The Art of Authentic Leadership

3 Mar, 2014

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“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” –  Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

David was willing to do what it takes, but he just did not believe he could do it alone. He found that shepherd in God.

You’re team members are definitely not sheep but the image of the shepherd is particularly meaningful here, as the shepherd’s job is to ensure the welfare of the sheep. He is the trusted guide and protector.

This is what it takes for a growing any team to retain the magic that brings people together to create success. A lot of hands-on shepherding and stopping the disgruntled from eating into relationships!

When you start a business and join a team, things are fun and exciting. Everyone is willing to do what it takes to make the business successful. The climate of the business is characterized by camaraderie, trust and mutual respect.

A few months down the line, things change and the team members lose confidence that they can make their business a success and this is when true leadership comes in.

Why Does This Happen?

You may sponsor someone into your network marketing team. Or you may recruit a new employee into your business. You will do all you can to train and help the person grow in the business. However, the ultimate responsibility for their success remains with them. You can’t be watching their every move if you want them to grow.

Letting success depend on someone else has never led anyone to success.

Cacti are sturdy plants that grow in the harshest of climates. Just like these beautiful plants that survive in any environment, you must teach your downline to be strong and independent. Let them also learn from their experience and become a great upline for their own team members.

Smart Leadership

“Even though I walk through the valley

Of dark and deadly shadows,

I will fear no evil; for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Be there for your team at all times; but let them find their way around.

It’s a known fact that to make a success of your business and ensure everybody makes money and creates personal success, you have to work together as a team. Your main role as a leader is to constantly work on changing the belief systems of your team members.

Take them through the different stages:

1) Hoping to succeed

2) Knowing they can succeed

3) Realizing their dreams

A few months ago one of my team members contacted me saying she wanted to quit. Having always appreciated her dedication and hard work, I was surprised at this sudden development. When asked why, she explained at length her dreams and how she was confident when her downline was restricted to a few members. She worked hard on expanding the downline and all of a sudden she started feeling overwhelmed with the kind of attention and help they seek from her.

I soon realized where she was going wrong. She is a very creative person, but also a “mother hen”. She spent so much time solving every problem for her downline that they started depending on her entirely. One day, one of her downline members was disappointed that she could not help, and the mother in her couldn’t take it.

This is nothing but wrong leadership. Without doubt, she has excellent marketing skills, but it’s important to learn the basics of being a good leader.

I told her that she should have worked on raising the self-esteem and skill levels of her downline right from the beginning. She has started late, but I’m proud she’s well on her way to achieving all the good things in life.

Develop Yourself First

“You can’t soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys.”

One of the main aspects of leadership is to set an example for others to follow. Train yourself so well that you develop your talent and character. Work on having team members that share your vision and think like you. It takes a little bit of training to make them see your way.

Develop your own passion for excellence.

Read motivational material that can keep you in a positive frame of mind.

Surround yourself with positive people as they generate positive energy.

Learn the art of dealing with people and being a good leader.

Once these habits become second nature for you, you’ll see that you’re able to lead your downline the same way.

The law of attraction is the belief that “like attracts like.”

By being positive, it’s possible to have a whole bunch of highly positive team members, and this will propel you and your team to success.

Don’t be nervous about leading people. It’s such a nice feeling to be able to help them achieve their goals. Gives a lot of satisfaction watching others grow and succeed.

Power To Them

“I am the master of my fate

I am the captain of my soul”

-Invictus

Human beings are genetically wired to exercise autonomy over their work – to decide what to do and how to do it. This is what engages them to their work.

When someone else is doing all the thinking and decision making, there is very little autonomy left for the team members to exercise, and hence, very little reason for them to be totally involved in their work.

You surely don’t want that, do you?

You may think that you should be distancing yourself from your team members and let them handle their business.

But no, stay with them! Just learn the right time to step back and watch them handle their business. Achieve this, and you’ll soon have a wonderful team who take your business a few notches higher.

Play The Leadership Game Of Success

The royal road we all want to tread, success gives us all he desires; the opportunity to exercise his will to the full; the sense of power; the feeling that he is capable of mastering life.

Success is not the making of the genius, because you cannot create geniuses, but you have the power to improve the assets people possess. You can expand the precious qualities that make a person successful.

Do that with your team, and you will show great leadership and win the game of success.