personal development

Quiz: Are You A Leader?

Danielle Moser Leadership , , ,
are you a leader

Rarely, do people think of themselves as a leader but we all lead in some way or fashion within our five circles of influence. Those five circles being self, family, team, organization, and community. Leadership most often equates to influence. And many of us are in a position to be influential.

So, the question isn’t  “Are we leaders?”  instead the question should be, “What kind or type of leader am I?”

Use the following 20 questions developed by
Leadership expert Oswald Sanders to help you determine whether or not you’re an effective leader.

  1. How do you identify and deal with bad habits? To lead others, you must master your own habits.
  2. How well do you maintain self-control when things go wrong? The leader who loses control under adversity forfeits respect and influence. A leader must be calm in crisis and resilient in disappointment.
  3. To what degree do you think independently? A leader must use the best ideas of others to make decisions. A leader cannot wait for others to make up his or her mind.
  4. How well can you handle criticism? When have you profited from it? The humble person can learn from petty criticism, even malicious criticism.
  5. Can you turn disappointment into creative new opportunity? What three actions could you take facing any disappointment?
  6. Do you readily gain the cooperation of others and win their respect and confidence? Genuine leadership doesn’t have to manipulate or pressure others.
  7. Can you exert discipline without making a power play? Are your corrections or rebukes clear without being destructive? True leadership is an internal quality of the spirit and needs no show of external force.
  8. In what situations have you been a peacemaker? A leader must be able to reconcile with opponents and make peace where arguments have created hostility.
  9. Do people trust you with difficult and delicate matters? Your answer should include examples.
  10. Can you induce people to do happily some legitimate thing that they would not normally wish to do? Leaders know how to make others feel valued.
  11. Can you accept opposition to your viewpoint or decision without taking offense? Leaders always face opposition.
  12. Can you make and keep friends? Your circle of loyal friends is an index of your leadership potential.
  13. Do you depend on the praise of others to keep you going? Can you hold steady in the face of disapproval and even temporary loss of confidence?
  14. Are you at ease in the presence of strangers? Do you get nervous in the office of your superior? A leader knows how to exercise and accept authority.
  15. Are people who report to you generally at ease? A leader should be sympathetic and friendly.
  16. Are you interested in people? All types? All races? No prejudice?
  17. Are you tactful? Can you anticipate how your words will affect a person? Genuine leaders think before speaking.
  18. Is your will strong and steady? Leaders cannot vacillate, cannot drift with the wind. Leaders know their’s a difference between conviction and stubbornness.
  19. Can you forgive? Or do you nurse resentments and harbor ill-feelings toward those who have injured you?
  20. Are you reasonable optimistic? Pessimism and leadership do not mix. Leaders are positively visionary.

Question:

Which areas do you need to work on to become a better leader?

Ten Lessons to be Learned from Effective Leaders

Danielle Moser Leadership , ,
you are a leader

Of all the responsibilities that a leader may have, mentoring those around them is perhaps the most important. After all good leaders not only have a love of learning themselves but should also strive to inspire others to have that same love of learning and self development.

Following are ten essential lessons every leader should be teaching.

How to give praise

Just as students tend to respond better to praise the same holds true with your team members. When the people in your organization receive praise and encouragement from you they come away with the sense that you have their backs. Give those around you praise and give it generously.

How to listen

Listening is one of the most important skills that you will develop as a leader and really as a person. Many leaders like to talk but you are guaranteed to be a much more effective leader when you learn to listen and really hear what others have to say. This will help to make more informed decisions in the future.

How to say no

Leaders (and parents) are probably the best when it comes to saying “no”. Listening may be one of the most important things to learn; saying no will be one of the hardest. as a leader, you may receive many recommendations, suggestions, invitations etc. and you won’t always have the ability to say “yes” for whatever reason. It is important to teach your team that how you say no is important.

How to work hard

Your team members will learn more from your example than by your words. Teams whose leader don’t work alongside them typically suffer from communication issues and a lack of respect for their leader. A great leader won’t ask their team to do something they would not do.

How to let things go

As a leader you will face many challenges and have many frustrations. Just as in everyday life, people will get on your nerves and annoy you. You’ll have pressures, deadlines, and disappointments, and obligations. Teach your team how to let things go and not get so stressed out over every little obstacle that comes along. Teach them to create a plan but to always expect deviations from that plan.

How to confront

Most people don’t like confrontation. We’d much rather give praise because confrontation can be anxiety provoking. But there are those times as a leader when you must confront others for whatever reason. How you confront them should be a teachable moment that shows how to be firm, how to be fair, and that you have accountability measures in place that you are not afraid to enforce.

How to say thank you

This one simple act can make a world of difference. If you want to see the atmosphere in your office or even your home improve, then take the time to thank those around you for all of their hard work. Gratitude and appreciation can go a long way.

How to forgive

Hang around in leadership long enough and you will understand the power of forgiveness. Life is simply too short to hold grudges and hold on to the hatred. Do it for yourself if not for anyone else.

How to set priorities

Setting priorities is extremely important to being productive. People in your organization need to see that you have a set of priorities that you live by. You teach priorities by your routines and time management. What’s important to you is given priority.

How to delegate

Delegation is the key to your success and that involves everyone in the process. Delegation is not just assigning the work you don’t want to do. It’s about matching the right people with the right skills to maximize productivity and results. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is your business.

What do you think? Are there other essential lessons that leaders should be teaching.