The Heart of a Leader

I have read a book on leadership and summerized the key features that a leader should possess.


1. The key to developing people is to catch them doing something right.
2. People who produce good results feel good about themselves.
3. Don’t wait until people do things exactly right before you praise them.
4. Feedback is the breakfast of champions.
5. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
6. None of us is as smart as all of us.
7. Things not worth doing are not worth doing well.
8. Success is not forever and failure isn’t fatal.
9. When you stop learning, you stop growing.
10. In life, what you resist persists.
11. Don’t work harder, work smarter.
12. Nine guys may appear to finish last, but usually they are running in a different race.
13. In managing people, it is easier to loosen up than tighten up.
14. Anything worth doing does not have to be done perfectly – at first.
15. Life is all about getting As.
16. If you want to know why your people are not performing well, step up to the mirror and take a peek!
17. If you want your people to be responsible, be responsive to their needs.
18. It’s more important as a manager to be respected than to be popular.
19. People with humility don’t think less of themselves. They just think of themselves less.
20. Never! Never! Never! Never give up! (Churchill)
21. Good thoughts in your head not delivered mean ‘squat’.
22. Take what you do seriously, but yourself lightly.
23. Think big! Act big! Be big!
24. Real communication happens when people feel safe.
25. All good performance starts with clear goals.
26. Without vision, the people perish.
27. If you don’t seek perfection, you can never reach excellence.
28. People without information cannot act responsibly. People with information are compelled to act responsibly.
29. All empowerment exists in the present moment.
30. Never punish a learner.
31. The only job security you have today is your commitment to continuous personal improvement.
32. There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.
33. It’s surprising how much you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.
34. Positive thinkers get positive results because they are not afraid of problems.
35. Take responsibility for making relationships work.
36. Leadership is not something you do to people. It’s something you do with people.
37. Take time to identify core values. Core values must be communicated.
38. Walk your talk.
39. Knowing where you are going is the first step to getting there.
40. Purpose can never be about achievement. It is much bigger.

How many of the above features do you have? The more of the above features you possess, the more likely you are a step closer to be a great leader.