Fifteen Inspiring Qualities of Leadership
by Craig Lock

Are you a leader of men (and women)? At least, do you believe that you have leadership potential? Do you WANT to be a leader, or a follower? If you want to be a "'great' leader of men", here are a few thoughts on the qualities needed. 

When we think of the word leader, we usually immediately think of the concept of POWER. Your great passion might be to become a leader. It will certainly give you power - not within yourself necessarily, but over others. (Do you have a "Napoleon complex" - to lead "for it's own sake", perhaps?). 

To be a leader, first you must really WANT to. A great DESIRE is the key here. You must be really "hungry" for the position and pursue leadership with great determination - with all the means at your disposal. That is, using all your powers, qualities (see below) and potential. With a strong DESIRE you will, as long as you have the following personal leadership qualities:

1. Unwavering courage.

2. Self control.

3. Always keeping a sense of justice (and fairness) towards others.

4. Definiteness of decisions.

5. Leaders have a clear vision of the future they wish to CREATE. All their decisions are in alignment with their over-riding objectives and move them in this direction.

6. Definiteness of plans (ie. a grand sense of PURPOSE). A leader then works their plan by putting it into ACTION.

7. Leaders are BELIEVERS: Firstly in themselves and in the Universe's plan for their lives. They have a strong sense of destiny.

8. Leaders have a habit of doing more than they are paid for. Effort and sacrifice gets them to a position of authority in the first place.

9. A pleasing personality (my saving grace to get me out of my frequent scrapes, deep in the "smelly brown stuff"!). People LIKE the people they follow... and will do anything to help for great inspiring leaders (even to death).

10. Empathy, sympathy and understanding. As the Spanish (and my dear mother) would say, "being 'sympatico'" towards other people, by taking their feelings into consideration. This is the difference between "thinkers" and "feelers". Thinkers are logical, analytical types, who usually do well in business. Feelers, like me, are far more emotional and creative people ("unbalanced" perhaps?). What type of person are you?

11. Mastery of detail. I'm hopeless on that one; so need plenty of help in that area. I'm a "grand picture person", who has no idea of the number of bolts needed to build my bridge. I would never walk on it after finishing it anyway!

12. Willingness to assume full responsibility for one's decisions - no matter what may go wrong!

13 ("lucky"). Co-operation (full) with others in seeing one's plans, the grand vision come to fruition.

14. Leaders are PASSIONATE people, who live with great enthusiasm. Eliminating options will help you find your passion, your niche in life by initially pointing you in the right direction. I've been using the process of elimination for years and years and I'm slowly getting there. At least I think so! If you don't know your passion, knowing what you don't want is a step in the right direction. I've worked out, that I don't really want to be a "leader" - preferring "to quietly do my own thing" in writing books, that will "make a little difference in the world by reaching out, touching and hopefully even inspiring others. That is "me" and what makes me happiest. Many years after writing those words, I still don't feel any great, nor definitely an overwhelming desire, or "calling" to be such a person as a leader... but just feel "called/destined" to quietly work away at sharing my various writings to hopefully inform, help and encourage people (and perhaps even inspire) around the globe through the internet... but who knows what God has in store for my life! (written originally in Nov 2002, but it's now March 2004). Time marches on...and waits for no man.

And finally...and most importantly,

15. Great leaders have great INTEGRITY. Vitally important! * So after reading all that, you still want to become a leader. Good! You're a brave person who will go far; because, I believe, there is a definite lack of "quality inspirational leadership" in today's societies - throughout the world! I strongly believe that today's "chaotic" world desperately needs people with VISION, effective leaders to make a difference, a better world? Where is another Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther-King to stand up for what's RIGHT, no matter the consequences... with ultimate integrity - to build bridges, rather than barriers between peoples... to see distant horizons, rather than borders in this incredible and still beautiful world of ours?

Enough "waffling", Craig...time to end off...

Whether you want to be a follower...or a leader... Just work really hard in ALL areas of your life, doing your very best; then submit fully to God's plan for YOUR life, in seeing the "big picture", when things go wrong, as they often do down the "river of life". I truly believe, that if we are open to SPIRIT, we will be led and be used in amazing ways that God wants. Just pray and meditate for direction and TRUST God, or whatever you understand the Divine to mean to you personally: whether, the Universe, Great Spirit, the Ultimate Source, Life, Infinite Intelligence or Higher Self for guidance... and in the stillness, silent (yet extremely powerful) words WILL be spoken to your heart and to the depths of your soul. Sounds really "airey/fairey" that "stuff", Craig (but it works for me!). 

God bless you all in finding, then following your personal "purpose, calling or even destiny in life".

"Live the vision of what you are CAPABLE of being."

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