Leaders With "P.O.W.E.R."

( C ontinued from pa ge 5 8 ) the habits, characteristics. and attitudes shared by all good leaders.

For example, good leaders:

. Build trust by doing what they say they will do

. Build loyalty by being of service to those they lead and follow

. Solicit the input of people who have the skills and knowledge they may lack

. Stand by their decisions

Have a sense ofurgency

. Use authority only as a backup and use it sparingly

Most importantly, good leaders know what leadership is: l)tt',.'liiltittg itt'u1tlL,. A leader is a catalyst for releasing human potential through encouraging others, setting an example, and celebrating individual and team accomplishments. As a result, those they lead show more initiative, take greater responsibility, and become more productive. ll i tt i r itti t t,g tt tt i l r, r t t ry i ^.i t t,g t't I t ( t. \. A leader has good interpersonal skills, the ability to adapt to different people and situations, and to recognize and address political and interpersonal sensitivities. He or she is a team player, acts on suggestions when possible, and makes work enjoyable for the people in their organization.

( ti.ttit,t\ trtttl ly,,!tl itt.q yil,ii;n, People need to understand the "why," as well as the "what," "when," "where," and "how." A leader communicates the "why" in a way that engages the passions of others and compels them to take up the charge.

'l'ukirtg respotr sibililr.. A leader treats people with respect and does not shift blame to others, show favoritism or prejudices, or carry a grudge.

I'lottttiru! Ior tht .fulru't. Taking the time to establish a course of action while looking for potential problems, then handling them proactively, with good judgment. and as opportunities rather than irritations, is the hallmark of an effective leader.

I'. s I rt b I i s h t r g stru ( I u re. Organizational structure makes it possible for individuals to work together. A leader has the ability to create an organizational structure that allows people to work in teams as eff'ectively as they may work alone.

\lttt t'utq l;rtov!t,dgt i'l;:l i t lt, , i t'ut'( A leader never hesitates to share what they know fbr fear that others might use that knowledge to threaten his or her leadership position. In fact, a good leader ensures that others can take the lead whenever necessary.

Itrtllttx ittg dirt'. ltritr. l\ h cll (.\ sL,ltitr,g dirL,ttiotr. Knowing how to take direction and relay the information in a manner that gains group consensus and encourages creative thinking is a leader's trump card.

,Ilukittg tltt hoss look gttrtti. lt's not "brown nosing" when a leader consistently does a good job and finds ways to make his or her boss's life easier. It's good business sense, profitable for the organization, and creates more potential for advancement up and down the line.

When you work for a true leader, you can feel the difference. You feel happy and productive. As leadership is individual and personal, people may not be able to easily define what good leadership is. However, they

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