Why The Best Leaders Must Rock The Boat

 

If your priority or preference is to merely fit in, get along, and be popular, you probably are not ready to lead effectively. While it is true that our greatest leaders often seek to unify various factions, in order to seek some sort of consensus or unity, anyone who merely wishes to emphasize the same-old, same-old, approach, you'll never achieve optimal results. Rather, it takes someone who will step forward and do what's right, as well as needed, prioritizing the best interests, needs, and concerns, of his organization and its stakeholders, rather than his own self-interest, desires, or personal agenda. One might relate this to it being far more important to seek the best results, and taking timely action, and rather than straddling the proverbial fence, being ready, willing and prepared to ROCK the boat, to achieve whatever is in the best interests of those he serves.

1. Ready; reasonable; rational; rationale; realistic; relevant: If you want to lead, it is helpful to understand what's happened in the past, as well as present needs, but, simultaneously, focusing on the most relevant approach, in order to enhance the organization's sustainability. Training, learning, judgment, wisdom, valuable experience, and actual expertise, need to be combined, to assure you ready for prime time. Others must perceive your approach as a rational and realistic one, and while you must strive to make a needed difference in a proactive manner, you must have the courage to articulate, explain and justify your rationale.

2. Opportunistic; open to options: Be prepared, so you can not only take advantage of opportunities that might present themselves, but even more importantly, have the ability to create your own! Avoid the tendency to prejudge or proceed with a personal bias (or slant), but rather maintain an open mind, and consider a variety of alternatives and options.

3. Clear; choice; cooperate; connect: Avoid cloudy thinking, but rather observe and see things clearly and fairly! Understand that it's up to you, and your choice, as to how to proceed. Seek valuable cooperation, by being considered fair, and strive for a meeting of the minds. Often, the difference between superior and average leadership, is the ability to connect with one's stakeholders.

4. Kick it up a notch; keep momentum; know what to do: Never settle for good-enough, but push yourself upward towards the goal of excellence. Proverbially, this means that a great leader must move into a higher gear, to get things of value, done and achieved. Leadership often depends on developing, and then maintaining the momentum, so that others want to buy into the vision, get more involved, etc. However, this requires the work and effort necessary to assure that you are prepared, and know what needs to be done, and then actually do it!

Fence straddlers should not pursue leadership! Have the courage to ROCK the boat, if necessary, to enhance awareness, and motivation, etc.

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