"Twenty Dynamic Inspiring Qualities Of Leadership" (from 'Inspirational Books' )

Article Title: "Twenty Dynamic Inspiring Qualities of Leadership" (from 'Inspirational Books')
Author: Craig LocknOther Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.htmln(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig!)

Publishing Guidelines:
We hope that the following article* (an extract from one of Craig's first manuscripts, STEPS TO SUCCESS, PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way, then we're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."nn *
"Twenty Dynamic Inspiring Qualities of Leadership" (from 'Inspirational Books' )

"Enthusiasm is the match that lights the candle of achievement." n- William Arthur Ward n
"Your belief determines your action and your action determines your results; nbut first you have to believe."n- Mark Victor Hansen n n* Author's Note: I researched and wrote this work about a decade ago,nso seem to recall that this piece may have been adapted from Napoleon Hill's classic work, "THINK AND GROW RICH". I have added some personal thoughts of my own at the end.

Are you a leader of men (and women)? At least, do you believe that you have leadership potential? Do you WANT to be a leader, or a follower? If you want to be a "'great' leader of men", here are a few thoughts onnthe qualities needed. When we think of the word leader, we usually immediately think of the concept of POWER. Your great passion might be to become a leader. It will certainly give you power - not within yourself necessarily, but over others. (Do you have a "Napoleon complex" - to lead "for it's own sake", perhaps?). To be a leader, first you must really WANT to. A great DESIRE is the key here. You must be really "hungry" for the position and pursue leadership with great determination - with all the means at your disposal. That is, using all your powers, qualities (see below) and potential. With a strong
DESIRE you will, as long as you have the following personal leadership qualities.
Great leaders have:

1. Unwavering COURAGE. This does not mean an absence of fear, but taking action in spite of it. A Nelson Mandela possessed physical and moral courage to negotiate a peaceful transition towards democracy in South Africa.

2. Self control.

3. Always keeping a sense of justice (and fai
ess) towards others.

4. Definiteness of decisions. DOING what they always believe is the RIGHT course of action to move them towards their objectives (no matter how bleak the outlook my be, as evidenced by 'madiba's' long years of impisonment) !

5. Leaders have a clear VISION of the future they wish to CREATE. All their decisions are in alignment with their over-riding objectives and values and move them in this direction.
"Some men see things as they are and ask 'Why?'
I see dreams that never were and ask: 'Why not?"n- Bobby Kennedy

6. Definiteness of plans in pursuit of the vision. Great leaders have a grand sense of PURPOSE. A leader then works their plan by putting it into action; they have an unwavering conviction about their roles and unique destinies.

7. Leaders are BELIEVERS: Firstly in themselves and in the Universe's plan for their lives. They have a strong sense of destiny.

8. Leaders are men and women of ACTION.

9. Leaders have a habit of doing more than they are paid for. Effort and sacrifice gets them to a position of authority in the first place.

10. A pleasing personality (my saving grace to get me out of my frequent scrapes, deep in the "smelly brown stuff, not that I'm a leader"!). People LIKE the people they follow... and will do anything to help for greatninspiring leaders (even to death).

11. Empathy, sympathy and understanding. As the Spanish (and my dear mother) would say,
"being 'sympatico'" towards other people, by taking their feelings into consideration. This is the difference between "thinkers" and "feelers". Thinkers are logical, analytical types, who usually do well in business. Feelers, like me, are far more emotional and creative people ("unbalanced" perhaps?). What type of person are you?

12.. Mastery of detail. I'm hopeless on that one; so need plenty of help in that area. I'm a "grand picture person", who has no idea of the number of bolts needed to build my bridge. I would never walk on it after finishing it anyway!

13. ("lucky") ACCOUNTABILITY: A willingness to assume full RESPONSIBILITY for their decisions and visions - no matter what may go wrong!

14. Enlist the CO-OPERATION (full) with others in seeing one's plans, the grand vision come to fruition. No one person can do it alone.

15. Leaders are PASSIONATE people, who live with great enthusiasm. They are passionate and zealous about the causes they champion. Don't know what presses your "hot button"? Eliminating options will help you find your passion, your niche, your "calling" in life by initially pointing you in the right direction. I've been using the process of elimination for years and years and I'm slowly getting there. At least I think so! If you don't know your passion, then knowing what you don't want is a step in the right direction. I've worked out, that I prefer "to quietly do my own thing" in writing books, that will "make a little difference in the world bynreaching out, touching and hopefully even inspiring others. That is "me" and what makes me happiest. Many years after writing those words, I still don't feel any great, nor definitely an overwhelming desire, or "calling" to be such a person as a leader... but just feel "called/destined" to quietly work away at sharing my various writings to hopefully inform, help uplift and encourage (and perhaps even inspire) people around the globe through the internet. All I can do is TRUST my instincts, my heart, but who knows what God, the Essence of Life, our Creator, the Universe has in store for my life! (Written originally in Nov 2002, but it's now Nov 2007). Time marches on...and waits for no man or woman.

Enough "waffling" - get back to the point, Craig...

Good (and great) leaders possess:

16.. Resolve and STRENGTH OF WILL to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

17. Large "dollops" of DETERMINATION

18.. Leaders never give up HOPE

19.. Therefore they have PERSISTENCE to keep them going (as long as it takes) in pursuit of their goals, grand plans, visions, dreams and destinies. They never lose sight of the 'grand vision, the destination and often say to themselves: "I will UNTIL". n

And finally...and most importantly,

20.. Great leaders have great INTEGRITY. Vitally important!
"If you have integrity, nothing else matters.
If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters."n - Alan K. Simpson

So after reading all that, you still want to become a leader. Good! You're a brave person who will gonfar; because, I believe, there is a definite lack of "quality inspirational leadership" in today's societies - throughout the world! n *
Here are a few personal thoughts on the subject...
I strongly believe that todays "chaotic and deeply divided" world desperately needs people with character, integrity and especially VISION, effective leaders to make a difference, a better world? Where is another Nelson Mandela, a Martin Luther-King, or Mahatma Gandhi, politicians and other leaders, who will stand up for what's RIGHT, no matter the consequences...with ultimate integrity - to build bridges, rather than barriers between peoples. Charismatic and absolutely honest people possessing the highest value of LOVE for ones fellow man, yet tempered with great strength of character in their decisiveness of purpose to do what they HAVE to do, what's right for the world at large. People who don't make short-sighted (and zenophobic- big word eh - the first time I've used it - hopefully correctly! ) decisions from a limited world view and selfish self interest ("unenlightened"). Most importantly, we need modern leaders who can look beyond their national borders, who will look at the bigger picture, a broader perspective on current world events. THINKING globally.

The current problems in this world cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them. The world desperately needs leaders with a vision for the future (peaceful) - men and women who can see distant horizons, rather than borders in this incredible and still beautiful world of ours?

So let each one of us build bridges rather than barriers, openness rather than walls. Let us look at distant horizons together in a spirit of acceptance, helpfulness, co-operation and peace. Let our leaders look at the future with a vision - to see things not as they are, but what they could one day become.

LIVE the vision of what you are CAPABLE of being.

Craig Lock ("Information and Inspiration distributor, Incorrigible Encourager" )

"When I let go of what (and who) I think I am, I become all that I can be... and am capable of being." n- craig (as adapted and inspired from Lao Tzu)

"If you cannot do great things, just do little things in a GREAT way."

About the author:
Craig believes in sharing information and insights to make a difference in this world: to help and especially encourage people along life's magical jou
ey ... and that brings him the greatest joy.

"With passion and purpose in our individual lives we can touch others and innso doing illuminate the hearts and minds of humanity to make a better worldn(through helping raise the 'collective consciousness'). Let us encourage our leaders towards an alte
ate vision for the world to embrace: one that banishes the fanatical ideology of intolerance and hatred to the darkness from which it emerged. Each one of us in our own little ways can offer (and most importantly, LIVE) this compelling new horizon: a bright future of justness and justice, tolerance, respect for other traditions and values. Especially a vision of hope and thoughts of peace fuelled by the ete
al flame of love, which can light the darkest night... always "n - me

"Change YOUR world and you change THE world.
Together, one mind, one soul at a time, let's encourage, impact, uplift and perhaps even inspire the world."

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