A leader must be decisive, think under pressure, exercise good judgment, and guide others toward a common goal. Leadership attributes and skills are similar to all leaders, whether they are heads of families, leaders of a network group, or heads of a company or country. The difference is the pressure one must undergo and the end result of his leadership; Will a failed decision mean that you will go to war or will it just ruin a reservation for your family vacation? We are witnessing the rapid aging process that all the leaders of our country are going through; As responsibility increases, so does the level of stress.
During this time of year, all BNI (Business Network Int’l) chapters go through a selection process for a new leadership team that takes command every October 1. The most important selection is the president or leader of the respective chapter. Like the ship’s captain, they will guide your group through its journey for an entire year. The president becomes the key icon and really sets the tone for what that chapter will become; Will it be an energetic group of entrepreneurs or people who enjoy sharing coffee and complaining about their customers on a weekly basis? The president’s energy level, or lack thereof, will determine how successful the ship will sail.
A key consideration is that each leader must strive to achieve the goals of the group; otherwise, if you are just a smiley face, you are demoted to being the emcee of your party. For BNI, the main objective is to generate referrals ($$) among its members. This is accomplished by following a proven structure and strategy that has been refined over the last 25 years. A leader, in whatever capacity, must be aware of the main objective of his organization; Few groups have only one purpose, but not achieving the main one makes the others unimportant in comparison.
It seems like everyone has suggestions for how a chapter should work or how a company should work, but how many, given the opportunity, would actually take the initiative and take responsibility for leading? We love the idea of being the main boy or girl, but what about the work involved and having to balance the constant desires of the masses? Leaders make unpopular decisions for the good of the group or for fair play. Members will complain about you, ask for special consideration, and ask for exceptions; making an exception once means doing it forever. But for all who have struggled to take on this role, the payoff is immeasurable insight and personal growth.
Coaching from the stands is one thing, but taking responsibility for managing or leading a group towards a common goal is quite an experience. If you have the opportunity to become president of your BNI group or any other type of group to which you belong, take it and take it with enthusiasm. No therapy or motivational books will replace the experience. Are you fair, will you guide firmly but with empathy? Are you able to have energy meeting after meeting even when something puzzles you?
Here are 4 definitive reasons to take on a leadership role at least once in your life.
1) You are in the center of attention; all eyes are on you and all attention is focused on how you perform your role. Do your homework effectively and the doors will open in other areas for you. Do you want to expand your circle of influence, add a good bullet point to your resume or expand your business network? – become a leader!
2) Learn about yourself. You have opinions on how to make things better or more effective; they have all crossed our minds as we sit through any gathering. Now is your chance to execute and implement your ideas.
3) learn to lead people toward a common purpose; key skills for any manager. But the most important thing is learning to handle adversity and a variety of personalities. How do you handle complainers and other people who seem to have problems with everything you do? This experience will inevitably make your decision process more analytical.
4) Develop skills for teamwork. Each leader has advisors, support staff, and other support roles that help them fulfill their mission. Delegating tasks and assignments in a positive and supportive way is required so that everyone works as a unit.
I believe leaders are born with some basic leadership attributes, but most great leaders develop them through their own efforts and life experiences. My own leadership experience helped me value teamwork and responsibility and has put it in a very different perspective. You are now much more likely to contribute, participate, and contribute to any group at some level and be less critical of smaller issues than in the past. There is a leader within each of us and we must seize the opportunity to allow it to flourish.