Are You A Good Leader?

Some one recently asked me what makes a good leader? After a 3 hour chat at StarBucks on a Sunday Morning with a complete stranger (even my latte became cold) pondering and arguing about and over what makes a person a good leader I have this to write............
Leadership is a word Girl Scouts use a lot. We help girls develop into leaders. We recruit volunteer leaders. We plan and carry out operations under the direction of board and staff leaders. But what exactly does this mean? What is leadership?
A leader is someone who helps others do and become more than they ever thought possible. Leadership is about unlocking potential, whether individual potential or that of a group, company, or organization. It is not about telling people what to do, but inspiring them to see what they are capable of, then, helping them get there.
Why? Because good leadership gets things done. But the quality of leadership determines the difference between a team passionate about what they're doing versus one that is following orders.
Where You're Going
Effective leaders know what's important to them, what their strengths and weaknesses are, what drives them, and where to draw the line. Put it together and it boils down to a leader who has self-confidence and clear values.
Leadership Quality 1: Good leaders know themselves.
Knowing oneself is necessary when faced with challenges or ethical choices, communicating with those who have different ideas, making decisions, and identifying sources of satisfaction.
We need to be clear about our own values, priorities, and preferences and not let someone else, or society, define them for us. By clearly identifying those values, priorities, and preferences we can articulate what we want, develop benchmarks, and make better choices.
A good leader will provide growth through training, mentoring, and coaching.
It's by providing learning opportunities, both formal and informal, that help people develop stronger self-awareness.
Willing to Commit
In addition to being self-aware, an effective leader is not afraid to take on responsibilities. Sometimes it requires putting the organization or group first—and keeping it there. I believe a lot of people understand what it means to be a leader, but the difference comes down to commitment. True leadership requires you to make sacrifices, including putting others before yourself.
Leadership Quality 2: Good leaders are committed.
Sometimes our use of the word 'leadership' can put people off. A potential volunteer may think 'I can't do that; I've no experience or qualifications. When really what we're looking for is a mentor, a person who prompts others to be their best, someone who cares and listens, someone confident in his or her beliefs and is willing to be there.
What I am describing is a committed leader. For some of you, that means being committed to "inspiring yourself with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service so that you may become happy and resourceful citizen"
Spectacularly Unsuccessful
In the article, "Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Executives," which appeared in Fast Company magazine in July 2003, Sydney Finkelstein chronicles the characteristics of leaders who fail—not just ineffective leaders but those who have reversed the fortunes of thriving corporations. Which bad leaders placed high on this notorious list? According to Mr. Finkelstein, it's those individuals who think they have all the answers.
Leadership Quality 3: Good leaders know they don't know everything.
Believing that an effective leader is one who knows it all is one of the most dangerous misconceptions about leadership. Human frailty comes into play whether sitting in a cubicle or a corner office. So while the ultimate decision and responsibility may lie with one individual, it is incumbent upon her or him to gather information and trust others' points of view before developing a plan of action.
The most challenging element of leadership is to bring individuals together to move forward, but that's also the most rewarding. It's so wonderful when it does happen. To get there requires maturity to recognize that your way is never the only way.
A Place to Try
We must create a safe environment for our people to give leadership a try, to test and stretch themselves. Setting goals, planning trips and events, earning patches and awards, and organizing service projects, there's no limit to the experiences you can have.The critical component is- you are doing it yourself, even if it means something does not get done or is done differently. For some adults, the latter is very difficult—especially those with tendencies towards perfectionism. But letting go is how mutual trust is built.
Leadership Quality 4: Good leaders are open to change.
Change is one of life's most obvious factors, yet remains one of the most strongly resisted. As Peter Senge, an expert on managing organizations, says, "Everything is in motion, continually changing, forever adapting." Effective leaders recognize the value of change.
Yet all too often, it's much more comfortable to ignore the inevitability of change and to keep things the way they've always been. Unless a leader's goal is to bankrupt a business or ensure no new members join an organization, that approach cannot work. Changes need to be anticipated and responded to if growth is going to continue. And that applies to minor changes, as well as major ones.
With Small Acts Come Big Things
There may be a time when one is called upon to take on challenges greater than one can ever imagine.
Leadership Quality 5: Good leaders go the extra mile.
Some leaders have a lifetime of small acts of leadership as extraordinary encouragers, strong organizers, good persuaders, or charismatic speakers. When it comes down to it, how we lead is a reflection of the characteristics and values that define who we are. As a famous philosopher (I can't recall his name) once said, "Life revolves itself principally into what we do and what we are, the former largely controlled by the latter."