Leadership skills are changing...are yours?

If you truly seek to be an effective leader in 21st century, a reflective look at this list of leadership styles, activities or attributes might be in order. 

Ask yourself how many of these you exhibit as you seek to lead those who have entrusted you with their concerns?  What needs to change?

Responsible: Do you take full responsibility for your actions and decisions? Do you also take responsibility for their results?

Growing: Are you a leader on the grow, who is committed to seeking out new ideas, new methods and new alliances to help serve those you lead? Are you a leader who is also a reader?

Exemplary: Do you walk your talk? Do your motives, actions and attitudes reflect the character you would honestly like to become?

Inspiring: Do you inspire confidence and trust in those who follow you? Can you call them to action, in solving your mutual challenges?

Efficient: How are you on using your time wisely and the time of those you serve? Do they see you using your time in productive activities on their behalf? Do you have time to fully do your job?

Caring: Do your people know from experience that you care about them? Do you model it?

Communicating: How are you at sharing your ideas, at listening to the needs and concerns of your people and in making sure that you fully understand them? Do you make sure they are well informed about what the challenges and your proposed solutions to those changes entail?

Goal oriented: Are you a leader who is effective in setting realistic goals, communicating those goals, gathering people to support the attainment of those goals and a leader who achieves the worthwhile goals set for the common good?

Decisive: Can you make an informed decision and action on that decision quickly? Do you study a challenge to death and continually put off making a decision while waiting for more information?

Competent: This strikes at the heart of your ability to deliver the goods for your people.  Are you competent to do the job and do it well?

Unifying: Are you a leader who seeks to include everyone involved and works hard to make sure no-one is excluded? Are you a leader who builds bonds between diverse groups, many with conflicting agendas and viewpoints? Are you a leader who can earn their trust and allow them to get past their divisiveness and get behind you in accomplishing something which is for everyone’s best interest? Are you a catalyst for commitment?

Working: Are you a leader who is committed to working on behalf of those who trust you? A leader who is not afraid to get their hands dirty, to dig in and lead by example, to do what is needed, to get the job done successfully?  Are you a leader who sets an energetic pace and is fully engaged on working out the solutions and to engaging people in the partnership of performance in achieving common goals?

Tough list isn’t it?  But, if you would truly seek to be a 21st century leader these are the skills that will assist you in successfully serving and leading your people.  Are you willing to change?

Copyright 2002 Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey All rights Reserved.  Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey works with individuals and organizations to enhance their success skills and dramatically unlock their potential. Bob is the author of 9 books.  Visit his web site for more informaiton: www.ideaman.net