The Leadership Character

"Waste no time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius

I used to have a severe case of analysis paralysis. Spending so much time talking, thinking and reading about the things I wanted or wanted to be.

I wanted to know all the details.

I wanted to be the best.

Most of all I wanted it to work.

But it didn't because I was continually stuck in the wrong mindset. Excellence is not something a Leader demands, we go out and build it. After all, making demands goes against the very fabric of the word itself--Leadership. And to be a Leader you must strive for excellence but you also have to live it.

Excellence can be defined as "the quality of being excellent" OR "being all you can be" while doing the right thing for your company. And to be a Leader who builds and attracts excellence you have to be a person of strong character and which might be defined as having drive, energy, determination, self-discipline, willpower, and nerve.

Quite a recipe for greatness, isn't it?

Marcus directs us to waste no time talking about being a good person. "Be One" he says, and I can't think of a better model for being a Leader.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate of discussion, reading and learning but I'm also a strong believer in the ideal that a Leader isn't born--we are developed. It is through the efforts and affects of our character building that we develop and then learn to say "Follow Me."

Be a Leader.

Do what is right.

Then share your experiences.

With warmest regard,

Tim Draayer

Comments

[Richard Orchard]

The hardest thing about being a leader to attempting to be one, is knowing that you will fail at some point. Or even failing multiple of times and finding the courage, stamina and will to venture on. Most people fear to fail and will shy away from anything perceived as failure. I faced this when I was last month let go from the hotel. Even in the face of it, I didn't fold, I chose to go forward with what I had. Now, I am currently working my way through the management ladder at Burger King.
But in the end, it's the choices we make to become excellent and to succeed at being a leader among men.

[Rahul]

Nice...

[Leisa Watkins]

"Excellence can be defined as "the quality of being excellent" OR "being all you can be" while doing the right thing for your company."

I really appreciate your comment about "being all you can be" while doing the right thing for your company. It's always bothered me to see people lead a team of people in a direction that works for the leader, but is detrimental to the company or to the people they lead. That's not being a great leader. Being a great leader is about taking people down a correct path, not a convenient path.