Are you in a supervisory role? Are you a leader of others? Do you have influence in your place of work? Even if you aren't the boss, you can make for a better situation at work or within an organization by practicing effective leadership.
It simply takes the right outlook and being good to those who share in the work.
Later this fall I have the opportunity to speak to a doctoral class at the University of Missouri called Ethics in Educational Leadership.
As a part of that presentation, I decided to share four important life lessons and how they make for better leadership.
Each of those lessons, when properly cultivated, not only can help bring about success and happiness, but also are important ingredients to effective leadership. Here they are:
Rely on facts instead of feelings. This is crucial. When making an important decision, the leader in any business or in any school or in any organization will do far better if the decision is based upon reliable information and sound reason. Emotions aren't always based upon reliable information; nor are they necessarily reasonable. There is nothing wrong with emotions fueling our passion, but it can be hard to work with a person who is completely at the whim of his or her emotions. It tends to make things unstable, unpredictable and unreliable. Most people do far better if the work environment has some structure and order.
Don't worry. Certainly those in charge should give a lot of thought to details. Great care must be taken to make plans and to implement them. Organization is essential. But there's no need for worry. Author and minister Max Lucado once wrote, "Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease."
Be positive and approach tasks with good cheer. An uplifting and "can-do" attitude is important, especially when starting a new effort or facing a unique challenge. The leader has the opportunity to set the right tone so that the work can be done. Besides that, it is just simply more desirable to work for a person who is pleasant, smiling, encouraging, and approachable. Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, "The handshake of the host affects the taste of the roast." Author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell wrote, "... the attitude of the leader affects the atmosphere of the office." He further elaborated, "Attitude is one of the most contagious qualities a human being possesses. People with good attitudes tend to make people around them feel more positive. Those with a terrible attitude tend to bring others down."
Have a plan, set goals and work towards them. A leader's vision and his or her ability to communicate that vision is extremely important. Individuals in any organization need to know what is expected and where they are headed. Management consultant, educator and author Peter F. Drucker wrote, "The foundation of effective leadership is thinking through the organization's mission, defining it, and establishing it, clearly and visibly." All of this is important because no long-term effort ever meets success by accident. The late radio personality, motivational speaker, and author Earl Nightingale once said, "People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It's as simple as that."
Organizations or businesses led by ethical and responsible leaders often have a more healthy work environment and tend to be much more productive. Is yours in good shape? If it isn't, whether you are in charge or not, you can make a difference.
Your own positive actions and your own encouraging influence just might be all that is needed to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
David Wilson, EdD, is the associate principal at Jefferson City High School. You may e-mail him at [email protected].