How Many Leadership Secrets Are There? – By Arnie Wohlgemut
Good question!
I looked on Amazon and found there are over 29,000 books listed about leadership, nearly 8,000 listed about the ‘Secrets of Leadership’! There are nearly 85,000 books listed about management alone.
By the time this blog is posted, more will have been added.
No wonder we are confused.
Larry Winget in his book It’s Called Work for a Reason writes: “There are books that talk about the seven secrets, the eleven secrets and the four secrets . . . . How many leadership secrets are there? Here’s an idea to try: Lead. Get out in front of your people and give them something to follow – just lead!”
Now there is the key! Did you see it?
“Get out in front of your people and give them something to follow.”
Sounds easy. But is it?
At a one of my leadership principles workshops recently, I asked the question: “what does a good leader look like?”
In a quick brainstorm, the group came up with:
* a person who is honest;
* someone who follows ethical principles;
* a leader is authentic and consistent;
* my idea of a leader puts others ahead of self;
* leaders are helpful.
See! No secret!
The same things that it takes to be a good leader today are the same things it has taken to be a good leader throughout history.
People want someone to follow. Set the example.