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FIVE ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
In a recent study in the U. S., over 10,000 managers were polled to find out which qualities they look for in their leader, the most important qualities people listed were :

1. Honesty: Chosen as the most important leadership characteristic.
2. Competence: The second most important leadership attribute.
3. Forward looking: Having a clear sense of direction and concern for the future of the company. True leaders must know where they are going. They must have the ability to look beyond the horizons and envision the future with optimism and positive outlook.
4. Inspiration: The leader must communicate the vision in a way that will inspire people to enlist and work towards making the vision happen.
5. Credibility: More than anything else, people want leaders who are credible. Credibility in one word stands for integrity, competence and trustworthiness.

FOUR MAIN STYLES OF LEADERSHIP
1. Directive
Mainly one-way communication; the leader organizes people’s work; he assigns priorities and sets the deadlines; clarifies roles; shows or tells people exactly how to do a job; constantly checks the performance of people.
Directive leadership may also lead to dictator-style leadership.

2. Supporting
Focused on getting the best from people; shared decision-making; structure comes from followers; inspiring people to produce outstanding results; encouraging tightly defined standards in terms of quality or getting it right first time.
In real life, leaders achieve a personal balance between being directive and supportive.

3. Coaching
Some two-way communication; high directive leadership mixed with high supportive style; people ‘buy into’ decisions; some emotional support is provided to workers.

4. Delegating
Low directive mixed with low supportive style. Followers (who are competent – know their job well) run their own show; support comes from the group; the leader is available if needed.

2 ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLES
5. Systematic Leaders
They make choices using a logical sequence of steps; justify decisions by evidence; identify constraints; emphasize the need for information; never relying on guesses or gut reaction.
6. Intuitive Leaders
They jump from one logical step to another, then back again; they avoid specifics while visualizing the total situation; continuously redefining problems; justifying decisions by results; they rapidly explore and drop alternative; they follow instinct; and often act impulsively.

HAVE A VISION
You see things and say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?'
– G.B.Shaw

‘There is a leader in each of us’.
- Dale Carnegie

The men who have changed the universe have never gotten there by working on the leaders, but rather by moving the masses. Working on the leaders is the method of intrigue and only leads to secondary results. Working on the masses, however, is the stroke of genius that changes the face of the world.
–Napolean Bonaparte

There are two types of people in the world. Those who come in the room and say, 'Well, here I am!' and those who come into the room and say 'Ah,there you are!'
- Frederick Collins, Writer

Superior leaders get things done with very little motion. They impart instruction not through many words, but through a few deeds. They keep informed about everything but interfere hardly at all. They are catalysts, and though things would not get done as well if they were not there, when they succeed they take no credit. And, because they take no credit, credit never leaves them.
- Lao Tzu

THE FOUR QUESTIONS THAT EVERY LEADER MUST ASK
What is our impact?
Who are we impacting?
What opportunities do we have now?
What Problems have we created?
- Ed Brenegar

The most effective leaders of companies in transition are the quiet, unassuming people whose inner wiring is such that the worst circumstances bring out their best. They're unflappable, they're ready to die if they have to. But you can trust that, when bad things are happening, they will become clearheaded and focused.
- Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't and Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish.
- Sam Walton

The crowd gives the leader new strength.
- Evenius

Leaders cast bold visions, Leaders make big asks.
- Bill Hybels

Loyalty is the one thing a leader cannot do without.
- A.P. Gonthey

People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, that they trust.
- Howard Schultz, Starbucks

The best thing a leader can do for a Great Group is to allow its members to discover their greatness.
- Warren Bennis and Patricia Ward Biederman, Organizing Genius

Leaders don’t just make products and make decisions. Leaders make meaning.
- John Seely Brown,Xerox PARC

The leader....is the translator, facilitator, the articulating point between the group's genius, who is doing great things, producing big and innovative ideas, and the public, the market.
- Warren Bennis

Three words leaders have trouble dealing with: 'I don't know'. I think good leadership will often start with questions whose answer is, 'I don't know but we are going to find out.
- Warren Bennis

A leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don't want to do and like it.
- Harry Truman

There go my people. I must find where they are going so I can lead them.
– Alexandre Ledru-Rollin

Remember, the difference between a boss and a leader- a boss says ‘Go!’; a leader says, ‘Let’s Go!’
– K.M. Kelly

The first essential for leadership is a group of guys to follow you.
- Anonymous

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
– Theodore Roosevelt

If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
– The Bible (Mathew 15:14)

As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence.
The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear, and the next the people hate.
When the best leaders' work is done, the people say, "We did it ourselves!"
- Tao Te Ching / Lao-Tzu

Four things belong to a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.
- Socrates

You know others and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know others but know yourself, you win one and lose one; if you do not know others and do not know yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

THERE ARE FIVE ESSENTIALS FOR VICTORY:
- He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.
- He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
- He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
- He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
- He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
- General George S. Patton

A leader is a dealer in hope.
- Napoleon

Lead by example.
- Napoleon

In victory, you deserve Champagne; in defeat, you need it.
- Napoleon

If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.
- Napoleon

A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights.
- Napoleon

The best way to keep one's word is not to give it.
- Napoleon

Be bold.
- Alexander the Great

In War: Resolution. In Defeat: Defiance. In Victory: Magnanimity. In Peace: Good Will.
- Winston Churchill

1. Give respect to get respect.
2. Have Patience
3. Be Open-minded
4. Be Enthusiastic: It is infectious
5. Take the Initiative
6. Be Accountable
7. Be Responsible
8. Show Empathy: Judge others in the context of their worlds, not yours.
9. Be Humble
10. Be Diplomatic

LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT UNPOPULAR CHOICES
Leadership is often about making unpopular decisions and then enforcing equally unpopular policies. Making the difficult call is when some leaders are liked the least but truly at their best.
- Anon

A LEADER’S CHECKLIST
1. Move out of your comfort zone and volunteer for greater responsibilities.
2. Set stiff goals and assess your self honestly against them.
3. Be ready to learn new things all the time.
4. Think horizontally, always wearing the organizational hat, and not in staff-line silos.
5. Network extensively within and outside your organization.

BUILD AN A-TEAM
Sir Ernest Shackleton has been called ‘the greatest leader that ever came on God’s earth, bar none’ for saving the lives of 27 men stranded with on an Atlantic ice floe for almost two years.

1. Start with a solid core of workers you know from past jobs or who come recommended by trusted colleagues.

2. Your No. 2 is your most important hire. Pick one who complements your management style, shows loyalty without being a yes-man, and has a talent for working with others.

3. Hire those who share your vision. Someone who clashes with your personality or the corporate culture will hinder your work.

4. Be a creative, unconventional interviewer if you seek creative, unconventional people. Go deeper than the job experience and expertise. Ask questions that reveal a candidate’s personality, values, and perspective on work and life.

5. Surround yourself with cheerful, optimistic people. They will reward you with the loyalty and camaraderie vital for success.

6. Applicants hungriest for the job are apt to work hardest to keep it.

7. To weed out potential slackers, chose workers who show a willingness to tackle any job, and will take a turn at the unpopular tasks.

8. Hire those with the talents and expertise you lack. Don’t feel threatened by them, they will help you stay on the cutting edge and bring distinction to your organization.

9. Spell out clearly to new employees the exact duties and requirements for the job, and how they will be compensated, many failed work relationships start with a lack of communication.

10. To help your staff do top-notch work, give them the best equipment you can afford. Working with outdated, unreliable tools creates an unnecessary burden.

BE A FAIR LEADER
If you want to be a better leader, be honest about the reasons behind your decisions. Create processes that are transparent, so that people understand how decisions are made. Listen to both sides of the story, and make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
- Social Science Research Network

4 THINGS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THEIR LEADERS TO SAY MORE OFTEN
“I don’t know.”
“Thank you.”
“Do what’s right.”
“It’s my fault.”
- Guy Kawasaki (The 16 lies of CEOs)

AN EFFECTIVE LEADER acts as if he or she is on control, but realizes that the only way to sustain some control is to listen, admit error, and keep leaning.

LEE IACOCCA'S 9 C'S OF LEADERSHIP
Lee Iacocca, former CEO of Chrysler motors, who is credited with the development of Mustang and the Minivan, and as being the man who saved Chrysler and for creating the Detroit Big Three car manufacturers.

"What is good leadership when you think about it?"
"Pick good people, have a good team around you and set priorities. And that's it."

1. Curiosity: Listen to people outside the "Yes, sir" crowd. Read Voraciously.
2. Creative: Go out on a limb. Leadership is all about managing change.
3. Communicate: A simple one. You should be talking to everybody, even your enemies.
4. Character: Having the guts to do the right thing. If you don't make it on character, the rest won't amount to much.
5. Courage: In these time, courage doesn't mean posturing and bravado. Courage is a commitment to sit down at the negotiation table and talk.
6. Conviction: Fire in your belly. You've got to really want to get something done.
7. Charisma: The ability to inspire. People follow a leader because they trust him or her.
8. Competent: Surround yourself with people who know what they are doing. Be a problem solver.
9. Common sense: Your ability to reason.

Point to Remember: "The biggest C is Crisis. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory, or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself."

- from Lee Iacocca's ‘Where have all the leaders gone?’, 2007

LASTING LEADERSHIP: LESSONS FROM THE 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS PEOPLE OF OUR TIMES
The eight attributes of leadership that are evident to varying degrees in these individuals.

1. They are able to build a strong corporate culture.
2. They are truth-tellers.
3. They are able to find and cater to under-served markets.
4. They can "see the invisible" - that is, spot potential winners or faint trends before their rivals or customers.
5. They are adept at using price to build competitive advantage.
6. They excel at managing and building their organization's brand (which in some cases may be their own name).
7. They are fast learners.
8. They are skilled at managing risk.
- Mukul Pandya and Robbie Shell, Lasting Leadership: Lessons from the 25 Most Influential Business People of Our Times

29 LEADERSHIP SECRETS FROM JACK WELCH
1. Harness the Power of Change
2. Face Reality!
3. Managing Less is Managing Better
4. Create a Vision and then Get Out of the Way
5. Don't Pursue a Central Idea; Instead, Set Only a Few Clear, General Goals and Business Strategies
6. Nurture Employees Who Share then Company's Values
7. Keep Watch for Ways to Create Opportunities and to Become More competitive
8. Be Number One or Number Two and Keep Redefining Your Market
9. Downsize, Before It's Too Late!
10. Use Acquisitions to Make the Quantum Leap!
11. Use Boundary less ness and Empowerment to Nurture a Learning Culture
12. Inculcate the Best Ideas into the Business, No Matter Where They Come From.
13. The Big Winners in the Twenty-first Century Will Be Global
14. De-Layer: Get Rid of the Fat!
15. Spark Productivity through Speed, Simplicity and Self-Confidence
16. Act Like a Small Company
17. Remove the Boundaries!
18. Unleash the Energy of Your Workers
19. Listen to the People Who Actually Do the Work
20. Go Before Your Workers and Answer All Their Questions
21. Stretch: Exceed Your Goals as Often as You Can
22. Make Quality Your Top Priority
23. Make Quality the Job of Every Employee
24. Make Sure Everyone Understands How Six Sigma Works
25. Make Sure the Customers Feels Quality
26. Grow Your Service Business: It's the Wave of the Future
27. Take Advantage of E-Business Opportunities
28. Make Existing Businesses Internet Ready - Don't Assume That New Business Models Are the Answer
29. Use E-Business to Put the Final Nail in Bureaucracy

BODY LANGUAGE FOR LEADERS
1. Stand tall. Keeping your shoulders back and holding yourself up to your full height will give you an air of confidence.

2. Take your hands out of your pockets. Putting your hands in your pockets is often seen as a sign that you have something to hide.

3. Stand with your arms crossed behind your back. This will help you adjust your posture, and it leaves your hands in a position that is open and not intimidating.

4. Make eye contact. Always look directly into the eyes of the people you are speaking with. This shows you're interested and also gives you a sense of confidence.

5. Sit up straight. Even if you're at an 8 a.m.meeting and feeling tired, it's important to sit up straight in your chair. Slouching makes you look disinterested and can give off an unwanted air of laziness.

6. Face the person you're talking to. This shows you are interested and engaged in the conversation.

7. Shake hands firmly. For many, a handshake is a reflection of the person you're shaking hands with. You don't want to come across as unsure or overbearing, so make sure yours is professional and confident.

8. Always smile. Smiles are contagious and will make others feel positive when you're around.

9. Look your best. You don't have to be model perfect every day, but you should dress appropriately and neatly. Clothes can have a big impact on the way you're perceived.

10. Walk confidently. Keep your head up and take even strides.
Source: crminsider.com

The greatest leader forgets himself
And attends to the development of others.
Good leaders support excellent workers.
Great leaders support the bottom ten percent.
Great leaders know that
The diamond in the rough
Is always found “in the rough.”
- The Way of Leading People: Unlocking Your Integral Leadership with the Tao Te Ching

Don't tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
- General George S. Patton

If you look behind lots of great heroic leaders, you find them doing lots of quiet, patient work themselves.
—Joseph L. Badaracco Jr.

THE 21 IRREFUTABLE LAWS OF LEADERSHIP
1. The Law of the Lid – Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness
2. The Law of Influence – The true measure of leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.
3. The Law of Process – Leadership develops daily, not in a day.
4. The Law of Navigation – Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.
5. The Law of E.F. Hutton – When the real leader speaks, people listen.
6. The Law of Solid Ground – Trust is the foundation of leadership.
7. The Law of Respect – People naturally follow leaders stronger than themselves.
8. The Law of Intuition – Leaders evaluate everything with a leadership bias.
9. The Law of Magnetism – Who you are is who you attract.
10. The Law of Connection – Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.
11. The Law of the Inner Circle – A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him.
12. The Law of Empowerment – Only secure leaders give power to others.
13. The Law of Reproduction – It takes a leader to raise up a leader.
14. The Law of Buy-In – People buy into the leader, then the vision.
15. The Law of Victory – Leaders find a way for the team to win.
16. The Law of the Big Mo – Momentum is a leader’s best friend.
17. The Law of Priorities – Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment.
18. The Law of Sacrifice – A leader must give up to go up.
19. The Law of Timing – When to lead is as important as what to do and where to go.
20. The Law of Explosive Growth – To add growth, lead followers – to multiply, lead leaders.
21. The Law of Legacy – A leader’s lasting value is measured by succession.
- John C. Maxwell

20 COMMON MISTAKES OF EAGER LEADERS
1. Winning Too Much. The need to win at all costs and in all situations—when it matters, when it doesn't, and when it's totally beside the point.
2. Adding Too Much Value. The overwhelming desire to add our two cents to every discussion.
3. Passing Judgment. The need to rate others and impose our standards on them.
4. Making Destructive Comments. The needless sarcasms and cutting remarks that we think make us sound sharp and witty.
5. Starting with "No," "But," or "However." The overuse of these qualifiers, which secretly say to everyone, "I'm right. You're wrong."
6. Telling the World How Smart We Are. The need to show people we're smarter than they think we are.
7. Speaking When Angry. Using emotional volatility as a management tool.
8. Negativity. The need to share our negative thoughts, even when we weren't asked.
9. Withholding Information. The refusal to share information in order to maintain an advantage over others.
10. Failing to Give Proper Recognition. The inability to praise and reward.
11. Claiming Credit We Don't Deserve. The most annoying way to overestimate our contribution to any success.
12. Making Excuses. The need to reposition our annoying behavior as a permanent fixture so people excuse us for it.
13. Clinging to the Past. The need to deflect blame away from ourselves and onto events and people from our past; a subset of blaming everyone else.
14. Playing Favorites. Failing to see that we are treating someone unfairly.
15. Refusing to Express Regret. The inability to take responsibility for our actions, admit we're wrong, or recognize how our actions affect others.
16. Not Listening. The most passive-aggressive form of disrespect for colleagues.
17. Failing to Express Gratitude. The most basic form of bad manners.
18. Punishing the Messenger. The misguided need to attack the innocent, who are usually only trying to protect us.
19. Passing the Buck. The need to blame everyone but ourselves.
20. An Excessive Need to Be "Me." Exalting our faults as virtues simply because they exemplify who we are.
- Source: Businessweek

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