World Class Leadership

Causing Change Through Powerful Leadership

Leadership involves many components: management, vision, decisiveness, strategy,

ability to delegate, prioritization, and many, many others. However, there is one

component that is critical to becoming a successful and powerful leader… people. As a

leader it is important to examine how you work with people: how you interact with,

think about, treat, view, and communicate with them.

"Certainly a leader needs a clear vision of the organization and where it is going, but a vision is of little value unless it is shared in a way so as to generate enthusiasm and commitment. Leadership and communication are inseparable."

--Claude Taylor

 

Notice that the initial components of leadership which are commonly recognized, lacked

something. It did not include components such as partnership, connection, trust, loyalty,

inspiration, integrity, acknowledgment, honoring each other, the joy of risking,

relationships where everything has been communicated, promises being made and kept.

World Class Leadership is about people. It is not about theory. We will let others teach

you what they know about leadership theory; we will share with you what we know

about people. We will share with you what works.

Being A World Class Leader

What does it take to become a World Class Leader? World Class Leaders employ a

myriad of strategies and have many tools in their leadership toolbox. Yet none of these

things make a bit of difference unless the person is BEING a World Class Leader.

So, how does one BE a World Class Leader? Usually, when we want to be something,

such as a great tennis player, we go about it in the following manner: The first thing we

do is make sure that we HAVE all the things that a great tennis player has, such as the

right shirt, shoes, and shorts as well as the best tennis racket and balls. Of course we also

have to play on the best court in town, the kind only a great tennis player would play on.

Now that we HAVE everything a great tennis player has, next we must DO everything a

great tennis player does. So we get the best trainer in town and we practice, practice,

practice, and practice some more because that is what a great tennis player would DO.

Then, based on this common model, once we HAVE everything a great tennis player has

and we are DOING everything a great tennis player does, we will then BE a great tennis

player. Right? Not necessarily. This model looks like this:

HAVE - DO - BE

We suggest that the best way to BE something is to actually start this process with

BEING. Before you can DO what a World Class Leader does and HAVE what they

have, you must first BE a World Class Leader. A great tennis player can see, feel, think,

and view themselves as a great tennis player BEFORE they ever begin to DO and HAVE

what a great tennis play does and has. This model looks like this:

BE - DO - HAVE

To translate this model to BEING a world class leader, you first have to be able to see, feel, think

and view yourself as a world class leader. Think of yourself as someone you consider to

be a world class leader. It could be someone from the past, a public figure, or someone

you know personally. What were some of the ways of being they had as a leader? How

would you describe them as a leader?

Here’s a partial list of the ways of BEING of a world class leader:

Review the list above and ask yourself which of these ways of BEING you consistently

exhibit. Where do you fall short? What can you do to begin to BE these aspects of a

world class leader? It starts with a commitment, then paying attention and consistently

asking yourself the question, "Am I being a world class leader in this moment?" When

the answer is no, then change your behavior right then. Try it, it works!

Now let’s take a look at some of the things that a world class leader DOES:

Look over this list and ask yourself, as a manager, how many of these things you do.

In recent years, many experts have begun to point out that there is a difference between

being a manager and being a leader. You don’t even have to be a manager to be a leader.

As Donald H. Mcgannon puts it, "Leadership is action, not position." And Tom Peters,

the well known management consultant puts it this way, "Management is about

arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing."

So examine yourself. Are you BEING a manager or a leader, neither, or both? Then ask

yourself, "What am I committed to?" And then take action. If you have answered the

above question and are ready to take action, here is an assignment that will help you get

started on the road to becoming a World Class Leader.

1. First look at the two lists above and take an assessment of where you

are now. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 – 10 (1 being poor and 10 being

excellent).

2. Now look at each list and commit to working on at least two areas

from each list for the next month.

3. At the end of the month (mark it on your calendar) go back and

reevaluate yourself again in ALL areas. Notice where there has been

improvement and acknowledge yourself for it.

4. Then, if you choose, pick two more areas from each list to work on the

next month. Continue this process until you are satisfied with the level to

which you are BEING a World Class Leader.

Good luck and remember HAVE FUN! Please feel let us know about any of your

successes. Also, if you have questions or would like a free consultation regarding a

specific leadership challenge, please call.

A final word from Jim Rohn, author and speaker:

"The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not

bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have

humor, but without folly."