Being a "Leader" is a term that encompasses a multifaceted and important job description which must include certain attributes: Passion, honesty, integrity, open mindedness, and humility to name a few. There are also many kinds of leaders; corporate, political, social, scientific and educational are some that come to mind at the moment. Taking this all into account, a "development plan" for my own leadership style will have to include all the above as well as clear values, vision, strategy, action plan and assessment of my growth as a leader. Lets start out with what isn't productive as a leader; lacking in communication skills and worldly knowledge would be at the top of my list:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjfxEejS2Y
My "vision" for leadership will take us first on a journey of leaders who have forged unique paths which have helped me form a "blueprint" for my own exploration.
Nelson Mandela I am sure would add "forgiveness" to my list of leadership traits.He is a "dignified and trans formative"leader. Two more to add. He also never compromised his principals even under the most repressive situations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR17tmTvNS4
Turn your speakers up....
What about our environment? Who has stood strong against much of the "corporate speak" and conjecture to "walk the talk"? How about this: Take 1% of your companies proceeds for our wild lands? Lets give an "earth tax", the best tax you could give. Yvon, you rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcXvnDpm2bU
Then there are some of our younger corporate leaders like Melinda Gates who, along with her husband Bill started the Gates Foundations. They have put big money to good use and paved the way for philanthropy to be a venue for pro activity. Interestingly, recently they have come under scrutiny regarding some of their companies other investments that are harming the very people they are trying to help. It’s a dilemma leader’s of larger foundations and corporations such as theirs could face. They recently teamed up with Warren Buffet who joined their foundation and interestingly decided to give most of his personal inheritance to their projects. Maybe he can help "mentor' them as they too learn how to "hone" their leadership roles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWZF7pfl4iU
And then there’s Peter Ward, one of the most prominent leaders in the Scientific world who spends much of his time trying to explain our Earths history and its relationship to the current dilemma of global warming through countless speaches. He is not only a truly epic leader, he is a good and decent human being (another attribute for the list):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lYN_lXU9PA
Musicians working as "social" leaders like Osomatli have been going over seas periodically working with the State Department. They are spreading their "musical message" trying to “reach out” to the younger generation in other Nations particularly in the Arab and Muslim world. Osomatli have had some negative reactions to their partnership with the SD but they stand strong with their anti-war advocacy and mandate of acceptance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYoOnvYVHH8
The Dali Lama is a spiritual leader but also has become a world political "mentor" battling his own peoples injustices as well as those through out the world. He is one of the most fascinating and complex as well as humble of leaders:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZmlqRQOO0
All of these leaders continue to remind me what leadership is really all about. If I were to have a "board of directors" for my own education, these would be the current participants. From political to the spiritual, they have experienced what it takes to truly lead exceptionally.
As leaders we are all continually working on "upgrading" ourselves; our visions, attitude, abilities, passion, patience and acceptance. We are never done. Maybe this in itself is what truly makes a great leader," the humbleness to always know we can be better". This is my personal leadership "vision".
Listening is possibly the most prominent skill I personally must focus on. How we listen; do we really absorb the information or are we constantly trying to interpret what people say because we want to process it all faster? It seems simple but its not. If you stop and really watch how people listen you will find very few of us have achieved this true art. Lack of or badly performed communication not only can cause huge rifts in relationships and society, it can also be an enormous waste of time and energy. This and constantly working on accepting the differences we all share; battling input, specifically from the media who seems to be bent on a divisive attitude is never ending.These are my two challenges as a leader.
My "strategy" for future leadership improvement includes following not only my "board of directors" cues but adding to this posse to further my growth and awareness. Seeing the challenges they all face and trying to learn from them, integrating their lessons into my own repertoire is pertinent. This involves much needed "reflective" time, which seems to be in short supply these days. I believe we have to insist on this, giving ourselves space to contemplate. Siestas would be a good addition to our societies work ethic don't you think? Let music enrapture your soul. Play a musical instrument;its okay if you aren't ready to cut your own album! Work hard but play hard too.
The "action Plan" for my strategy involves putting myself continually into job positions where I will learn and be challenged. This will involve more extroverted behavior on my part to seek out and find networking connections specifically geared toward my career and be actively engaged in others participation in this process. I see myself gracefully aging in my leadership and working more and more with younger people who not only energize me but offer a type of hope that there are no words to describe. I would eventually like to devote much of my time to "mentorship". For our young truly are the leaders of tomorrow.
