The "15 Commandments" of Successful Leadership and Personal Development

If the only life you are looking to improve is your own, then you are part of the problem in a world that is in desperate need of solutions. For a leader to inspire others to follow (and aspire), he or she must stand for principles. Only then you can he or she ask followers to take risks and pursue serving a cause to reach a higher goal.

Great leaders don't just motivate, as I said, they 'inspire to aspire' and in doing so they create new leaders, not just merely more followers. As a result their positive impact is felt as a result of their presence but also continues in their absence.

Leadership is now and has always been about influence, not authority. Additionally positive influence in leadership, is more art than science. For the most part, people are most influenced by those that make them feel important

This is why the effective and positive influential leader must show trustworthiness, competence, empathy, integrity, confidence, consistency and intellectual humility. (Unlike dark influence which is usually the result of narcissism, psychopathy and a Machiavellian mindset)

Positive, influential leadership is mutual as it demands that both parties, the leader and the follower demand quality and always opt for “character” over “characters” in their relationships.

From managing conflict, to discouraging disingenuous compliance (which is the greatest threat to an organization's growth); to gaining a genuine commitment from those he/she leads (the optimum goal of a true leader) the effective leader will always risk vitriol and unpopularity telling others what they need to hear, rather than trying to attain popularity and new followers telling them what they want to hear. That would scream lack of integrity, and become the breeding ground for a toxic environment.

With all thy seeking, seek intellectual humility!

For a leader to inspire, he or she must stand for principles. He or she must have integrity and something I call Intellectual Humility. Having intellectual humility means that you understand the need for constant self improvement. Only then you can ask followers to take risks and pursue serving to reach a higher goal.

So what exactly is Intellectual Humility? To me, it's being intelligent enough to understand the importance of knowing what you don't know is just as important as knowing what you do know. Its also being understated in a way that your reach, never extends beyond your grasp; possessing a mind so open and 'child like' curious, that you genuinely exhibit a yearning to learn something every day, from every person you encounter. Its also being passionately interested in others, knowing that doing so makes you more interesting to everyone.

Achieving success in your quest to develop and grow requires a daily "rules to live-by" in order to guide you to build the foundations that will be the launching pad to your journey to transform you to succeed and also be the change (and change agent) that you'd like to see in the world around you. These rules must become a belief and a daily practice. They need to inspire you to aspire!

Here are my '15 Commandments' of developing your Intellectual Humility

- Know that underachievers will always find an excuse; Winners always make time.

- Learn to give in, but don’t EVER give up, especially on something you believe in. However, NEVER "fall in love with your inventory," just because it’s your inventory.

- Understand that lapses in judgment are human and often forgivable, but there is simply no such thing as a lapse of integrity. Try to always make the right decision, and when you don't, don't waste time protecting your ego by trying to make the decision right.

- Remember, intelligent people fight fire with water and never with fire. Emotional intelligence is a highly sought after art and the cornerstone of a true leader.

- Be as passionate about understanding the needs of others as is your desire to be understood. If the only life you're focused on improving is your own, you are missing the point.

- Know to be INTERESTING, you must first be INTERESTED. Be a good listener and then an articulate and genuinely passionate storyteller.

- Remember, time kills all deals. Be as purposeful and expeditious about finishing a mission as you were about starting it.

- Always possess a child's curiosity to go along with awe-inspiring humbleness. Genuine imperfection is ALWAYS more attractive than disingenuous perfection. BE REAL

- Know that knowing what you don’t know is often more important than what you do know. Learn something EVERYDAY, from EVERYONE you meet, regardless of their position in life.

- Have high expectations of others, but even higher ones of yourself. Be a great teammate and "inspire to aspire!" 

- Compromise to cooperate, but never at the expense of your own integrity and the principles of your own team.

- Be understated with a grasp that extends well beyond your reach. The world already has far too many overstated people with a reach that extends beyond their grasp.

- Always be eternally optimistic and genuinely excited about the success of others.

- Demand quality from partners by always choosing “character” over “characters.” Become the example of the integrity and humility that you demand from others.

- Express genuine kindness, benevolence, compassion and gratitude. Let your kindness be your strength, not your weakness. Always be seen as a giver, never a taker.

Thank you for reading!

"May you always have enough of the things you need for yourself and an abundance of the things you'd like to share with others. In this way, your hands will always be extended in friendship and never in want.

And, should you find yourself more fortunate than others, build a longer table, not a taller fence. The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but it will always be greener where you water it!

James Vena

More About Me - In early 2018, I announced my plans to take a step back from my businesses and attached responsibilities to 'quasi retire' - Here is the announcement in its entirety https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/personal-career-lifestyle-update-2019-james-vena/