Do You Really Have What It Takes to be an Effective Leader?

As a leader in your organization, your leadership skills, expertise and abilities are no doubt constantly challenged, regardless of the size of your organization. At times you may wonder if you really have what it takes to keep the business alive and moving forward. If this is the case, take a few moments to review the following list of leadership effectiveness qualities.

Research shows that the highest level of leadership effectiveness is achieved by those who strive to:

Learn to be comfortable with change and uncertainty
Increase their comfort with risk
Share power
Acknowledge their limitations
Determine for what they stand
Willingly put the interest of their team ahead of personal ambition and self-interest
Access both their emotional and rational sides
Project a positive, upbeat, optimistic outlook, even if that is not how they feel.

Source: Hagberg Consulting Group, California.

Inspirational quotes

Unsure about that last management decision you just made? Hesitant about the tasks that lie ahead, for which you as "leader" of the organization are responsible? Draw strength from the "words of wisdom" below, and contemplate the fact that others may one day look back on your thoughts and actions and consider them "wise."

"Don't be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated.
You can't cross a chasm in two small steps."
~ David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister WWI

"The task of the leader is to get his people from where
they are to where they have not been."
~ Henry Kissinger

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to
test a man's character, give him power."
~ Abraham Lincoln

"If you think you can do a thing or that you cannot do
a thing, in either case you are right."
~ Henry Ford

- Jackie Rasmussen, business specialist, MO SBTDC. For Creating Quality Newsletter, Sept. 2001. Revised 2/20/08.