By Lorna Riley

Leaders exemplify specific qualities, attitudes, and attributes that set them apart from others. A leader earns the right to lead because they have the right stuff and demonstrate those qualities as role models to others. Your constituents are watching. Would this group follow you? Do you have what it takes to mobilize others in a mission? In order to enlist people to follow, assess how well you embody the following leadership attributes.

1. SEARCH 
Search for challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, and improve.

2. EXPERIMENT
Experiment and take risks, learning from mistakes.

3. ENVISION
Envision an up-lifting and ennobling future.

4. ENLIST
Enlist others in a common vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes and dreams.

5. FOSTER
Foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust.

6. STRENGTHEN  
Strengthen others by sharing information and power while increasing their discretion and visibility.

7. SET
Set an example for others by behaving in ways that are consistent with your stated values. Be a role model of excellence for others to follow.

8. PLAN
Plan small wins that promote consistent progress and build commitment.

9. RECOGNIZE
Recognize individual contributions to the success of every project.

10. CELEBRATE
Celebrate team and individual accomplishments regularly.

11. SHOW LOYALTY
Above all, a leader must be loyal to the cause. Disagreement is not disloyalty. If a leader, in the best interests of others, disagrees with popular opinion, s/he should be listened to. A leader who actively encourages actions that are counter to the welfare of the team, however, is disloyal.

12. SHOW COURAGE
Leaders must have the fortitude to carry out assignments and the gallantry to accept the risks of leadership. They don't balk at the sight of obstacles. The role of the leader has inherent loneliness, despair, ridicule, and rejection. Leaders must sometimes be long-suffering in their duties.

13. SHOW DESIRE
Few leaders will sustain themselves as without strong personal desire—an inherent commitment to influencing people, processes, and outcomes.

14. ENDURE
Each succeeding higher level of leadership places increasing demands on physical and emotional levels. Leaders need stamina to recover from disappointment and to nurture bodies with basic, healthful staples. Leaders cannot lead effectively from their bedside.

15. DECISIVE
Knowing when to act and when not to act, taking into account all facts bearing on the situation and then responsibly carrying out right actions.

16. SHOW SELF-CONFIDENCE
Proper training and experience develops a personal feeling of assurance. Lack of confidence says these duties are beyond you.

A LEADER IS ONE WHO SERVES

No one sees an organization's errors more than its customers. Be an undercover detective to determine if you're on the right track. Listen to your constituents and lead to serve their needs. Work for them, and they will work with you. The truth is that you will get everything you want in life, when you increase your contribution to others.

WHAT REALLY MATTERS

It's not the length of a life

or the depth of a grave,

but how you will be measured

is by the help that you gave.


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