There has been more written about the various aspects of leadership and what it means to an effective leader than nearly any other topic.
However, effective leadership involves so many nuances that there is always more that can be learned about what it means to be a great leader!
Therefore, it makes sense to understand that smart and meaningful leadership often requires one's willingness to become SMART. What does it mean to be a SMART Leader?
A SMART Leader has real strength; combines moderation and motivation; realizes how attitude and aptitude produces impactful leadership; use and rely on both reason and personal responsibility; and make trust and trustworthiness their first priority.
Leadership STRENGTH combines having inner strength and fortitude, as well as motivating others and gaining their respect by leading in a strong and meaningful manner! Weak leaders often confuse this concept and take it to mean being inflexible or heavy handed.
Great leaders combine MODERATION and MOTIVATION. Leadership moderation means being open and willing to listen with an open mind to alternatives and alternative approaches. When a leader behaves in this manner, their behavior invariably motivates others to become more involved, caring more, and being more committed.
Great leaders maintain a positive and proactive ATTITUDE, but must also commit to capitalizing on their APTITUDE by gaining broad experience, expertise, and knowledge through a commitment to training and learning. True leaders need talent and a positive mindset!
A great leader must have the ability to REASON, while assuming personal and professional RESPONSIBILITY for their actions. A leader’s capacity to maximize potential to achieve objectives often depends on the combination of both of these behaviors.
Great leaders are committed to absolute TRUSTWORTHINESS. Unless a leader maintains absolute integrity, the organization's stakeholders at every level will rarely be interested in following their lead or becoming involved.
Do you want to be a SMART leader, as well as proceeding in a smart manner? Then commit to these five basic steps and concepts, and focus on how you can, rather than why you can't!
