by Victor Gray, Professional Member
USA Today claims, “The love is gone.” Middle-management jobs are...being seen as handcuffs that require long hours with [little] reward. A onetime career goal now being shunned in large part by the newer generation of workers now entering the workplace. Who could blame a young person? Leaders in business, non-profit organizations, ministry and government almost daily appear in the media as being stupid, shortsighted, unethical and maybe even crooks!
However, there are ten reasons why you should seek a leadership role:
1. Influence actions that you care about. Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an individual or a group leading toward goal achievement.
2. Now is a great time to put into practice the skills of personal integrity.
- To visualize the role of the leader, picture a three-legged stool. The first leg of the stool is people skills, which includes a variety of good communication skills, including listening.
- The second leg of the stool is competence. In other words, a good leader must know and employ the skills to get the job done.
- The final leg of the stool is may be the hardest – integrity. Although many leaders may perform well over the short term by way of their charisma (people skills) and competence; however, a lack of integrity will bring down skillful leaders and perhaps their organization as well. Integrity means being consistent or being the same all the time. Leaders with integrity act in the same manner when people are observing and when they are not observing. Unfortunately, it’s easy to find examples in the media of leaders who were exposed for acting different in private than in public. A good leader must sacrifice some of the rights followers have to rise to a leadership role. The Society of Human Resource Management conducted a survey of 415 international corporate chief executive officers (CEO’s) concerning the characteristics employees want from their leaders. Eighty-five percent of the CEO’s said performance and accomplishment of work (skills) were most important. However, eighty-two percent of the CEO’s said character and integrity were the second most important traits for effective leadership. Skills and personality may get you the job, but a lack of integrity will eventually cause a leader to lose respect, or perhaps their job. A wise leader realizes that “What goes around comes around.”
3. Expand your own skills and talents. As a follower transitions to the leadership role, the ability to delegate remains an underdeveloped skill. Resisting the temptation to do it yourself, rather than “letting go” and allowing team members perform, while using good follow-up skills, is a frequent pitfall for new leaders. Former President Dwight Eisenhower defined this aspect of leadership as, "The ability to get people to do things that you want done because they want to do them." Proverbs says, “The mark of a good leader is loyal followers; leadership is nothing without a following.”
4. You can begin to develop leadership vision. Vision is how the leader thinks and perceives reality, which ultimately affects the leader’s actions. The leader must begin to think differently than her or his followers, see things followers do not, see beyond where followers see, and see things bigger than followers see.
5. Teach new skills to others. There are few things in life more satisfying than watching someone use a skill that you have helped them to master.
6. Make new friends. Not only will you form friendships others, but you will also form new friendships with other leaders. Building friendships can easily occur when you participate in the excellent training available in a course on leadership at an area educational institution or a leadership training conference.
7. You help your organization and community. You provide service by asking your boss or community leader how you can help them get on her or his job done.
8. You will gain personal insights. Leadership is a continuous test. You get a report card on your weakness and your strengths.
9. You get more back than you put in. Serving as a leader may be one of the toughest jobs you may have, but the personal satisfaction and occasionally the gratitude from others is immeasurably. “It is better to give than to receive.”
10. Your contribution is greatly needed.
Being the leader can be intimidating. It is understandable why many would shy away from such a responsibility. But, it can also be tremendously rewarding. The fear of leadership can be negated with the satisfaction of success! As a leader, your success is directly reflected in the hard work of many, rather than the job of one.
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Sandi Knudson passed away unexpectedly the day after Thanksgiving at her brother's home. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the NSA. Sandi was a caring, loving person, and a friend to everybody. (In lieu of flowers please mail a donation to Crivitz Youth Inc., P.O. Box 188, Crivitz, WI 54114. Sandi would have appreciated that.)
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