3 PRACTICES OF THE BEST LEADERS
/
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.” - Jim Rohn
Life is an interesting journey of ups and downs. No one is exempt from the vicissitudes of life. This unpredictably is what drives us to be and do more. But where is the starting point to being and doing more?
Even before our official launch of our executive and business leadership coaching enterprise MTN Universal, I spent countless hours and days researching and studying leadership. I watched my father, who has been pastoring for at least 38 years. I would unofficially interview other leaders within various business sectors. Since I was a teenager, I have been in a constant search for new leadership systems and integral leaders. I am fascinated with how the family dynamic, business development, and individual growth is affected by progressive leadership or the lack thereof.
Are you a progressive leader?
Leadership is simply influence. So many of us are leaders, but again the question is - are you a progressive leader?
Progressive leadership has nothing to do with politics, although a politician may be progressive. Being a progressive leader isn’t a title, but rather it is you taking action. Progressive leadership has momentum. It is a movement. It calls for mobility. Progressive leadership requires action because it is all about moving forward.
The more I study leadership and leaders, the more I see that leaders need to be progressive leaders. Here are three strategies that leaders practice to be progressive:
1. Embrace change — Nothing in life ever stays the same. The 35th President of the United States John F. Kennedy (JFK) said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” This same principle applies to leadership because everything is always in a state of changing. The best leaders understand how to embrace change. Embracing change means understanding how to be adaptable. Once you develop adaptability with your leadership, you will have momentum to move to the next level of your success. How well do you adapt to change?
2. Learn from failure — No one wants to fail at anything because failure hurts. Just as change is inevitable, failure is a certainty in life. Despite the hardship of failing, the best leaders use failures as stepping stones or fuel to get to their next level of success. The natural process of failing also includes learning and growing. But know that the latter two parts of failure of learning and growing is dependent on the individual’s progressiveness. Those without a progressive mentality will accept failure and will not learn and grow from it. So when it comes to failure, are you learning and growing to become a progressive leader?
3. Give to get — One way to guarantee disappointment or a lack of success is to think that life is all about what you can get out it. I wouldn’t consider myself a Bible scholar but even the Bible says, “It is better to give than to receive.”
Again let me quote a dynamic statement from JFK’s Inauguration on Friday, January 20, 1961. JFK said, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country and do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” The main theme inaugural speech was to emphasize the relationship between duty and power.
The best leaders give and the more they give they end up getting any and everything they need and want out of life. This is why American author, salesman, and motivational speaker the late Zig Ziglar said, “If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” What do you want out of life? How are you giving to become a progressive leader?
What strategies are you currently using as a leader? Please leave a comment below, send me a tweet on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook.
Bryant
If you liked what you read here, subscribe here to get the latest ideas on success and leadership.
