ARE YOU A LEADER OR A FOLLOWER?

Posted By: Brian Webb | Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 | 1:00am
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I am reading a book right now entitled “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, at the request of Andrew Carnegie. Whether or not you’d like to grow rich… Napoleon’s classic addresses the differences between a leader and a follower.

Decide at the outset of your career/ministry/path whether or not you’d like to remain a follower, or become a leader. The difference in compensation and influence is vast. The follower cannot reasonably expect the compensation to which the leader it entitled… although many followers make the mistake of expecting such pay. While it is certainly no disgrace to be a follower… it is no credit to remain a follower.

Most great leaders began in the capacity of followers… and they became great leaders because they were intelligent followers. With few exceptions, the man who cannot follow a leader intelligently cannot become an efficient leader. The following are the important attributes of an effective leader…

1. UNWAVERING COURAGE based on one’s knowledge of self and one’s occupation. No intelligent follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader for very long.

2. SELF CONTROL: The man who cannot control himself cannot effectively control others. Self control sets a might example for one’s followers, of which the more intelligent will emulate.

3. A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE: Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can retain the respect of his followers.

4. DEFINITENESS OF DECISION: The man who wavers in his decisions shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully.

5. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS: A successful leader must plan his work and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder… sooner or later he will land on the rocks.

6. THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR: One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness upon the part of the leader to do more than he requires of his followers.

7. A PLEASING PERSONALITY: No brash or careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade highly on all the factors of a pleasing personality.

8. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING: The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them, and their problems.

9. MASTERY OF DETAIL: Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leaders position.

10. WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY: The successful and effective leader must be willing to assume the responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain a leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake and shows himself to be incompetent, the true leader must consider that it is “he” who may have failed.

11. COOPERATION: The successful leader must understand and apply the principle of cooperative effort, and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for power, and power calls for cooperation.

My next post will highlight the 10 major causes of failure in leadership. See you there.