The true value of leadership
A leader must be decisive, think under pressure, exercise good judgment, and guide others toward a common goal. The attributes and skills to lead are similar to all leaders, whether they head a family, lead a networking group, or head a company or country. The difference is the pressure one must drive under and the end result of his steering; Will a failed decision mean you’ll go to war or just screw up a reservation for your family vacation? We are witnesses to the rapid aging process that all the leaders of our country go through; As responsibility increases, so does the level of stress.
During this time of year, all BNI (Business Network Int’l) chapters go through a selection process for a new leadership team that takes over every October 1st. The most important election is that of the president or leader of the respective chapter. Like the captain of the ship, they will guide your group through their journey for an entire year. The president becomes the key icon and really sets the tone for what that chapter is going to be; Will it be an energized group of entrepreneurs or people who enjoy sharing coffee and complaining about their customers on a weekly basis? The president’s energy level, or lack thereof, will determine how successful the ship will sail.
A key consideration is that each leader must strive to achieve the goals of the group; otherwise, if you’re just a smiley face, you demote yourself to being the emcee of your group. For BNI, the main objective is to generate referrals ($$) among its members. This is accomplished by following a proven structure and strategy that has been refined over the past 25 years. A leader, in any capacity, must be acutely aware of the organization’s main purpose; Few groups have only one purpose, but failure to achieve the main one makes the others unimportant in comparison.
It seems like everyone has suggestions about how a chapter should run or how a company should run, but how many, given the opportunity, would actually step up and take responsibility for leading? We love the idea of being the main guy or girl, but what about the work involved and having to balance the constant desires of the masses? Leaders make unpopular decisions for the good of the group or for fair play. Members will complain about you, ask for special consideration, and ask for exceptions; making an exception once means doing it forever. But for all who have stepped forward to take on this role, the reward is immeasurable vision and personal growth.
Training from the stands is one thing, but assuming the responsibility of directing or leading a group towards a common goal is quite an experience. If you have the opportunity to become president of your BNI group or any other type of group you belong to, take it and take it with enthusiasm. No therapy or motivational book will replace the experience. Are you fair, will you guide firmly but with empathy? Are you able to energize meeting after meeting even when something throws you off balance?
Here are 4 definite reasons to take on a leadership role at least once in your life.
1) You are in the spotlight; all eyes are on you and all attention is focused on how you execute your role. Perform your duties effectively and doors will open for you in other fields. Want to expand your circle of influence, add a nice bullet point to your resume, or expand your business network? – Become a leader!
2) Learn about yourself. You have opinions about how to make things better or more effective; they have all crossed our minds as we sit in any meeting. Now is your chance to execute and put your ideas to work.
3) Learn to lead people towards a common purpose; Key skills for any manager. But most importantly, learn to handle adversity and a variety of personalities. How do you handle complainers and others who seem to have a problem with everything you do? This experience will inevitably make your decision process more analytical.
4) Develop teamwork skills. Each leader has advisers, support staff, and other support functions that help them accomplish their mission. Delegating tasks and assignments in a positive and supportive manner is required for everyone to work as a unit.
My belief is that leaders are born with some basic leadership attributes, but most great leaders develop them through their own efforts and life experiences. My own leadership experience has helped me value teamwork and responsibility and has put it in a very different perspective. You are now much more likely to contribute, participate and contribute to any group on some level and be less critical of minor issues than in the past. There is a leader within each of us and we must seize the opportunity to allow it to flourish.