CHANGE IS GOOD.....KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

The Leadership Knowledge You Will Need to Succeed in the Years Ahead.............

By Leonard Buchholz

On the cusp of a new presidency it's wise to recognize that Leadership is a privilege earned and one that any Leader must seek for themselves. And in order to be a Leader, one must have knowledge.

Abe Lincoln wrote "There is but one wealth, one security on this earth and that is found in the ability of a person to perform a task well. And first and foremost this ability must start with knowledge."

These words ring true even today, over a 100 years later.

So, what knowledge will be important to today's Leaders tomorrow? And the next year?
The knowledge to communicate and communicate assertively. This knowledge is not dependent on a persons desire to subjugate others, rather it is based on the desire to get things done in an orderly and efficient manner. When we communicate effectively it breeds confidence in the Leader and in the team. Without it, teams function poorly, if at all.

The knowledge of self discipline. This knowledge is one persons individual recognition that in order to get where they want to go they might have to give up immediate pleasure and pride in order to realize substantial professional and personal gains. And, they give up this immediacy willingly.

The knowledge of emotional behaviors. Humans are emotional and this emotion drives nearly every behavior. Leaders who are not studying these natural forces of man are missing the area of greatest influence they have over man and woman alike. The man or woman who recognizes the power of emotional behaviors and makes it a cornerstone of their Leadership will by far be the strongest Leader in any organization.

The knowledge of Management. Just like the words "Leader" and "Manager" are different, so too is the skill set for each. The best description is one attributed to both Peter Drucker and Warren Bennis. "Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things." Not having knowledge of how Management works is just plain dangerous to your career and others.
The knowledge of strategic planning. The ability to plan is highly prized. It is a mixture of information gathering, reasoning and forecasting. It is factually based. It is not "fortune telling" although every great Leader has had some ability in this area. Strategic planning is making sure the future happens.

The knowledge of organization. Leaders and Managers are constantly organizing people, products, resources, budgets, facilities and support. The Leader who masters this organization process will consistently outperform other Leaders because he or she will have anything they need in order to Lead at their fingertips.

The knowledge of self education. Although not a real skill set, Leaders who are not practicing self education will soon find themselves behind, outpaced and eventually replaced. The Leader who is continually upgrading themselves is the Leader in front. This one area is often one neglected. The biggest reason...time.

Let me ask you a qualifying question. Are you working with Windows 95 on your computer? Of course not, so why would it be ok to be a Leader without upgrading your knowledge?
Be like Abe Lincoln and get the knowledge you need.

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Contact Leonard at leonard@bizprotraining.com or call 760-529-5635
Leading Seminars in Leadership, Management and Customer Service since 2006
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