Old magazines, though it's normally seen as useless and is taking up the space of our shelf or cupboard cabinets can come handy at times. Recently, I've read an article regarding Leadership in an old magazine dated September 1984 by Ronald D. Kelly. As the contents of this article is in line with what I've written in my earlier Blog, I would like to extract some of these useful tips for purpose of sharing with all readers out there......
Courage to Be a Leader
Leaders are not actors on a stage. An actor puts on, plays, a role. After the play, the actor goes home to his real everyday world. The leader is at all times living real situations.
Those who lead will always make some mistakes. With mistakes comes a spate of criticism. It takes courage to put up with the critics. But a real leader has to have the ability to put aside the mistakes, learn lessons and press forward.
I read a statement many years ago that has given me a great deal of hope through life's frequent trails--"He is a success who does the right thing 51 percent of the time."
Or as someone else said, "The only ones who never fail are the ones who never try."
Those of you who are parents might well reflect on teaching your children that admirable quality of courage. To be able to step out and do--and to take the correction that comes from making a mistake. Then get up and try again.
Perhaps the lessons of history will best bear this out. We have been living in civilized societies for nearly 6,000 years. In the course of human events, countless mistakes have been made. Thus, the study of the past, to learn lessons from history, is imperative for any leader.
It has often been said those who do not learn from mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them.
Those who do learn those lessons can in confidence step out with courage, stand for right principle and lead humanity to greater heights. With this quality there is hope for leadership in the years to come.
Vision for the Future
Another of the important qualities a leader must possess is vision. One who leads must see beyond the mundane problems of here and now and be able to envision what tomorrow can be.
There will always be plenty of problems for today. The future may at times indeed look bleak. But vision of what ought to be, coupled with knowledge of how to bring it about, separates great leaders from common people.
With nearly every change of leadership comes hope. This is especially true in what are are called democratic societies where aspiring leaders promise, if elected, to bring about a much better world for the rest of us.
It is not at all uncommon to hear election rhetoric promising "a new brand of leadership." Many a persuasive politician has been elected to office based on promises of change.
But far too frequently, once elected, the hoped-for changes don't seem to appear. The promise to reduce the federal or national debt, to boost the economy, to relieve the public from burdensome taxes, to restore the pride of the nation abroad, all seem to fade so quickly.
So, in the next election year, nations go through it all again. The incumbents tells us if we just give them another term, the policies they have implemented will work. The opposition parties point out the failures of the present leadership and promise their "new leadership" will bring the desired results.
The true leader with vision knows the way is difficult--that the road to success is indeed narrow and rutty.
The leader with vision is one who not only can "hang in there" when the going is rough, but can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The truly great leader can stand fast, maintain his poise and leadership with confidence when no one else can see the possibility there even is an end to the dark tunnel, much less light at the end of it.
Such leaders of vision are indeed few and far between.
Consistency and Dependability
There are few things more disconcerting than a fickle leader. If those who follow cannot depend on consistency, there is confusion.
Yet, how many times have individuals risen to high positions and then wavered like reeds in the breeze on major issues.
Leaders need not only principles and values, but the character to stand by those principles. Thomas Jefferson once said, "In matters of principle, stand like a rock."
Political leaders must be extremely careful not to offend any group or segment of society. To do so well might be political suicide. So, in some democratic countries a bland society has developed.
In times of stress it is extremely important to have consistent and dependable leaders--ones who have stated their concepts and who can be depended upon to stand fast, in spite of whatever may come. If necessary a great leader even has to be willing to give his life for what he stands for.
We live in an age that cries out for strong leaders of principle. In the family, on the job, in business and, government, in one way or another each of us is a leader. Those of us who are parents are training tomorrow's leaders.
You can grow in courage, learning from each of your mistakes along the way. You can look into the future with vision for a better world. You certainly can become consistent and dependable.
To choose the path of leadership is not the easy way. It never has been. It never will be.
But the world needs it now. And is waiting on strong men and women of principle who will stand like a rock.
