Survival! This is a commonly used words today. Individuals need to survive, just as much as companies, families, businesses, relationships, economies, governments and political institutions. There is great need for survival by many people around the world today. People have to survive growing economic hardships, security challenges and unpredictable environmental conditions. No country or continent seems to be spared the challenge of survival.

Most successful people can identify one moment when their lives changed, and it usually occurred in times of adversity ~ Willie Jolley

In turbulent times,people look more to their leaders for answers to every problem that they have. While the leaders may not have the answers and solutions at hand, they owe it to their followers to communicate a feeling of assurance and confidence that the challenges are not insurmountable.

3 Ways To Assure Your Team That All Is Well.

• Remain calm while others around you are agitated.
• Be open minded when people proffer solutions
• Show restraint and humility when pressured to act irrationally.

From George W Bush

When asked how he was able to remain calm and focused when the terrorist planes hit the twin towers in the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush replied that it was the most difficult and practical thing to do.

I had to show a kind of understanding that the generality of people would not be required to show G W Bush

He had to appreciate that he was thrust by circumstances beyond his control to lead an angry, traumatised and confused people through what would be a very difficult period, which he chose to call a season of travail. It was indeed a tough season for America, but it soon passed away, even though the pain and anger was still felt several years after.

Different seasons of life

In life there are different seasons and times. That’s as a leader, your followers and every member of your team must not be under any false  illusion about the season and time that they are in. As a matter of fact, the greatest leaders are thrust forward into the saddle of leadership during tough times and seasons. It is these challenges that bring out the leadership qualities that have been latent and can now be unlocked for the benefit of the people.

Crucible of Fire

10 Wonderful Qualities That Can Be Fully Developed As You Rise Up To The Challenges Life Throws At You.

1. Discipline
2. Courage
3. Decisiveness
4. Grace
5. Humility
6. Passion
7. Energy
8. Selflessness
9. Integrity
10. Faith

The resultant effect is that you become a “rounded” or “balanced” person because you have had the privilege of seeing possibly several extremes of many pleasant and unpleasant situations. You turn out to be more objective, less self-magnifying and more people-oriented. You earn your stripes as an all-season leaders, with the capacity to build and lead an all-season team.

Lessons From The All Season Leader

It is an all-season team that can withstand storms  and remain focused and united in purpose. You teach and show by your leadership example that:

1. What you go through has the potential to shape you into a person of character and grace.
2. Circumstances do not make you, but rather reveals what you are made of.
3. Proactively anticipate and expect change. Welcome change as a good thing that can only reveal your potential.
4. When you are selfless, people will respond with equal selflessness and loyalty.

Start building your all-seasons’ team today. It makes sense to start preparing for winter while it is still summer, and to anticipate the harvest time only after there has been a time of successful sowing and cultivation. The way of empowering leadership is to be selfless.

Let me know your thoughts by the comments you leave below.

Listening has been described by Frances Hesselbein as an effective way of learning what others value. We listen to our customers, we listen to our employees and we listen to our shareholders. We listen to our spouse, we listen to our loved ones and we listen to our friends. Many people say that they do not know what to say in a conversation. Well, just listen. Most people just want someone to listen to them. You be that listening leader and your organisation, your team and your family will benefit.

Benefits of Effective Listening

1. Shows that you care
2. Helps you find out what others need or want.
3. Builds rapport and mutual respect between people.
4. Rewards you with increased customer confidence which easily translates to return business.
5. Increases participation employees.
6. It makes you pleasant to be around

Listening takes on a bigger significance when leaders leave their offices to meet employees on the shop floor. In such instances, listening conveys a feeling of inclusion, a sense of contribution and inclusion in the decision making process. It is also worth noting that the content of the discussion, that is what is being talked about, is not so important when it is the boss who doing the listening.

People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care ~ John Maxwell

The listening leader must exhibit a genuine concern for the subordinate or the listening and chatting may be perceived as a trick.

In small organisations, the close proximity of the leader to the front line means that listening and chatting must be an integral part of the work. There has to be a deliberate effort to incorporate non work related talk into conversations. I had someone once tell me that my work environment was too quiet. Social chatter needs to be a part of the work culture, to deliberately create the unofficial communications channel where issues and concerns are made. And the leader(s) must be a part of this.

6 Keys to Effective Listening

1. Show Genuine Concern.

You will have to show an interest in the discussion. You facial expression and body language be congruent and express you interest in the topic. You have to stop all other activity and focus on the person talking.

2. Listen with the Intention to Understand. 

One of the most common things people do when another person is talking is to begin rehearsing their own contribution. Steven Covey calls this Empathic Listening. You are listening to get the other persons frame of reference see the world from that persons point of view.

3. Suspend Judgement

It is so easy to think that we know where the story is going to end and as such we begin to interject with our own conclusions based on our point of view and experiences. This will not help your listening. You need to listen to the whole story before making up your mind as to what is being conveyed. This takes some patience and practice but I very rewarding.

4. Summarise What You Have Heard.

There is a need to reassure the person speaking that you are listening. One of the ways to do this is to summarise what you have heard when the speaker has major pauses. This must be done with great care so that it is not perceived as interruptions. Use your own words to express what you have heard. This also gives the person speaking an opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings.

5. Ask Questions.

Asking questions is an important part of the listening process. It shows the speaker that you are listening and interested in the discussion. It also allows you an opportunity to clarify points that you have not understood.

6. Don’t Interrupt.

This can be a difficult one especially if you find yourself with someone who likes to talk. If you have limited time, state that clearly at the beginning of the conversation and when you have to leave, find a pause in the conversation and state your intention to end the conversation at that point.

Are you a good listener? If so leave a comment.

Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving ~ Jesse Jackson

Inspirational Leadership

Leadership is influence. As the leader your words and action will undoubtably have some influence over your followers. You inspire action in others.

Now here’s the question, who or what inspires you to stand out and take your place as a leader? Is there anyone in your world who stand out as role model for the type of leader you aspire to be? There is a global cry for inspired leaders to stand up and take their stand. Leadership role models are needed at all levels in government, business and in not for profits.

About Inspirational Leadership

1. Intuition

Inspirational leaders are intuitive and learn to trust their instincts. This is not to say that guesswork or the roll of the dice is the hall mark of their leadership. But that they subject their hunch or gut feeling to other confirmatory tests in making the right calls or decisions. This kind of sets you apart because you arrive at a different and unique conclusion based on the facts presented.

2. Positive attitude

Another characteristic of inspired leaders is their positive attitude. Everyone wants to be around a person with a positive attitude. So a positive attitude is like a magnet that attracts people towards you. Likewise a negative attitude will drive positive people away from you. So take negativity out of your life. Steer clear of those who drag other people down because they will be a dragging force in your life.

3. Aptitude

Your skills, ability and proficiency for the tasks ahead will project your personal disposition and capacity to influence more people, provide direction and solve problems in the workplace. There is no need to know everything about your business or industry. You only need to have a handle on the information and knowledge that gives you an edge over others.

4. Personal Character

Your personal character, temperament, reputation, integrity and humility will enhance whatever leadership skills you have or have developed.

5. Experience

The stories that people hear of your experience and tenacity can make the inspirational leader stand out larger than life. Experience build capacity and confidence

The real essence of inspirational leadership is to know to deploy your leadership skills, knowledge and experience in ways that would build others up. The highpoint of inspirational leadership is therefore continuos knowledge transfer to others around you and supporting you. This is carried out through your coaching, mentoring and other people developing activities that you carry out.