Napolean, Abraham Lincoln, Sun Tzu - - all of these leaders had something in common. They understood what it takes to inspire others, and to lead them.
Over the course of history, great people have developed a certain science to being a great leader. Here are twelve epic traits and pieces of wisdom the world’s leaders understood and used well.
1. Like yourself and others will too.
Charlie Brown is a classic example of what “not to do.” Being a great leader begins with liking yourself, and removing feelings of self-pity from your subconscious.
Most importantly, don’t blame the rain for your inability to lead.
2. Show up.
There will be times that it is hard to get out of bed, and go to work in the morning. The truth is that the mind is like a flowing river that never stops flowing, and too often there is trash flowing through it.
Don’t let negative thoughts stop you from showing up, and trying. You will notice, that the moment you arrive at where you need to be, the universe will show you the way. Use your gut. Show up.
3. Choose your battles wisely.
In the Art of War, Sun Tzu, said: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
If you want to be a leader, get ready for battle. And be sure to pace yourself.
4. Call other people’s bluffs.
Being the leader has its benefits - - increased pay, honor, power, and so forth. For this reason, there are many people competing for a limited number of leadership positions.
Don’t let others intimidate you. At the end of the day, we are all mere mortals. Our time on earth is limited, and we all end up dead when the journey is all through. By reminding yourself that leaders are no better than you and me, you too can join the elite group of influencers.
5. Be happy, goddamnit!
People are attracted to happy people, and happiness is contagious. Imagine, if you will, that you were a broadband internet modem. In your essence, you are always sending out a signal. The question you need to ask yourself is: what is the quality of the signal you’re sending?
When you’re sad, people will sense that heaviness, and you will convey that you are a “heavy person,” or a “heavy spirit.” Nobody wants to follow a sad, or depressed, person. That’s common sense, but still needs to be mentioned.
6. Don’t glorify others.
If you believe other people are better than you, then why not let them lead you?
Remember: most people are just winging it! Once you understand this, you won’t be as intimidated.
As mentioned in secret #4, as a leader, you need to be able to call people’s bluff.
7. Respect others.
This may sound like a contradictory rule to the last one, but it’s not. You can respectfully disagree, and compete, with others while respecting them. Respect, like happiness, is contagious.
The only thing is that it’s very hard to pretend to like someone. Therefore, you need to train your mind to look for the good points in others. When you genuinely respect (and like) others, they will naturally reciprocate.
8. Confidence.
The first step in leading people is understanding that you are the man/woman for the job.
If you haven’t seen Will Ferrel’s “Anchorman” film, well now is a good time to watch it. Ferrel plays a highly-confident lead anchorman. All jokes aside, you can learn a lot from his gestures, behavior, and manner of speaking.
9. Be grateful for things in your own life.
When you are grateful for what you already have, the universe gives you more. This is the law of Karma. In addition, gratitude causes happiness, which attracts followers.
Finally, what good is it being a leader if you’re unhappy. Think about it.
10. Take accountability.
You can have all of the above traits, but if you’re not willing to take accountability, you will not be a leader. There is a new trend of fear, and un-accountability amongst the millennial generation. This trend is manifest in a wave of college students refusing to enter the workforce.
Too many people are staying in college because they are afraid of what will happen to them in the real world. Worse of all, they are afraid of the impact they could have on the world.
11. Follow Sean Parker’s Advice.
Sean Parker was co-founder of both Napster, and Facebook. So, he knows a thing or two about being a leader.
Sean Parker said: “You’re born into the world thinking that you’re entering a world that people understand. Seldom do you wake up to the realization that we’re all just explorers. When you enter a new industry (especially when you’re young), you assume that someone out there has all the answers. Eventually you realize that the answers are being written now, and you are the precedent.”
12. Follow Steve Jobs’ advice.
Steve Jobs was a great leader.
He once said: “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
