Hello my friends, Do you know what leadership look like? In many companies and organizations throughout the world, leadership is looking more and more like a joke. You have to search through an organization for days at a time or wait for a catastrophic event to take place to find your real leaders. About a week ago in a discussion with a few colleagues over lunch, the topic centered on leadership and when will real leaders be allowed to lead. You may know of a few people in leadership positions that for some reason or another, have lost touch in developing and leading their teams the right way. We are not simply talking about leading a team or department to a very high number for goals but simply just having the attributes that builds trust in those team members that they are responsible for leading.

We have heard and known for some time now all of the buzz words for leadership; having vision, integrity, trust, character, firm, etc… and these attributes are paramount in true leadership. I recall a particular coach would say to his teams before the game, “To go out and play the game the right way.” The players or workers in turn would say the coach; “To lead us in the right way.” People are smarter and more in tuned with what’s going on around them than they get credit for. This statement, “Please don’t piss on my head and tell me that it’s raining” is becoming the buzz word from team members describing the communication style and strategies used by their managers when it comes to delivering information. People are starting to recognize the difference and leaders need to keep this in mind when it comes to communicating and leading others.

Many times the position title of leadership can actually trump the person’s leading ability when it comes to getting their teams developed to achieve their goals. to reach another level. Have you ever came across a person that was in a managerial role and used their title to trump their subordinates ideas, project accomplishments or even belittle them to their colleagues or superiors. Leadership doesn’t look like this! Again what does Leadership look like? Great positive leadership comes in many different forms and we won’t touch all of them in this post however a few things come to mind when looking at leadership. Leadership have vision to see things in front or at a higher level when others are looking behind, on the sides or not looking at all. Leadership stand tall and make the difficult decision that is right for the situation and organization even if this means standing by themselves. Leadership operates with integrity knowing that everyone may not be treated the same however they do their best to treat their team members right and fair. Leadership seeks input from others understanding that not one person has all of the answers. Leadership understands and accepts that not all ideas or decisions will be a success and they take full responsibility and learn from it. Leadership recognizes those persons skilled in the areas of development and execution of strategy in attaining goals and implementing ideas which can lead to creating value for the organization over time.

I applaud those that have earned the mantle of being promoted to a leadership position at your particular workplace and I know that this duty was not easily earned. When you see real leadership at work on any level, do your best to recognize, acknowledge and grow it, because in the absence of real leadership you jeopardize the core of the organization that will lead to mass exodus of talented people onward in search being led by leaders and/or becoming one themselves.

For every promotion of leadership you attained, make sure to continue to sharpen your leadership skills by reading books, masterminding with other leaders and attending leadership seminars and classes. After all of the reading, talking and learning, most importantly, leadership recognizes opportunity, communicate the opportunity and challenge their group to take it on. Leadership get in the heads and hearts of their team members, the ears of the customers and the eyes of the competitors. Why? In order to understand and be able to stand in front to determine, engage and influence the marketplace to follow the leader. This is what I look for in leadership and strive to be on a daily basis.

Be the Leader you are Looking for!

Patrick Jackson is a Motivational speaker and Internet Marketer who thrives on leading others to success with their business and brand. Get more strategies for your online business at http://www.youractiongameplan.com and continue to Make it HAPPEN!