How to Be the Best Leader

The best leaders are a special breed because they know themselves, their role, their direction, and their purpose. Review the various ways to build your strengths and raise your profile.

Instructions

Step 1: Show courage Pursue a constructive course of action in spite of criticism. Demonstrate moral courage in your business. The buck stops at your desk, so you have to be strong.
Step 2: Exercise judgment Exercise good judgment through your willingness to think deeply about life's reversals and peoples' needs, and to incorporate this sensitivity when formulating plans.
TIP: Intelligence isn't nearly as critical as humility for making wise decisions.
Step 3: Prioritize Prioritize issues and plot a course. Carefully allocate your time so that your mind is clear and your energies are focused.
Step 4: Keep humor Maintain a sense of humor, a key element for the best leaders. Everyone needs to be cool under pressure -- the troops will trust your example and follow suit.
Step 5: Create the vision Create and communicate a vision for your team. Paint a picture with words so that your vision becomes clear to everyone. Your job is to see over the mountain and beyond tomorrow.
Step 6: Build a team Build a management team that exhibits a desire to succeed, which is a fire you must light through your inspiring focus.
TIP: The best leaders choose the right people to make them look good. Be strong enough to take criticism and suggestions.
Step 7: Move and adjust Decide and move on objectives without rigidity, flexing when the market or unforeseen circumstances demand an adjustment. Be thoughtful, not obsessive or egotistic.
TIP: Utilize a 360-degree system to get feedback from peers and employees.
Step 8: Spread the load Delegate authority to others -- to involve the team and to spread the load.
Step 9: Count on character Accept your limitations. Be a judicious leader. Be aware of your power -- and the best leader because you don't abuse it.
FACT: Argentina became the first nation to have a female president in 1974, when Isabel Peron took control.