What does it take to REALLY Lead? D – IS FOR DEVOTED
D – IS FOR DEVOTED
Welcome to the final part of my mini-series – What does it take to really lead?
So far we have looked at:
L is for Learning
E is for Example
A is for Availability
Last but not least:
D is for Devoted
Have you ever wanted to give up?
Have you ever thought to yourself ‘I wish I could be someone else?’
Leadership requires devotion! It is not for the faint-hearted. It is for those who are prepared to stay for the long haul. There are often times when life would be easier just to follow the crowd rather than digging in and leading with excellence.
Being devoted to leadership demonstrates love and respect for those whom you are leading. Leadership is vital and followers need to have confidence that their leader will not back off at the first sign of frustration, hurt or misunderstanding.
I wholehearted agree with Jack Welch who said, “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
Devotion and passion should be clearly displayed in leadership. Followers should be able to easily recognize in you a relentless drive to fulfill your calling of leading well.
In The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, author John Maxwell highlights the importance of consistency. I like John’s quote – ‘Motivation gets you going – discipline keeps you going.’ This is so important when it comes to leading. We must be those who are consistent – devoted to our calling. When others see our devotion, it will display authenticity. We are not just here for the ‘show.’ We live a life of devotion to our call to leadership. We will be found devoted/consistent well after the lights go down….
Having a good inner circle surrounding you will help keep you accountable, devoted to your calling. Just because you are called to lead does not mean you should go it alone. Look to actively have mentors/inner circle around you. Be determined to be devoted, not just showing up to do a job.
As Jim Tressel says, ‘The hallmark of excellence, the test of greatness, is consistency.’ Wow, what a challenge to us all!
Are you considering giving up? I have noticed over the years that some leaders have already ‘given up’ but just have not made it official! Autopilot seems to have kicked in with any real sense of moving forward and leading well disappearing.
However, it does not have to finish there. Having a belief and understanding of your important call to leadership will help galvanize and bring security to your leadership role. It will charge you with reassurance and peace about the role to which you have been called regardless of difficulties and challenges that may lie ahead.
I have often observed that if you are devoted to your calling, it will help to energize those who follow you. As I mentioned at the start, leadership is not for the faint-hearted. It requires commitment and devotion.
Is your leadership displaying devotion to those that you lead?
As I conclude this mini-series on ‘What does it take to REALLY lead? I encourage you to lead with excellence. Don’t wait for a platform, lead by being teachable, by being an example, being available and finally by being devoted to this very important calling.
About the Author
Tony Lynch is a featured writer for the John Maxwell Team Blog.
Tony also excels at delivering vision and strategy to his clients for success.
With an abundance of experience he is building a community of those who desire winning mindsets to think big, to overcome self limiting beliefs, but especially to become all that God created them to be.
Tony can be contacted at http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/tonylynch/