Inspiring Leadership

During the last 8-9 summer’s I’ve been participating in leadership camps for various high schools in southern California. I thought i’d post a few interesting leadership handouts that I’ve come across over this time period.

Keep in mind, there’s a difference between leadership and management and no one, without the other, can lead to success.

“Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow. Management directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established. Leadership combined with management sets a new direction and manages the resources to achieve it.”

Now to some leadership stuff…

MOTIVATION VERSUS MANIPULATION

MANIPLATION involves intimidating someone to do something that is in your best interest not his or hers.
MOTIVATION is finding common goals and working together to achieve a partnership where everyone involved wants to be part of something special.

Boss or Leader?

A Boss creates fear;
A Leader creates confidence.

Bossism creates resentment;
Leadership breeds enthusiasm.

A Boss says:I;
A Leader says:We.

A Boss fixes blame;
A Leader fixes mistakes.

A Boss knows how;
A Leader shows how.

Bossism makes work drudgery;
Leadership makes work interesting.

A Boss relies on authority;
A Leader relies on co-operation.

A Boss drives;
A Leader leads.
- Anonymous

Positive Communication:

a. Leaders must compensate for a lack of positive communication of his group. A true leader attemps to resolve the problem through calm communication between the people involved, eventually leading to a compormise.

b. People tend to remember the more they become activley involved in what they are doing: 10% rememberance occurs through simple listening to someone speak; 24% rememberance occurs through simple listening and seeing, while 66% occurs through actually doing. When you want people to remember what you tell them, make sure you involve them in it.

c. 7% of communication is ‘what you say’; the words you speak;

d. 38% of communication is ‘how you say it’; the tone of voice you use and the way you phrase your statments.

e. 55% of communication is your ‘body language’; your facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and eye contact.

THE TONE OF VOICE – AUTHOR UNKNOWN

It’s not so much what you say
As the manner in which you say it;
It’s not so much the language you use
As the tone in which you convey it.
“Come here,” I said –
He looked and smiled
And straight to my lap he crept.
Words may be mild and fair
But the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air
But the tone may break my heart;
For words come from the mind
Grow by study and are –
But tone leaps from the inner self,
Revealing the state of the heart.
Whether you know it or not,
Whether you mean or care,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate,
Envy, anger, are there.
Then, would your quarrels avoid
And peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out your words –
Keep it out of your voice.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS of HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE

1. Keep skid chains on your tongue. Always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you say.

2. Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no matter what the cost.

3. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, offer it gently, never harshly.

4. Be interested in others—their pursuits, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice, and weep with those who mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him or her as a person of importance.

5. Don’t burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of burden, often heavier than your own.

6. Keep an open mind. Discuss, but don’t argue. It is the mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

7. Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk of other’s vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time, and can be extremely destructive.

8. Be careful of another’s feelings. Wit and humor at another person’s expense may do more damage than you will ever know.

9. Pay no attention to disparaging remarks. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world, and things become twisted in the retelling. Live so that nobody will believe them.

10. Don’t be too eager to get the credit due you. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let others “remember”. Success is much sweeter that way.

LEADERSHIP/MOTIVATIONAL THOUGHTS

WE ALL NEED MOTIVATION FROM TIME TO TIME. HOPEFULLY THE
FOLLOWING THOUGHTS WILL PROVIDE INSPIRATION AND “FOOD FOR
THOUGHT” FOR YOUR LIFE.

There are no limits to the amount of good you can accomplish if you do
not care who gets
the credit.

Ability is rated by what is finished – not by what is started.

Courage is not the absence of fear – it is the conquest of it.

A mistake is at least evidence that someone tried to do something.

A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job.

Keep your mind open – something good might enter.

When you make your mark on the world – watch out for the guys with the
erasers.

If you blame others for your failures – do you credit them with your
successes?

Trouble may ring your doorbell but it is your fault if you invite
trouble in.

Listen and silent are spelled with the same letters – they are
obviously related.

Alone we can do so little – together we can do so much – Helen Keller

Your achievements are not determined by your ability alone but by the desire you possess to reach them. All of you have to do is keep believing in yourself – take
the best of care – try to put things in perspective and always remember what is most important. It is what is inside that makes you your best!

The best excuse in the world will never get the job done!

Be happy with your accomplishments – but never satisfied.

SUCCESS – The people who are successful in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they cannot find them they
make them.

To lead is to serve – to give – to achieve success. Success is the result of serving – giving – caring and obtaining knowledge.

PATHS

In reality we have two paths we can travel in life – one path is for winners and the other path is for losers. As discussed the majority of the time we can decide which path to travel based upon our attitude, character, discipline and pride. Do not confuse a winner with someone who gains great wealth or a loser with someone who is poor. A winner is someone who succeeds in whatever they make up their mind to achieve. A loser is someone who looks for excuses and is sad and bitter.
You decide – the following will help you understand the difference between “WINNERS” and “LOSERS.”

WINNERS – Go about correcting their mistakes before others point them
out.
LOSERS – Are interested in justifying and not correcting mistakes.

WINNERS – Always produce “excellence” no matter how much effort it
takes.
LOSERS – Uses excuses to boost their sagging self-image.

WINNERS – Know that the team can only win when each person wins.
LOSERS – Have a general attitude of skepticism and suspicion.

WINNERS – Know that more love and less need is the key to success and
happiness.
LOSERS – Eventually lose the opportunity to love themselves or anyone
else.

These are just some of my favorites, if you’d like to see more, let me know. If you have others, feel free to share, i’d love to see them. I’ve been listening to the ‘Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders‘ podcast series from Standford and if leadership is an interest of yours, I highly recommend this podcast.

-Seth