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Resources for Becoming a Stronger Leader
Most people believe leadership can be learned. There is certainly enough resources available to support that notion. From associations to books and training modules, you will find plenty of material to help you become a stronger leader.
The first resource is probably the most obvious, and that is books. Take a look at the Kindle store for books on leadership. At the time of this writing, there were over 10,000 results for the word “leadership.” If you are a member of Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program, you have access to 4,000 of those books for free, as part of that membership.
Search on YouTube for videos related to leadership. While YouTube is a good start, be aware that this medium attracts video creators with the motivation to sell products and services. This means the information provided in the videos are often incomplete. You will be required to pay to get the true information. The videos are teasers. Also, there is no guarantee that paying will yield quality products from these creators.
Stepping up from YouTube are sites such as Udemy and Edx.org. These sites offer both free and paid training modules. There are several modules on the topic of leadership. These websites offer frequent deals so check on them often.
You will occasionally run into instructors on these websites who offer free training but is disguised as a promotional video. It’s not as widespread as YouTube, but it does happen. This practice is discouraged for paid videos as the participants will blast the training with bad reviews which will hurt sales of those training modules. It is something to be aware of when signing up for free training. On the plus side, at least you don’t pay anything upfront.
You’ll want to explore associations both for leadership and for subjects specific to your career. For instance, there is an International Leadership Association that has good information on what they believe makes a good leader. They can also point you to other resources.
When looking for industry-specific associations, a good way to approach this is to ask colleagues and managers in your organization. Many of your colleagues may belong to some of these associations and can guide you to what they like or don’t like about them.
A final resource is to find blogs and forums that are dedicated to leadership. Sign up for the newsletters that these forums may offer. They will help you keep up-to-date with the latest developments in this field.

– Scott Blessing

What Qualities Should Leaders Possess?
If you ask several people what qualities leaders should possess, would they all come up with the same list? It’s likely they would come up with similar lists but would deviate on a few of the items. It’s likely the more people you ask, the closer the list will approach the averages.
Some responses will arise from perceptions of people being polled. If you believe that all leaders possess high intelligence, in your past you observed leaders who exhibited above-average intelligence. Others may have observed different attributes.
One attribute that is likely to go on many peoples’ list is integrity. We want leaders who won’t try to cover up problems or won’t try to blame others for their failures. They take responsibility and earn the trust of their followers. And yet, leaders are constantly being profiled in the news as corrupt or in some trouble with the law.
Leaders are also thought to possess enthusiasm. You’ll hear terms such as eternal optimists associated with great leaders. While this may be true, does this mean that all people who are optimistic are leaders? Have there ever been leaders who were not overly optimistic and had a reason not to exhibit this trait?
Communication is probably one trait that will get on everybody’s list of leadership. After all, if a leader cannot communicate, the team dynamic falters. Everyone will look to the leader to set the stage for communication. If he or she is incapable of being effective in this area, people won’t know what to do, or they will find a new leader who can communicate well. It doesn’t seem likely that leaders can survive without being good communicators.
You probably would include confidence as an attribute that you’d want to see in a leader. While it’s possible for leaders to lack that confidence, it’s not likely their followers will stick with them if they don’t. People need a confident captain to steer the ship in the right direction. They need someone who can alter course in case a storm hits. Only confident leaders will be capable of this.
Many people may include charisma as part of the list of traits for leadership. However, historians widely believe Adolph Hitler had charisma and was the primary method used to take over Germany. He was responsible for many atrocities during that period. While charisma may be a trait that some leaders possess, unfortunately, it doesn’t always lead to positive outcomes.

– Scott Blessing

Read About the Profiles of Great Leaders
If you want to be a great leader, you need to read about others who achieved it. These successful leaders have overcome several obstacles to make it to the top. Many share their stories. These stories are a must-read for anyone who is looking to become a leader.
There are numerous stories available for you to read. Simply use your favorite search engine to find the profiles of these leaders. Many people will start with the profiles of people such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. However, even sports stars are now considered leaders.
Another great place to enhance your search is through Amazon. The bookseller is likely to have several books available on great leaders. You may find a few books that are discounted or even free of charge. When this happens, do take advantage of this and view it as a gift.
When you are reading through the profiles, pay attention to the aspects of the stories dealing with leadership traits. Learn how they used those traits or incorporated them to become the great heroes you know them to be. It’s not a bad idea to take notes when reading through their profiles.
When you find information online, be critical of unknown sources. Anyone can create a blog and write whatever they like. They can spread false information easily. If you aren’t critical of the information you read, you will be misinformed. When you speak to others about this misinformation, they will likely challenge you.
If you come up dry with your web search, you can always hit up your local library. It’s likely you’ll find what you’re looking for online. But, libraries will be there for you when you need them. They will have ample resources for you to view the stories of great leaders.
Books are not the only medium available for profiles of great leaders. You can search for multimedia resources that may be available. A great place to start your search is at the Library of Congress (loc.gov). There are plenty of materials available on this website in several different formats.
It’s possible to find videos on YouTube that profile great leaders. Be careful with these as well. Anyone can create a video that misinterprets the facts. They may even create a professional video which can throw you off. A video that is professionally produced does not automatically mean it contains valid information. It can be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

– Scott Blessing

Have You Heard the Term It’s Lonely at the Top?
You probably have heard the term it’s lonely at the top. The top, in this case, refers to people who are in leadership positions like managers. It is used to reference the fact that managers have to make decisions that people won’t be happy about. For instance, suppose your manager tells your team they have to work in the coming weekend. How popular will that decision be for the team?
It’s unclear where the phrase originated. Some believe it came from the 1972 song by Randy Newman called, “Lonely at the Top.” However, it’s likely to have been coined much earlier than that. Whoever coined the phrase, there is no doubt what it means. When you are in a leadership position, you won’t have the friends you used to have.
While people may not enjoy the decisions you are left to make, they will respect them. Of course, that depends on how you present those decisions. If you are not firm in your handling of decisions, people will read this as being weak. Once that occurs, you will have a difficult time recovering from that perception. Be firm and don’t waiver.
You should get as much information as possible before making decisions. Plenty of leaders will fly off the handle with decisions. They won’t take into account that more information is needed before making the decisions. This causes the wrong decisions to be made. The people who are affected by these decisions will get angry, and you will lose credibility as their leader. Again, once that happens, you will need to work hard to gain their trust back.
When you accept a leadership role, accept the responsibility that goes along with it. People aren’t going to like every choice you make. They need to come to terms with that. You can have an open forum with them to discuss decisions that affect them. However, you are the one who has been put in charge of those decisions. Make them with confidence.
You are going to make mistakes with several decisions. When you believe you have all the necessary information, new facts may emerge to throw the original concept out of whack. It isn’t much you can do about it except finding alternative actions and decisions. Your confidence will mean much for your credibility when this occurs. However, when you exude that confidence, your team will give you the respect you deserve.

– Scott Blessing

What does it take for someone to be a leader? Some people believe that you must be born with it. While it may be true that some people possess a natural ability towards leadership, it can be learned. Like anything else, you get better at it with practice.
One of the key features of a leader is to lead by example. Our society has gotten too used to the idea that leaders simply bark orders at people. They expect people to follow those orders without the willingness to do the tasks themselves. Leaders need to be the captains of the ship and be willing to go down with the ship.
Another role of a leader is to take responsibility for your actions. Don’t pass the blame onto others. If you assume or accept a leadership role, then you will be looked upon to guide those you lead. Own up to your mistakes and figure out alternative courses of action when needed.
A leader should also have a vision for their organization. You should know what you are trying to accomplish and figure out how you are going to get there. To continue with the captain of the ship analogy, you need to map out a route to take the ship.
When you are leading others, you need to display confidence. When people view you as a confident leader, they will do whatever you ask of them. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. Be careful not to confuse the two even though they sometimes can cross.
Leaders are allowed to make mistakes. How they recover from those mistakes defines their ability to lead. If you hide from the problem, you will lose the confidence that others have placed in you. Face up to the adversity of the situation and figure out how to handle it. This can require some tough decisions, but that is part of the role of the leader.
Leaders should listen to the people they are leading. If you take the approach that you are always right, you will set the stage for a group of yes people. What this means is you will need to be responsible for every decision, even the ones that you thought you were delegating. Hire the right people and let them do their jobs. Listen to their concerns. Listening to others does not imply caving into their demands. You simply need to take what others say into consideration.

– Scott Blessing

If we don’t transfer the knowledge of leadership to the next generation, they will not be able to handle the challenges of tomorrow. Kids need to learn leadership at an early age. However, teaching a kid to be a leader is not the same as teaching an adult. They need first to learn why leadership is important.
You want to support your kids in every way possible. You want them to have a fun childhood while also learning what they need to live well as adults. They are going to need to become leaders for this to happen.
Parents and teachers need to teach leadership by example. Kids are not stupid, and when they hear the words do as I say not as I do, they are not fooled by this ploy. In fact, you will find kids will bring up when you say this when confronted with a similar situation.
Kids need to learn that they cannot always get their way. When they learn how to compromise, they will have a skill that will let them become better leaders. This doesn’t mean they should give in. But, they need to learn that others have needs, too.
When kids get involved in afterschool events or events in their community, they learn how to interact with each other. For instance, sports programs are great at helping kids become leaders. They learn how to work as part of a team. The team will form its structure which often includes some kids emerging as leaders.
Volunteering in the community can give kids a sense of commitment and confidence. Both of these attributes are important when learning how to be leaders. It also gives them a sense of satisfaction in knowing they helped other people. When they are encouraged to do this often, it will become natural for them as they get older.
Kids do look up to their parents. But, they also look up to other members of the community or school. When they become involved in these activities, they watch as leaders emerge, and they try to become like those leaders. They learn by association.
When teaching kids about leadership, they may not learn via formal training methods which is better suited for adults. They learn by watching others and picking up the traits of others. Of course, it happens quicker in a natural setting, rather than trying to force them into learning about leadership.

– Scott Blessing

Be A Good Leader By Being A Good Follower
It may seem counterintuitive, but a sign of a good leader is someone who is a good follower. It makes sense when you think about it. People who follow know the traits that make a good follower. When you know those traits, you can use them to help the people who are following you.
Leadership is about showing others the ropes. This is leading by example, and it’s one of the best ways to lead your group of people. They can never approach you and state that you don’t know what you are doing. Sometimes, getting down into the nitty-gritty of a job shows your willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish the goals of your group.
Good followers know how to take directions. When leaders learn that skill, they can impart that wisdom to others. They can also break down goals into tasks to make managing the group that much easier. If someone who is following you is not good at directions, you will be in a better position to help them.
When followers learn how to listen, they will get the job done correctly the first time around. When leaders learn how to listen, they will take the needs of the followers into consideration. They will make the followers feel as though they had something to do with the decision.
A leader has to learn to be aware of what is going on with the group he or she is leading. This takes keen observation skills that many managers and leaders lack. It is best to take care of a situation that you know about early, rather than letting it balloon into something unmanageable later. Followers are keen on observation.
Followers understand the team dynamic better than anyone. In most situations, they are placed into a team, sometimes without their consent or approval. However, they learn to manage with the constraints they are given. When leaders understand this dynamic, they will have an easier time managing their followers.
A leader is more than just a person who barks out orders in hopes that everyone will blindly do as they say. Leadership requires being in line with the followers and trying to make their tasks as easy as possible. This requires leaders to become followers to the point where they can be great facilitators. It can be the source of confusion for leaders as to which role to assume. But, quality leaders learn how to adjust.

– Scott Blessing

Are Leaders Born or Made?
Several people believe that a true leader is someone who is born into the role. Leaders are people who excel at everything throughout their lives. They don’t have to be told how to be a leader as they just do what comes naturally to them.
Others feel that leadership can be learned. There are certainly many seminars and management schools that teach people how to become better leaders. Over the years, leaders in every walk of life have been observed, and the techniques on how leaders emerge are well-documented.
Some people gravitate toward leadership. While it may seem natural to them, behind the scenes, it is likely they either studied on how to be a good leader, or they had strong role models in their lives that helped shaped them to be the leaders they have become. This isn’t to say it’s not possible for people to have natural leadership ability. However, it’s not the only way people become leaders.
People do fail at management. This solidifies the thinking of those on the leader-are-born camp. However, much of the 1980s and 1990s were spent promoting people who had no business being promoted. Middle managers were created faster than people cared to imagine. This was done as incentives to keep people happy.
You may have heard the term the Peter Principle, so named after management consultant Peter Drucker. The principle states that managers will continue to be promoted to a position they are not qualified for. You can have all the training in the world, and even those who have a natural leadership ability will not be able to account for moving too fast up the corporate ladder.
Several leaders do have qualities they were born with. For instance, many leaders tend to be outgoing and contain above-average intelligence. However, there certainly have been plenty of people with these two traits who have failed as leaders. Conversely, there are people with average intelligence and less outgoing who have become great leaders.
It’s not unheard of for people to change their personalities, too. People who considered themselves as introverted when they were younger are now more outgoing. Therefore, a personality trait is not always set in stone. People have the capacity for change. Therefore, if there are traits that are attributable to certain personality types, people can align with those traits. It’s been done before, and others will continue to do so in the future.

– Scott Blessing