Self Centered vs. People Centered Leadership

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams

 We can all be leaders in our own way. Did you know that each of us influences at least ten thousand other people during our lifetime? So the question is not whether you will influence someone, but how you will use your influence.

 Peter Drucker states, "The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.” Warren Bennis states, "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality", Bill Gates states, "As we look into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others", John Maxwell states, "Leadership in influence - nothing more, nothing less."

 We have all these definitions of leadership - let's look at some characteristics of a leader -

1. Leaders influence people positively 
2. Leaders achieve goals by motivating and inspiring others to perform at their highest level
3. Leaders nurture, grow, build and develop others both inside and outside the organization
4. Leaders have followers not by force but by choice - there is something about the leader that influences, motivates and simply causes others to follow

 My favourite definition of Leadership would have to be: "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do what you want done because he or she wants to do it." Dwight D. Eisenhower

 Self-centered leadership is built around the leader and their own personal goals, desires and wants. Decisions made are perceived by the people as selfish and not inclusive. I am quite sure many organizations have a couple of leaders with these characteristics and then you wonder why the employees are so de-motivated, they are always late for work, they never complete their tasks on time and they simply count down the minutes and seconds for work to be over.

 In order to be effective in this era and environment that we all exist in – the people whom you lead must know that your most important goal is to support and grow them. If you are a leader reading this article – ask yourself – “Does my team believe and know that my most important goal is to support, grow and develop them?”

 Most leaders in organizations spend hours, days, weeks and months in meetings, meetings and more meetings………who is left then to guide the team, motivate the team, inspire the team, coach the team, reward the team? What message are you sending as a leader when you are so busy, you don’t even make time to get to know the people who work for you. Take a walk for 20 minutes every morning and see what your team is doing, ask them how they are doing and be sure to show genuine interest and care in the responses they give you. Remember your most important role is to grow and develop your team. Your company cannot exist with machinery, marketing advertisements, exquisite buildings and distinguished uniforms – the people in your company is what makes your company. “People will not show you how much they care until you show them how much you care.”

 Mature leaders - listen, learn and then lead. The bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. Trust is the foundation of leadership. The glue that holds the organization together. Trust is like change in a leader's pocket - the decisions leaders make good and bad will decrease or increase their change. How can a leader build trust? Through character, change and care. Your actions will show your character and it is with your character that you will earn respect.

 When they respect you as a person, they admire you. When they respect you as a friend, they love you. When they respect you as a leader, they follow you.

 Here’s a little tip that you should consider if you are a leader –

 “He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a walk.” John Maxwell