Leadership Pearls: “I AM A LEADER”

By Lawrence Y. Ho, MD

When asked who the leaders are in our everyday lives, we are able to easily identify them. However, when asked to define what a leader is, many of us have difficulty with coming up with an actual definition. A quick reference to the Merriam-Webster dictionary says a leader is something or a person that leads which really does not add any clarification. Nevertheless, we do know that leaders possess certain qualities or traits that make them who they are, and we can all try to become better leaders by working at it. Below are several leadership pearls I have come up with using the acronym “I AM A LEADER” to become a more effective leader.

Inspire
When in a leadership position, you should not only have a vision for what you want to do but you need to inspire others to buy into the same vision. Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

Accept responsibility
A team leader should not only accept accolades when things are done correctly but also accept responsibility when things go wrong rather than blame another team member. Along the same lines, remember to give credit where credit is due and do not take credit for another person’s ideas.

Multi-task
Make sure you master the art of organization so you are able to do many things at once. This will make you more efficient and you will be able to accomplish that much more. One should be able to concentrate on the task at hand one minute and then be able to seamlessly switch to another task the next.

Achieve excellence
Set high expectations for yourself and those around you will follow. If others see you take short cuts or are careless, then they will also be more inclined to act the same way.

Listen
It is important to listen to the ideas of those around you because sometimes you may become so focused on your objectives that you may fail to recognize a better way of accomplishing your goals. A leader who does not listen will soon have followers who do not listen, which is a no-win situation.

Ethical
A good leader does things right and a great leader does the right things. A person of integrity will earn the trust of those around you and this is essential for people to do the things you want them to.

Attitude
Great leaders possess a positive energy and an attitude that exudes confidence but not arrogance. In doing so, your energy and confidence will transfer to the rest of your team.

Delegate
Humbly accept the fact that you cannot do everything yourself and ask for help. A great leader masters the art of becoming familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of those around them and is able to delegate tasks accordingly based on these observations.

Exchange information
Great leaders are great communicators. It is of the utmost importance that one be able to effectively articulate one’s thoughts and beliefs. Maintain an open line of communication with those around you and if you have a problem with someone, do not go behind someone else’s back and talk about them. You should tell them personally before things get out of control. Along the same lines, one should respond to emails and other correspondence in a timely manner.

Respect
Remember, respect is something no one really deserves but rather it is something you should be worthy of. You need to learn to respect those around you and also master the art of earning the respect of your team members. It is difficult to accomplish anything in life if people do not respect you and what you stand for.