Thursday, July 23, 2009

Leaders and Dictators

Contrary to what some leadership teachers preach, you can control people through force, deception, coercion, fear, bribery and violence. There are three major problems with trying to control people, particularly using these methods:


  1. People don't like to be controlled and will rebel.

  2. It's expensive.

  3. It's wrong.

Fear and force are the commodities of the dictator. A dictator can be very efficient; he doesn't have to take the time to attract people to his cause. The dictator simply decides what he wants to do and does it with no regard for the impact of his actions on others. In the short term, you can affect some control as a dictator but it's an incredible drain on resources to maintain this control. The dictator is always worried about his enemies, and even his friends are potential enemies.

Effective leadership is based on your ability to attract a willing group of followers. The key word in that statement is "willing." When people are attracted to an authentic leader the power of this relationship is exponential. Bill Belichick took a group of second-stringers, an unknown back-up quarterback and a bunch of cast-offs and turned them into the team that transformed the New England Patriots from a perennial loser to an NFL dynasty. John F. Kennedy set a goal that pushed the envelope of impossibility and we landed the first man on the moon. Abraham Lincoln understood the destiny of a relatively new country and forever united the States. Mahatma Gandhi asked a nation to find its identity and freed India from the greatest imperial power on earth. General George S. Patton took an army out of a winter battle, marched it over 100 miles without sleep and defeated an entrenched German enemy. Martin Luther King stood against violence and injustice with fortitude forever changing our society.


What do these incredible leaders have in common? They all had the ability to develop willing followers. Willing followers will defy the odds, display incredible courage and make unbearable sacrifices to rally behind their leader. They'll put personal ambition aside; at the same time they'll find undiscovered levels of personal excellence and performance.

Study these leaders and you'll find some very clear characteristics. You'll find skills and techniques you can emulate. Sure, many great leaders seem to be born with a larger than life sense of self-confidence and charisma, but I chose these examples because in studying the lives of these men, all heroes of mine, and you'll find people who also faced terrible moments of self-doubt, adversity, unpopularity and personal defeat.

Each of these men also understood and exemplified some of the most powerful values and components of effective leadership.

  1. Personal responsibility. Share the credit, keep the blame. All of the leaders I chose in this example were famous for crediting followers for success and assuming responsibility when things turned for the worse. They shielded loyal followers from blame for mistakes and recognized them for their contributions.

  2. Unwavering commitment to the cause. Would you follow someone who doesn't know where he's going? Of course you've got to choose your leaders wisely; some can lead you off the cliff!

  3. Flexibility in action. Firmness in commitment does not exclude flexibility. A great leader is able to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining focus on the ultimate goal.
  4. Personal discipline. Dedication to self-perfection. This is the old adage that a great leader walks the walk.

  5. Courage. Not the absence of fear, but the ability to act in the face of fear.

  6. Generosity. Particularly in sharing power. Power is only expanded by sharing.

There are many other traits of effective leadership and it's certainly a bonus if you're born with genetic self-confidence, charisma or attractiveness. I selected these traits because anyone can develop and cultivate these through practice and discipline. You may be lucky enough to be a born leader, the rest of us have to learn the trade and effective leaders are always trying to improve.

You can become an effective leader. You can become a more effective leader. Study leadership and study great leaders, but don't stop there. Identify your own personal weaknesses and strengths. Cultivate your strengths and mitigate or correct your weaknesses. Commit yourself to improvement in perfection, confidence and leadership and you can become an effective leader at home, at work and in the community.

The power of a society doesn't depend on the leadership of a few exceptional individuals. Our power is multiplied when each of us embraces leadership at all levels. Encourage leadership at all levels and your organization becomes more powerful, effective and productive.

We need more leaders. Be a leader!




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Jim Bouchard teaches you how to Think Like a Black Belt! Jim is a speaker, coach and author of Dynamic Components of Personal POWER. His second book, Think Like a Black Belt scheduled for release in January, 2010. Find out more at JimBouchard.org.