How to Release the Leader Within You!

How to release the leader within you!

Beyond the horizon of time is a changed world, very different from today’s world. Some people see beyond that horizon and into the future. They believe that dreams can become reality. They open our eyes and lift our spirits. They build trust and strengthen our relationships. They stand firm against the winds of resistance and give us the courage to continue the quest. We call these people leaders!

Manager is derived from the French term ‘ménagerer’, meaning “to mind the horses behind the field of battle”.

Leader is derived from the Norse term ‘löder’. It means, literary, the one person on a Viking raiding ship who knew how to read the “lodestone”, which was a crude compass.

A person might be brilliant leader in one situation and hopeless in another. General George Patton was a very effective combat tank division commander, but I think he’d have trouble leading a local school’s Parent Teacher Association. And a good PTA chair might not make a good tank division commander.

There is nothing elusive about leadership. Although great leaders may be as rare as great runners, great painters, or great actors, everyone has leadership potential – just as everyone has some ability at running, painting, and acting. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula, no foolproof handbook, which leads inexorably to successful leadership. But don’t despair, for if you can draw on the following essential leadership qualities, you’ll be well on the way to displaying the features of a great leader …

1. Make a commitment to work hard Nothing of worth comes easily. Most great leaders thrived on hard work, their main motivator being their desire to meet their own high standards. You’ll find that a combination of self-discipline and a desire to make a difference will provide the necessary commitment to succeed.

2. Show confidence Overwhelming confidence in your own ability is essential. If you don’t believe in yourself, others can’t be expected to believe in you. Confidence can be acquired through experience, skill, and positive affirmation. People will ‘buy into’ the leader before they “buy into” his or her leadership.

3. Display integrity Integrity is a quality you must develop. It helps to build trust, allows you to influence others, sets and maintains high standards, and build your reputation as one that can be relied on. Followers are acutely aware of any difference between what you say and what you do. 1 4. Demonstrate extraordinary persistence Researchers have identified three major opportunities for learning to lead – trial and error, observation of others and education. All three require seeing tasks through despite the setbacks and learning from your mistakes.

5. Be responsive Responsiveness is giving customers what they want – courteously, when they want it, at a price that matches their expectations. You will be remembered not for the number of tasks you take on but for those you complete successfully.

6. Bring out the best in others Leadership does not occur in a vacuum. Invariably it involves working with others – selling them your dream, instilling in them a desire to achieve, motivating, cajoling, even coercing them. Your ability to influence is a key leadership factor.

7. Demonstrate a high degree of energy Often actions speak louder than words. Be prepared to share the load; roll up your sleeves and mix it with others. Apply yourself longer and give that little bit extra.

8. Back your judgement Boldness and courage are two key leadership qualities. You need to demonstrate a willingness to take chances, to experiment and to display a level of optimism that rejects any prospect of failure.

9. Develop humility Learn to recognize your place in the scheme of things. Demonstrate high ideals, a strong sense of personal morality, and avoid the sand-pit behaviour so reminiscent of child’s play.

10. Get your timing right Seizing the moment is the key to any successful endeavour, so make sure you get your timing right when taking action and making decisions. Timing is a combination of alertness, foresight and imagination.

11. Develop a winning attitude It’s not what happens to you; it’s what you do about it that counts – and your attitude will determine your response.

12. Focus on the 10 C’s of leadership Bear in mind Michael Pegg’s 10 C’s, the characteristics of compelling leadership. You’ll need to be …

2 Charismatic, Caring, Committed, Crystal-clear, Communicative, Consistent, Creative, Competent, Courageous, Crazy to think that you really can make a difference.

Back in the 1960s the evangelist, Dr Billy Graham, was conducting one of his crusades in a town in the American mid-west. Having a letter to post, he asked a young boy how to find the nearest post office.

When the lad told him, Dr Graham thanked him and said: “If you come to the convention centre this evening you can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven.”

‘Oh, I don’t think I’ll be there’, the boy replied. ‘After all, you don’t even know how to get to the post office!’

It’s a funny thing about leadership – when leaders lack confidence, followers lack commitment. Confidence is one of the essential qualities of a leader, and the followers must sense it.

The Ideal Chairperson

1. Eternal tact and wisdom. 2. Abreast with salient legal issues. 3. Impartial 4. Able to think on his/her feet: handle crises calmly and effectively. 5. Firm, yet polite. 6. Calm and gentle and always composed. 7. Will not dominate meeting with too much talking. 8. Will conduct matters in orderly and timely fashion. 9. Will not ostracise minority groups and those against the general trend of affair. 10. Has to be a people’s person and well-versed in matters under discussion.

Points of Order (Ensuring that we adhere to our PLANS)

A point of order will be called when proceeding get out of hand. Since it naturally conflicts with the agreed codes, the chairperson will be request to call the meeting to order. This takes place in the following instances:

1. Use of fouls language 2. There may not be a quorum present (unless regulation determines that a quorum is only necessary at the opening of the meeting) 3. An objection to a ultra virus vote, i.e. matter beyond the jurisdiction of the meeting.

3 4. An objection to a matter that has been properly tabled.

4 The Secretary

Besides keeping the records of all meetings, it is the duty of the Secretary to keep of all activities and matters arising from the meeting, as well as liaise with the Chairperson, the Treasurer, as well as any other person or body dealing with the organization.

Notice of Meetings

1. In agreement with the UCCSA constitution, it is the duty of the Secretary of Chairperson to forward a written notice of all planned meetings to each member, detailing the date, place and time. 2. In the case where a meeting has not been properly arranged and all persons entitled to formal notice not properly informed, all decisions taken at this particular meeting may be declared invalid. 3. In the case of an emergency meeting, the Chairperson may decide on a shorter notice period. 4. Forwarding the agenda may be regarded a sufficient notice of a meeting. 5. Any member falling to furnish a proper address forfeits the right to a written notice. 6. Members unable to attend a meeting should inform the Secretary. An opinion on certain matters may be given in written to the meeting, but this will not count as a vote.

Minutes

1. The Minutes are not intended to be a verbatim report on the meeting. 2. Essentially the Minutes is a record of what has been done and not what has been said. 3. Each topic for discussion will appear under a heading, indicating clearly its origin and the gist of the discussion. 4. Where no definite has been taken on a matter, the Minutes should clearly state thus. 5. In the case where a meeting ended before all agenda items have been discussed, these items will be noted in the Minutes, and carried over to the next meeting. 6. The Minutes should be concise, to the point and impersonal. 7. The agenda will be meticulously drawn up and all points carefully tended to. 8. The official Minutes should be completed as soon as possible after a meeting 9. The Meeting may prescribe when the Minutes should be completed. 10. The Secretary may interrupt the Meeting to get clarity on issues. 11. The first matter on the agenda should be the confirmation of the last meeting’s Minutes.

5 12. It is admissible to propose that the Minutes be regarded as “read” if each member received a copy beforehand in good time. 13. It is not proper to propose that the Minutes not be signed. 14. If there is disagreement as to the content of the Minutes, a proposal is made that acceptance is subject to the necessary amendments. 15. The first matter at the AGM will be the reading of the Minutes of the last AGM as well as any meeting held thereafter. 16. However, it is also in order to read the Minutes at the first general meeting after the AGM.

What the Minutes should contain

1. The time, date and place of meeting 2. The name of the Chairperson, the Secretary and any other office bearers. 3. If practical, al the names of those members present should be noted or at least the minimum number to indicate that a quorum was present. 4. Noting the date is of prime importance, especially where time-frames are significant in fulfilling certain tasks. 5. A short summary of matters discussed, any amendments proposed and accepted as well as any counter-proposals. 6. In the case where the Chairperson cast a decisive vote, reasons therefore should be sited. 7. Any counter-proposal/opposition should be noted. 8. The results of all voting.

Sub-Committees

1. Sub-committee members may be co-opted for their specialized knowledge; qualifications or abilities, e.g. a lawyer, priest, doctor, artisans, etc.

2. Sub-committees may be established for a specific purpose, e.g. an  Finance Committee  Fundraising Committee  Maintenance Committee

6 The Character of a good Meeting

1. It has purpose. 2. The members all join in on discussions. 3. Contributions in discussion are brief yet informative. 4. Members need to the rules of the meeting. 5. The Meeting adheres to the agenda and agreed time frames. 6. Members propose solutions or alternative action to problems. 7. Decisions are taken and fulfilled. 8. Members are willing to extend their fullest cooperation. 9. The Chairperson keeps the Meeting focused. 10. There is a friendly atmosphere and everyone listens attentively. 11. Disagreements and mistakes are discussed openly and honestly and members are willing to compromise and keen to support one another.