The heart of leadership is serving others first, before yourself. Here’s the problem, most organizations operate from a hierarchical leadership structure. Leaders “move up” the ladder in an organization, and, once there, see themselves “above” their team. Despite its trending status – as well as its undeniable success – most people do not equate leadership to service. Rather than epitomizing humility, influence and meeting people where they are at, too many leaders think being a leader means power and authority.
Without a solid foundation, leaders will struggle. And a strong foundation starts with a right heart.
The heart of a leader is everything; it’s the lifeline to the leader’s health. When our hearts are muddied—the foundation rocky—our ability to inspire and lead others will suffer, and people will feel it. Which is why it is so important to examine our hearts. To be honest and open to evaluation.
I am facing my 70th birthday next month. I travelled all around the world. I met innumerable leaders in different companies and institutions. I experienced “good” and “bad” leaders. My “good” leaders, just a handful, became my mentors. Each one in his or her own very special way. The others I sorted out. Forgot them… .
Quitters never win and winners never quit! Basta! My first leader’s motif – a publishing house manager, whom I met during my college time. This saying has been imprinted in my mind till today. As a result, when I started teaching German language in the Institute of Languages at University of Southeastern Philippines almost 20 years ago, I used this and other sayings to help my students remember the key points.
As I said before: a handful of great leaders crossed my path. In Germany, in the U.S. and lately also here in the Philippines. I learned a lot from them and their behavior. I also learned from negative leaders, those catching people doing things wrong. Why don’t leaders spend at least an hour a week wandering around their operation catching people doing things right AND wrong?
Many leaders wait to praise their people until they do things exactly right. Problem: one waits forever.
Up to now, I see a lot of unmotivated people at work or students at school, but I have never seen them after work or school! When office is done and school is over, people race to do such things that provide them with positive feedback on results.
My former students in USEP were getting tired many times. I tried to tell them that learning is more important today than ever before. In the past, if a person was loyal and worked hard,his or her job was secure. Also during my time in the 1960s and 1970s or even early 1980s. Today, the skills you bring to the party constitute the only available form of job security. When you stop learning, you stop growing.
In one of my previous write-ups, I mentioned: Dream hard but work harder. I have to rethink this. How about this: Don’t work hard – work smarter. This saying is common sense but not common practice as America’s best-selling business author Ken Blanchard voiced it out. If you don’t take time out to think, strategize, and prioritize, you’ll work a whole lot harder, without enjoying the benefits of a job smartly done. As an ordinary worker or as the Big Boss.
Leadership and communication are two areas in which we can continue to develop virtually forever.
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