorious future for your organization and work to make it a reality.

2. Build a Passion for your Vision: legitimate influence comes from inspiration. It is difficult to influence someone you can not inspire. Your desire to see your vision come true builds in you a passion. This passion makes you work wholeheartedly and zealously till it becomes a reality. People get inspired to join you when you are very passionate about what you are doing. Nelson Mandela builds much influence globally because of the passion with which he pursued his vision among other things. Always remember that legitimate influence comes from inspiring others. The different between motivation and inspiration is that the former is in sweet words and stories while the later has to do with practical demonstrations. This is why true leaders don't just show the way but go the way.

3. Connect with People: it has been said, "Where there is no vision the people perish." But we have also found that, "Where there are no people, the vision perishes." You need people to succeed as a leader. If you are going with no one following, you are not leading but only taking a stroll. Learn to build relationship with people. The stronger the relationship you build with your follower, the more they will most likely help you achieve your vision. Show your subordinate that you truly care for them. Leadership expert John C. Maxwell wisely observed, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Try read materials that will help you build solid and healthy relationship with people. You can be a people's person and not be a leader but you can't be leader and not be a people's person.

4. Build Credibility: it is very difficult to influence people that do not believe in your ability. Beside you can not give what you don't have, therefore, work on your expertise and build a strong value system. Develop excellence in whatever you do and maintaining your influence as a leader will be a walkover. If you are productive, people will not only follow you but will be glad doing so.

5. Build people: Leaders are not measure by the quality of their vision but by the quality of their followers. Building/structures don't last forever, equipment and machines get out dated. People are the greatest asset any organization can ever have; build them. When you help people reach their potential they become more valuable and competent to help your organization reach hers. So put in your best in developing the people you are leading; bring out the best in them, organize and send them out for trainings, give them assignment that help them unleash their potential, motivate them to read and make researches.

If you are a leader always remember that you will not be celebrated because of the position you occupies or your achievement but the legacy you leave behind. Work hard to build a legacy starting from today. You can be an exceptional leader.

I see you entering into a new realm of possibilities. Your dreams are coming through.

#keepsucceeding...