Leadership unlocked

 

Leadership is about taking action and being ready to inspire. Often, we think leadership is reserved for the best, but you don’t have to be the best to start leading. I believe we are all capable of leadership, and it begins with the decision to lead.

In the book Hot Seat by Jeff Immelt, he candidly shares that he does not see himself as an unmitigated success. We tend to view CEOs as successful, yet only they can truly define their success. None of us will be successful all the time, and it is important to accept that it’s okay not to win or get everything right.

Brené Brown writes in Daring Greatly that when we wake up, we often have a scarcity mindset—for example, thinking, “I didn’t get enough sleep.” This mindset of lacking can undermine our feeling of being enough to lead. We need to shift from scarcity to abundance and envision a bigger, inspiring vision for our lives. The greatest leaders possessed a magnificent obsession—a mission or cause that propelled them to make change happen. Creating this vision energizes us to exceed what we believe we are capable of.

Leadership is an inexhaustible subject, which is why new books continually emerge. My favorite definition is from Stephen Covey: “Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves.” It is every leader’s responsibility to affirm the worth and potential of everyone in their organization. This affirmation empowers individuals to perform at their best, driving organizational success.

Not every leader embodies all these qualities, but awareness of them can help all leaders grow.

Vision

All leadership studies agree: setting a clear vision is essential. As the saying goes, without vision, people perish. A compelling vision paints an exciting picture of the future. John F. Kennedy’s 1961 declaration to land a man on the moon before the decade’s end is a quintessential example—simple, precise, measurable, and audacious. A vision must extend beyond comfort zones to excite and motivate. Just as glasses correct nearsightedness, a clear vision corrects our life’s course. Personal visions don’t have to be grand; aspiring to be the best parent is equally valid. As Abdul Kalam said, “Dream is not that which you get while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep.” Project yourself ten years ahead and shape your actions today around that vision.

Integrity

Integrity means doing what is right even when no one is watching. It entails standing by the truth, even when difficult. As Gandhi said, “One man cannot do right in one department of life whilst he is occupied in doing wrong in any other.” He also said, “What I say and what I do are in total harmony.” Integrity brings peace of mind and resilience. Though none of us are perfect, striving for high integrity aligns us closely with our values.

Passion

Passion makes the days fly by. A passionate leader inspires passion in others. Novak Djokovic exemplifies this—though among the greatest tennis players ever, he approaches each tournament with fresh enthusiasm. Leadership isn’t just about loving what you do; competence matters too. Marrying love with competence fuels passion. Leaders should understand their strengths, select careers that leverage them, and recognize the positive impact on themselves and their teams.

Discipline

Discipline is doing what you should when you should, regardless of how you feel. Jim Rohn said, “We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” Success demands sustained effort—Bill Gates, Mozart, and Tiger Woods each spent over 10,000 hours practicing deliberately. Discipline ensures momentum toward long-term goals. Knowing the “why” behind goals—such as living healthfully to contribute to family and society—makes discipline easier to sustain.

Setting Clear Goals

Leadership and success books emphasize the necessity of goals. Writing down goals clarifies your path and fosters enthusiasm. Reflection after achievement is important, but setting new, challenging goals keeps growth ongoing. Goals in finance, personal health, and career elevate life to new levels. For example, “I will earn my promotion and a specified income by July 25, 2026” provides focus and motivation.

Lead by Example

Wilfred Peterson captured leadership well: “The leader does not say, ‘Get going!’ Instead, he says, ‘Let’s go!’ and leads the way.” Leadership begins with self-leadership. A story of Gandhi highlights this: a woman asked him to advise her son to stop eating sugar, and he replied to return in three days, explaining he himself had stopped sugar three days earlier. Excellence requires lifelong commitment.

Continuous Learning

Perhaps the best-kept secret in leadership is constant learning. With rapid technological and market changes, leaders must stay ahead by seeking knowledge through books, podcasts, certifications, and experts in their fields. Abraham Lincoln said, “All I have learned, I learned from books.” Henry Ford warned, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.” Learning keeps leaders young and vibrant.

Courage

Winston Churchill said, “Courage is rightly considered the foremost of virtues, for upon it all others depend.” Leaders must face fears and adversity boldly. Jack Welch’s bold GE policy to compete only as number 1 or 2 showed courage. Developing courage comes from taking regular, calculated risks to diminish fear.

Love Life

Inspiration starts with a love of life. Loving life fuels passion and better self-management. Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Don’t squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” Loving life naturally leads to wise time use and inspires others, creating a ripple effect of happy, engaged followers—and future leaders.

Patience

Patience is the icing on the leadership cake. Impatience is common, but real success takes time. Just as an architect builds a cathedral brick by brick, leaders build their legacy patiently. Nelson Mandela exemplified patience and optimism, saying from prison, “I always knew that one day I would feel once again the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man.”

These ten qualities can guide personal growth and leadership effectiveness. The journey of leadership is lifelong and starts with the decision to take action. Thank you for reading.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.