Want To Lead? Prove It!
Rewind: When I was a kid hanging out in my father’s East Texas barber shop, the weather was always a hot topic. Everyone was always talking about the weather, but I never knew what to believe! “Been real nice, huh Bob?” “Yep, storm’s a comin’ in though Steve.” “That’s right Bob?” “Yep, gonna be a big one Steve. My pinky is a twitchin’ like none other.” Man, I never knew where to put my money as a kid!
Leadership is the same way, tons of talk and even more hype. It’s difficult to know what is important and what is peripheral. It’s tough to know where to put one’s focus. Amidst the flood of leadership commentary, there is one lesson I believe is critical- if you want to lead, you’ve got to prove it.
I run into a lot of young people looking for a position of leadership, looking for the next big gig. Below is a word for you.
A message for those desiring a higher position of leadership:
Want to lead? Prove it! Lead others. It doesn’t matter if it’s a group of awkward, un-showered middle school boys or one employee or a team of volunteers or your mama’s brother. Lead someone and develop them into who they are created to be. Help others live a life of influence among those they lead. You have been given responsibility of utmost importance! Create a legacy you can leave behind and eventually you’ll see increased opportunity. Don’t desire more leadership unless you’ve first been faithful with what you’ve already been given. Want to lead? Prove it!
A lot of individuals are seeking out leadership for their team, looking for the next big all-star, the next Leonardo DaVinci. Below is a word for you.
A message for those looking for leaders:
Look for those who’ve proven it! When I am looking for leaders, there is a vast list of traits to seek out. Teachability is good, attitude is even better. Potential may even be on the list. Still, there is one thing I look for when seeking leadership over and above any other trait: performance. When you are looking for leaders, look for performance. Consider their smarts, their fit. At the end of the day though, look for performance. Have they proven it? Ask potential leaders you meet to tell you about their passions, gifts, failures and successes. Take particular note of those who are real performers. If the personal connection is there and they can acquire the needed skills for the role, they may just be the one you want on your team!
Want to lead? Prove it! Seeking leadership? Look for those who’ve proven it!
Do you agree? Do you believe performance is this vital? Why or why not? Love to hear in the comments… This post appeared originally HERE as a guest post at BigIsTheNewSmall.com.
An investment practice I use is that I don’t buy a company’s stock unless I, myself would use or use what they are selling. If I wouldn’t, how can I expect someone else to? This practice has workedvery well for me over the years. Even in the past few years in turbulent market conditions I’ve managed to do pretty well.Which is why when I am looking for good leaders, besides looking for results driven performance, I look for how much the person is willing to sacrifice to get the results wanted. Are they willing to sacrifice their time, their talent, and their money? I have found that typically 8 or 9 out of 10 every propective leader is generally willing to give up their time and talents to lead, but when it comes to money, it drastically drops to about 2 or 3 out of every 10. How can I expect others to buy into the projects they are leading if they themselves do not believe in them enough to help fund them? Which is why our organization typically will only fund projects through our matching program.
Great post!