by J.D. McKay

Created on: June 03, 2008   Last Updated: July 13, 2009

Twenty-One Vital "Step Up" Leadership Qualities and Abilities:

The following comes from many years of personal observations and practice. These are twenty-one "Step Up" leadership qualities and abilities I recommend to all serious leaders. Depending on the article display, format and margins they form steps upwards toward better success; copy and paste into a word processing program and see.

Below these, I have also listed thirteen additional leadership philosophies, beliefs, or professional mottos. Think about them; if they upset you discover why, if they inspire you discovery why and enjoy the new view, then share them with others.

The Twenty-One:

Inspire;

Simplify;

Have a plan;

Break it down;

Encourage joys;

Work for success;

Lead by your deeds;

Really listen and hear;

Elevate those with you;

Get your own hands dirty;

Risk sharing your experience;

Prepare & endeavor to be ready;

Quickly modify to escape a failure;

Openly choose to support those above you;

Dare to empower & challenge those around you;

Ask questions instead of worshiping those you follow;

Reach down, pull up, and give a boost without conditions;

Have no apprehension or fear when called to be the messenger;

Opt for honesty even if you have to tell the Emperor he has no clothes;

Remember the 'Golden Rule' but refrain from imposing forms of religiosity;

Always benefit from being the student or the instructor - for they are the same.

The Thirteen:

(#1) All too often leadership, with the ever-changing intellectual theories, new book experts and rehashing of oft-quoted sages, is looked upon as managing to get an extra measured amount of work from your people. Depending upon your view of things this may be true, but the real secret is measuring your people, inspiring them to believe so they will improve as we all work together. When a team member finally believes and owns what you showed and shared with them, and as each individual achieves this (at their own pace) and internalizes it, they will begin to self-manage and team up. At this point, they will stretch to meet any task you give them and they will collaborate to exceed all your goals. Remember this is only a small part of true leadership.

(#2) One's authority is not like a piece of cake that is cut, removed, spent or given away, but one's authority is a precious part of an "Ever Expanding Circle" that responsibly binds and connects us to each other; it is invested with no decrease or

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