Leadership vs. Managing
What are the qualifications of a great leader? There are those that have not had the benefit of a Harvard education, yet they exemplify all that is considered leadership qualities. What are those qualities? Is there a list?
There are things that define a leader that can’t be learned in school. They are the qualities that are exemplified from your upbringing and resilience to life. These leaders are confident of their abilities, and inspire others to find their passion and always strive to live their dreams.
Leaders have a way of nurturing a person’s spirit, without fear of sharing the spotlight. Often times you find leaders standing in the background allowing others to take the glory of actions initiated by those leaders. What about leadership and role models in the home? A lot can be learned by the figure heads in our lives and the impact of their teachings, and words throughout our lives.
I once read about a little girl whose mom told her she had to develop other qualities in life, because she wasn’t a pretty girl. The mother thought she was preparing her child for life, yet what she did was create the feeling of unworthiness in that little girl. Always needing attention, and feeling that she couldn’t get the right job, the right person in her life because of her less than stunning looks. She in fact lived her life with the words her mother had uttered.
It is exactly the same thing in your work or personal relationships. I am sure we have all had our share of people in our lives that instead of lifting us up thought of us as a hindrance, or a danger to their own path in a company.
When you find that person that is confident in their own ability, they don’t mind sharing the spotlight. They compliment you on your wins and stand by you in your losses.
Anyone can be a manager, they just have to follow the rules established, yet not everyone can be a leader. They don’t always have a written script, because they work and bring to life all that is around them. They are the ones that step up to the front of the line in a situation of danger. They are able to take responsibility when often time’s things may not work out exactly as was planned. More than all of this, they are able to say I am sorry when something has not worked out.
Leaders are those that know how to bring out the best qualities in their mentees. They are able to harness the vision and allow others to rise to the occasion.
When you are looking for your next “Industry Star” please give me a call.
Maria Martinez, Regional Marketing Director TEAM Concepts Corp.