Successful Leader

 

When asked what it takes to be and succeed as a leader, Willie is quick to share the following six key disciplines  with his valued corporate and non-corporate audiences:

Leadership = Integrity + Vision + Excellence

Discipline #1 –  Understanding The Nature Of Your Leadership

As stated by Dr. John Maxwell, in his book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – “The true measure of leadership is measured by influence – nothing more and nothing less.”  By definition, influence is the power to sway or affect based on prestige, ability, or position.  Therefore, if you don’t play well with others, if you don’t understand the difference between leaders and individual contributors, or if you don’t understand that influence is gained by trust – you can’t be a great leader no matter how talented you are.

Leadership   –   Influence     –   Trust

Discipline #2 – Living With High Integrity

Integrity is consistency through and through.  It is a strict adherence to a moral and ethical code, no matter the circumstances.  It’s all about trust – and when it comes to trust – more is caught than is taught.  In other words, people will learn much more about you by what they catch you doing when you think nobody is looking than they will from the words that you speak.  As a leader, your reputation is your most valuable asset.

Discipline #3 –  Walking With A Vision

The person with the most compelling plan to take their people or group to the Promised Land is the one that people will gravitate toward.  It is the person who shows the most confidence, as though they have already walked that path before.  **Write down the vision so that your people see it, know it, and most importantly, live it!

Discipline #4 – Possessing A Standard Of Excellence

Excellence is being the best you that you can be.  It’s a personal thing.  Excellence doesn’t always mean being the best in the organization.  It means being better yesterday’s personal best.  Excellence is when you challenge your limitations or beliefs about how well you can do.