Comments on: Ya-ttitude: On Leadership http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/ The Definition of Success through Positive Attitude Tue, 27 May 2008 14:18:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Josh http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-58 Josh Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:46:37 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-58 Great post! There are too many managers in this world and not enough leaders. The difference between the two is striking. The results obtained when leading vs. managing are astounding. Great post! There are too many managers in this world and not enough leaders. The difference between the two is striking. The results obtained when leading vs. managing are astounding.

]]> By: bennyinny http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-35 bennyinny Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:47:45 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-35 Thanks Kevin - I like <strong>Accountability</strong> as well - though it is one of those over-used "buzz words" in my current world - that might be one of the reason I let it slip from my thoughts. I see many people who toss around the “accountability” word who do not seem to understand the depth of the definition. As for servitude... I think it makes for an interesting addition, though it is part of "<strong>understanding", "pleasing personality" and "doing more than you are paid for/going the extra mile</strong>". I would agree that the best leaders can serve the team, employed and the company they are part of within the definition of their Leadership. Great Food for Thought! Ben Thanks Kevin – I like Accountability as well – though it is one of those over-used “buzz words” in my current world – that might be one of the reason I let it slip from my thoughts. I see many people who toss around the “accountability” word who do not seem to understand the depth of the definition.

As for servitude… I think it makes for an interesting addition, though it is part of “understanding”, “pleasing personality” and “doing more than you are paid for/going the extra mile“.

I would agree that the best leaders can serve the team, employed and the company they are part of within the definition of their Leadership.

Great Food for Thought!

Ben

]]> By: Kevin http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-34 Kevin Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:36:53 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-34 I agree with the 10 above though I would rename one and add another. I would change "responsibility" to "accountability". I like "accountability" better because it denotes the responsibility of your decisions and the decision of others. You covered this in your description but I always found I wanted accountable people on my team versus responsible people. I wanted them to show up on time and do there job, but I really wanted them to take ownership to fix problems they didn't cause. My take... The missing trait I think is the most overlooked leadership quality. Servitude. In our culture we believe there are those that lead and those that serve, and be sure not to mix up the two. But service or servitude is one of the greatest traits of a leader. It is the trait that creates loyalty and the dynamic of I-will-do-anything-for-you team members. It creates the joint respect and love required for any great team. It is overlooked and not trained in most leadership training, and it is a shame. It is one of the simplest things to do and the hardest to find. Really enjoying the blog Ben. Thanks! I agree with the 10 above though I would rename one and add another. I would change “responsibility” to “accountability”. I like “accountability” better because it denotes the responsibility of your decisions and the decision of others. You covered this in your description but I always found I wanted accountable people on my team versus responsible people. I wanted them to show up on time and do there job, but I really wanted them to take ownership to fix problems they didn’t cause. My take…

The missing trait I think is the most overlooked leadership quality. Servitude. In our culture we believe there are those that lead and those that serve, and be sure not to mix up the two. But service or servitude is one of the greatest traits of a leader. It is the trait that creates loyalty and the dynamic of I-will-do-anything-for-you team members. It creates the joint respect and love required for any great team. It is overlooked and not trained in most leadership training, and it is a shame. It is one of the simplest things to do and the hardest to find.

Really enjoying the blog Ben. Thanks!

]]> By: bennyinny http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-18 bennyinny Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:10:38 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-18 At the end of the post, I mentioned that you should go over each of the positive traits and rank yourself on a scale of one to ten. I said that being a great leader means you scored high - not perfect. Leading and being a leader are not the same thing. At the end of the post, I mentioned that you should go over each of the positive traits and rank yourself on a scale of one to ten. I said that being a great leader means you scored high – not perfect. Leading and being a leader are not the same thing.

]]> By: Steve Rosenbaum http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-17 Steve Rosenbaum Fri, 07 Mar 2008 03:56:13 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-17 What would be helpful is if you had examples of great leaders who fit those characteristics. I can't think of many well know leaders who aren't a mixture of both lists. George Washington as a military leader was very authoritarian and would have those who disobeyed orders flogged. While on the other hand, those at the continental congress look at him as a leader because of his stature and their respect for him. He was actually one of the few leaders in the history of the western world who turned down a position of ultimate power unlike Napolean, Bismark and others who started on one track and seized power. That's way Washington is known as the American Cincinatus. What would be helpful is if you had examples of great leaders who fit those characteristics. I can’t think of many well know leaders who aren’t a mixture of both lists.

George Washington as a military leader was very authoritarian and would have those who disobeyed orders flogged. While on the other hand, those at the continental congress look at him as a leader because of his stature and their respect for him.

He was actually one of the few leaders in the history of the western world who turned down a position of ultimate power unlike Napolean, Bismark and others who started on one track and seized power. That’s way Washington is known as the American Cincinatus.

]]> By: bennyinny http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-16 bennyinny Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:44:22 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-16 What I presented is the skill-set of a leader. Utopian, perhaps - but those traits are what create a great leader. I never said that being a great leader makes you a great person. History has shown us great leaders that are far from great people. What I did say was in order to lead effectively; those positive traits will take you a long way to accomplishing your goals in life. And those negatives will be a shortcut to your demise. As far as failed leader(s) – there were many who failed – but from those failures were able to build a better mousetrap. Failures should not be looked upon as a negative – but as just an ingredient to the recipe of your success. I have actually received many emails about this blog - and think perhaps I will do another Leadership-Blog answering the questions Benny What I presented is the skill-set of a leader. Utopian, perhaps – but those traits are what create a great leader. I never said that being a great leader makes you a great person. History has shown us great leaders that are far from great people.

What I did say was in order to lead effectively; those positive traits will take you a long way to accomplishing your goals in life. And those negatives will be a shortcut to your demise. As far as failed leader(s) – there were many who failed – but from those failures were able to build a better mousetrap. Failures should not be looked upon as a negative – but as just an ingredient to the recipe of your success.

I have actually received many emails about this blog – and think perhaps I will do another Leadership-Blog answering the questions

Benny

]]> By: Steve Rosenbaum http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-15 Steve Rosenbaum Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:23:59 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-15 What you present is a eutopian view of leadership. Over history, great leaders have been those who can inspire others to follow them. Often not just by force by the charisma of their personalities. There also have been those who did your top 10 lead others with noble goals and ended up with some of the worst human disasters in history. Who was a more effective leader, Ghandi or Ghengis Khan? Jim Jones or Mother Theresa? Leadership really has nothing to do with the quality of the outcomes. Leadership simply means getting others to follow you. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intention. What you present is a eutopian view of leadership. Over history, great leaders have been those who can inspire others to follow them. Often not just by force by the charisma of their personalities. There also have been those who did your top 10 lead others with noble goals and ended up with some of the worst human disasters in history.

Who was a more effective leader, Ghandi or Ghengis Khan?

Jim Jones or Mother Theresa?

Leadership really has nothing to do with the quality of the outcomes. Leadership simply means getting others to follow you. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intention.

]]> By: Michael Ray Hopkin http://yattitude.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/ya-ttitude-on-leadership/#comment-14 Michael Ray Hopkin Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:20:11 +0000 http://yattitude.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-14 I agree with your ten traits of a leader, they are all important. I also agree with the negative traits of a failed leader. I'm glad you added the word "failed" in there. There are, on occasion, leaders who "fall" or quit being effective leaders. I believe these traits also (and much more often) apply to managers who think they are leaders. You read about managers who practice many or all of the bad traits. Thanks for writing about them; it's important to keep the bad traits in mind so we DON'T practice them. Michael BTW, do you have an 'About' section? I couldn't find it. I agree with your ten traits of a leader, they are all important. I also agree with the negative traits of a failed leader. I’m glad you added the word “failed” in there. There are, on occasion, leaders who “fall” or quit being effective leaders. I believe these traits also (and much more often) apply to managers who think they are leaders. You read about managers who practice many or all of the bad traits. Thanks for writing about them; it’s important to keep the bad traits in mind so we DON’T practice them.
Michael

BTW, do you have an ‘About’ section? I couldn’t find it.

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