9 Leadership Traits
June 8, 2011
When you start true, you end true. Teachers, CEO’s and those in positions of leadership know the importance of gaining respect from those they are attempting to lead. Leaders who are unable to articulate and gain acceptance of their values, invite the participant(s) to apply their own.
- Begin with the end in mind. Have a clear vision of the goal and be able to describe it in one sentence.
- Identify the steps that lead to the goal, for example, the steps a sales person takes to accomplish their task are; exposure, comfort, relationships, business. A teacher might employ the four step of the Class Compass;* awareness, the present moment, conscious choice and connecting.
- Communicate in images. People rarely remember exact words. Instead, they remember the mental images that your words inspire. Help them make the movie in their head by using memorable characters, exciting situations, dialogue, suspense and humor.
- Create an emotional connection. The most powerful communication combines both intellectual and emotional connections. Using the word “you” in stories and illustrations is an excellent subliminal tactic when attempting to answer the unspoken question, “What’s in this for me?”
- Summarize frequently by asking questions.
- Establish and recognize bench marks along the way.
- Remind your followers how special they are.
- Never chastise, instead, describe the outcome you would like to see when a behavior is not in sync with your values. In most cases, people know where they went wrong. It’s easier to gain cooperation and respect if you allow the other person the opportunity to come to their own realization.
- Be thankful.
* The Class Compass is a visual aid, a point of reference that illustrates the factors that move the educational process forward and those that hold it back, which can be download from my website.
