Leadership: An Affair of the Heart and Mind

There are classic truths about leadership.

As I was preparing for a recent presentation, I re-discovered this beautiful articulation of leadership truths. And so, I thought you might enjoy this book summary highlighting key principles from The Truth about Leadership by James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner - classic leadership at its best.

**Principles and excerpts noted here are extracted from the book.

#1: You Make a Difference Before you can lead, you have to believe that you can have a positive impact on others. You have to believe in yourself. That’s where it all begins. Leadership begins when you believe you can make a difference.

#2: Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership You have to believe in you, but others have to believe in you too. What does it take for others to believe in you? Short answer: credibility. If people don’t believe in you, they won’t willingly follow you.

#3: Values Drive Commitment People want to know what you stand for and believe in. They want to know what you value. And leaders need to know what others value if they are going to be able to forge alignments between personal values and organizational demands.

#4: Focusing on the Future Sets Leaders Apart The capacity to imagine and articulate exciting future possibilities is a defining competence of leaders. You have to take the long-term perspective. Gain insight from reviewing your past and develop outsight by looking around.

#5: You Can’t Do It Alone Leadership is a team sport, and you need to engage others in the cause. What strengthens and sustains the relationship between leader and constituent is that leaders are obsessed with what is best for others, not what is best for themselves.

#6: Trust Rules Trust is the social glue that holds individuals and groups together. And the level of trust others have in you will determine the amount of influence you have. You have to earn others’ trust before they’ll be willing to trust you. That means you have to give trust before you can get trust.

#7: Challenge Is the Crucible for Greatness Exemplary leaders — the kind of leaders people want to follow — are always associated with changing the status quo. Great achievements don’t happen when you keep things the same. Change invariably involves challenge, and challenge tests you. It introduces you to yourself.

#8: You Either Lead by Example or You Don’t Lead at All Leaders have to keep their promises and become role models for the values and actions they espouse. You have to go first as a leader. You can’t ask others to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself.

#9: The Best Leaders Are the Best Learners Leaders are constant improvement fanatics, and learning is the master skill of leadership. Learning, however, takes time and attention, practice and feedback, along with good coaching. It also takes willingness on your part to ask for support.

#10: Leadership Is an Affair of the Heart Leaders make others feel important and are gracious in showing their appreciation. Love is the motivation that energizes leaders to give so much for others. You just won’t work hard enough to become great if you aren’t doing what you love.

These are enduring truths about leadership. You can gain mastery over the art and science of leadership by understanding them and attending to them in your workplace and everyday life.

© Kathy Sturgis, Ph.D. Kathy is founder of Refreshment Zone and is an organizational and personal development specialist with a doctorate in communication. Contact kathy@refreshmentzone.com for more information on motivational programs.