There are many
types
of leadership approaches. However, when we think of defining
leadership, there are mainly two definitions.
The first is what most
people think of when they hear the term leader – a person who
is the head of a group. Or, the second definition we usually think
about is leading in sports or business. For example, Tiger Woods leads
in golf and Apple Computers lead in portable music.
On the contrary, leadership is much much
more than a person leading a group or leading in sports. People who try
to lead a group of people usually give orders, or try to trick others
into doing what the “leader” is telling them to do.
Through experience, many people have learned
to be cautious of “leaders.” They don’t
want to be tricked or taken advantage of.
If you want to develop types of leadership
that are long-lasting you need to stay away from tricks and mistrust.
If your followers sense any kind of trickery, you will lose the
credibility you possible began with.
Developing trust in your followers demands
integrity. This means that you will do what you say you will do
– you will walk the talk.
Many leaders go wrong by making
commitments that they can’t keep. For this reason, it is
essential what you say to your followers.
Being cautious with your promises will not
turn people off. They will realize that you will only make promises
that you will keep. They will simply be better followers because you
won’t need to back out of promises that you
couldn’t keep.
For example, if you were to promise a
subordinate that you are going to give them a raise next year that is a
problem.
Giving raises in most cases is out of a person’s
hands, especially if you don’t know how the company will do
throughout the year. It may be better to approach a raise with your
followers reaching sales goals.
Sometimes keeping promises can be really
inconvenient. However, it is to your benefit to do all you can to keep
them, even if it requires a little inconvenience. If there ever comes a
time when you do need to pull out of a promise, apologize and try to
find some kind of compromise.
All types of leadership can benefit from
incorporating integrity. Leaders who demonstrate integrity are a lot
more successful.
Discover more
about becoming a great leader at www.RaiseALeader.com
