What does it take to lead in today’s world??

What are the ingredients that go into making a good leader??

Good question.

First of all, you need to understand the responsibilities of being a leader.

A leader is someone that influences a group of people toward the achievement of a goal.

You have to be able to inspire, motivate cajole, push, prod and take people out of a “comfort zone” and into thinking and working out solutions in an effort to move forward.

A leader needs to understand that Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which

means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions.  It's

inevitable.

Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, and you'll avoid confronting the

people who need to be confronted.

And if you procrastinate on the difficult choices, and try not to get anyone mad, and treat everyone equally…. regardless

of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind

up angering…. are the most creative and productive people in the organization!!

There is a slogan that says: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" that is a slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the

scared. 

It's an excuse for inaction.  It's a mind-set that assumes (or hopes) that today's realities will continue tomorrow in a tidy

and predictable fashion. 

Great leaders understand that either we are doing well or we are NOT doing well, there is no middle ground.

Because either you are growing, or you are dieing….there is no such thing as simply existing.

Great leaders understand that Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

The ripple effect of a leader's enthusiasm and optimism….. is awesome. 

So is the impact of cynicism and pessimism.

Leaders who whine and blame,………… lead others to whine and blame.

Now, I am not talking about stoically

accepting organizational stupidity and performance incompetence with a……. "what, me worry?" kind of smile. 

I am talking about an attitude that says

We can change things here,

We can achieve awesome goals,

We can be the best."

Spare me the grim litany of the "realist," ……..give me the unrealistic aspirations

of the optimist any day.

Great leaders are responsible for setting the course.

A great leader needs to set the goal and then take the people on that journey.

The leader needs to give everyone the vision of what this goal looks like and what is expected and then provide the tools, the training, the accountability and the motivation to get it done.

To see a video of this blog, please go to the following link:

Jim Kristoff.com - A Leaders Responsibilities

About the Author: With 30 years in the retail Automotive Industry, from a Salesperson to a Dealer, I have a vast amount of experience in all areas of an automotive environment. You can follow me on my website, www.JimKristoff.com, on twitter @jimkristoff, on LinkedIn  http://www.linkedin.com/in/jimkristoff or on youtube, www.youtube.com/user/jimkristoff