Leaders Must Ask The Right Questions

Effective leadership requires a leader to be both able and willing to listen effectively, and then to ask relevant questions. Only by doing this can a leader put himself into a position to provide the value that today's members and prospective leaders are seeking. This reality was succinctly stated by Albert Einstein, "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning."

1. Leaders must study the past to learn important lessons. What was done in the past is not sufficient knowledge, but rather understanding the nuances, what was successful (and why), and what had far less success, is essential information for effectiveness and responsiveness. Leaders must question the reasons that programs, efforts worked, and likewise why they might not have. They must also examine how the organization has changed and been transformed over the years, and ask the important questions related to the factors that may have been involved.

2. How has the organization been evolving in response to changing times and needs? What proactive measures might be taken to improve results, and provide greater value for its members, donors and sponsors? Why have certain individuals continued their involvement, while others let their membership lapsed? Has anyone ever conducted any types of surveys, and if so, how valid was that survey, and the questions asked?

3. Great leadership comes about when it learns its lessons well from the past, and used those lessons to provide wisdom in terms of how to operate and conduct business today. It is essential to effectively communicate with members, potential members, and those who have lapsed, in order to fully understand what they want, expect, need, and what their priorities are. Positive attitudes provide uplifting and motivating discussions, that result in true communication. Only by providing value (both real and perceived) can an organization flourish.

4. How will today's actions impact the future of the organization? How does the present course of action jive with the organization's mission, as well as the leader's vision for the future? How well is leadership really listening, and communicating, to enhance the group, and maximize relevance?

Every one is not set out to be a truly great leader. Some will truly lead, while others only hold some sort of position or title. No one has all the answers, but the effective leader must have the ability and willingness to question on a consistent basis. This is not usually necessarily a matter of right and wrong, but rather about learning needs of others, to be able to put yourself into a position to succeed.

With over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience, Richard Brody has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs. He's negotiated, arranged and organized hundreds of events.

Richard's owned businesses, been a COO, CEO, and Director of Development, as well as a consultant. His company Website is http://www.plan2lead.net/, and he can be followed on Twitter @rgbrody. For great information on many topics, visit PLAN2LEAD's Facebook page and LIKE ( http://www.facebook.com/Plan2lead )

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Doing The Right Thing In Management And Leadership

Everyone Has The Potential For Greatness

Leadership is seen to be a great role bound to do great deeds. When people think of leadership, they often think of the President or the founders of nations, magnificent CEO's of pioneering companies and well- loved philanthropists like Mother Teresa. Others deem leadership as a burden, a stern calling that drains a person's happiness. Then again, on a better light, leadership is also perceived as a blessing that conjures happiness for having achieved something worthy. Is leadership predestined? Is it a birthright of the chosen ones? The question remains.

The word "leader" is typically associated with prominent people. However, it is not always the case. Leadership is not confined to positions of power, although these are among the various leadership roles. Yes, there are people born to be leaders, but there are many others who have honed and utilized their leadership abilities along the way later in their lives. Everyone of us is potentially a leader. Just beneath a layer of our beings or hidden below 10 more is the seed, the spark or the potential for greatness of a leader.

What Makes A Leader?

As a school president, you become a leader. Yet anywhere else at school, in the classroom or among your friends, you can also practice leadership. In the workplace, occupying a management or executive rank makes you a leader. But you can also shine with leadership within your team or in your next neighboring cubicles of co-workers. When you fight for a cause or offer help in big and small ways, you become a leader, particularly when your deeds have a lasting effect on other people.

As a leader, you can lead people to good or bad. As a true leader, nonetheless, you need to have elegant courage. Elegant courage is clarity of your core values and having the resolve to adhere to your values both in good and bad times. You ought to know the difference between right and wrong and you decide to do the right thing.

Management And Leadership

Leadership is a noble calling. A true leader goes beyond his ego or personal interests. A leader has followers, and this followership is valued.

In the corporate setting, managers are seen as leaders. It used to be that managers yell and give orders and they are esteemed because of their authority and position. The focus on leadership has now shifted wherein management and leadership are aligned. Managers and leaders both do things right and do the right thing.

By the way, do you want to learn more about leadership in your company? If so, download your FREE ebook here: Guide to Elegant Courage Leadership

Jodi and Mike specialize in executive coaching with individuals and teams. http://lighthouse-leadership.com/

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In the Life of a Leader the Right Kind of Fear Can Be a Highly Healthy Characteristic

Our world does not need more clever men or more rich men but it certainly needs more godly men and women. This leader was not only clever but wise and not only rich but godly, and these characteristics are scarce commodities in the present days.

Read Peter's first letter and learn some significant and crucial lesson regarding leadership and being a leader in difficult times.

Peter had changed bosses and that is central to the whole second half of his life. He had been a business man in the fishing industry, but now he was catching a different type of catch. Everything about him was transformed and different.

When we came to Jesus Christ we changed bosses. We changed 'lords'. We no longer serve sin, but Jesus Christ.

Peter speaks about being holy and being different from others and what is involved in this and sometimes we do not like to be different or regarded as being different.

He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all that you do. What a challenge! This is a most unpopular sentence for many many people!

We are called to be like Father, or to be like our heavenly Dad. God is not like other people. He certainly is different, and Peter teaches us to aim to be like Him!

To be holy or godly in the highest sense, and not in some cartoonist fashion, but as God would make us and shape us, is one of life's most challenging tasks.

But verse 17 in the first Chapter of his letter will help us, because if we get the right kind of fear, and right kind of love, we will live the right kind of life.

On he goes to speak of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, with which we are redeemed and bought back from sin, and sinfulness. That rascal stole so much from mankind in the garden and Jesus paid the price on the cross to buy it back. That is the whole meaning of redeem.

Our holy God has called us and changed us and transformed us and forgiven us and filled us, and these are some of the reasons why this same holy loving God calls us to be holy.

Because He is a gracious Father Who judges our work and witness impartially, we are to live our lives here as strangers or aliens or misfits, and in reverent fear.

When we have the right kind of fear and the right kind of love then we will have no trouble being holy. That will follow.

Fear is a good thing. Fear of putting your hand in an open fire or fear of rushing across a busy road without looking, or fear of hurting someone you love. The fear of God is healthy, and in a leader it is a most valuable and precious quality.

Peter did not want these disciples of Jesus to disobey God, or disappoint God, and this is why he writes as he does.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org/ entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

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