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A Real Leader Takes Action
By Richard Brody
While many individuals vie for positions of leadership, my over three decades of experience training and developing leaders has indicated to me that very few are real leaders. Inherent on being a leader is a willingness and an ability to take definitive and timely action, and having the tools needed to handle the important and essential aspects of the decision making process. Theodore Roosevelt wrote, "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything." Why then, do so many supposed leaders seem to consistently run away from taking action, or making any type of true decision, and even of the few that are willing to take action, why are so few willing to do so on a timely basis? 1. Too many of those who ascend to leadership positions do so without a good or thorough understanding of what is needed. Their organizations hold a good degree of this responsibility, because in many cases, they have avoiding developing a comprehensive, professionally designed leadership training program. However, the individuals themselves should not be absolved of any responsibility because a true leader is self motivated to learn all he can about doing the best job that he can. 2. Many of these people view leadership as a popularity contest instead of doing what leaders are supposed to do, which is actually lead. Beware of anyone in leadership who states that rather than asking others to accept their vision, they will take their lead from their members. These "leaders" are avoiding personal responsibility, and commonly resort to rhetoric instead of action. They almost always avoid timely action, because they fail to concentrate on developing a productive and useful decision making process. 3. No leader can effectively act is he fails to create an Action Plan, and does so in a detailed, thorough and meaningful manner. Too many ineffective individuals speak rhetorically about an action plan, or thinking outside the box, or some other sound good but do nothing empty words. Real leaders always walk the walk instead of merely talking the talk. For an action plan to have value and meaning, it must be directly related to goals that a leader wants to achieve based on his vision. This plan must be detailed, with specific information, tasks, a time line, and a method for getting it done. This must include a chart of responsibilities, as well as a mechanism for reviewing the progress on a regular basis, and taking whatever adjustment and tweaking methods may be needed along the way. Are you presently in a leadership position, or either considering or soon ascending to one? Do you consider yourself a leader? What techniques, training, etc. will you require? Who will you turn to for counsel? Are you willing and able to make timely decisions, even when they are unpopular? Do you have a viable vision, and will you prioritize motivating others to follow that vision? Does your organization have a real, professionally designed leadership training program? Will you be willing to take timely action, and expand your personal comfort zone, to expand the possibilities? Richard Brody has over 30 years consultative sales, marketing, training, managerial, and operations experience. He has trained sales and marketing people in numerous industries, given hundreds of seminars, appeared as a company spokesperson on over 200 radio and television programs, and regularly blogs on real estate, politics, economics, management, leadership, negotiations, conferences and conventions, etc. Richard has negotiated, arranged and/ or organized hundreds of conferences and conventions. Richard is a Senior Consultant with RGB Consultation Services, an Ecobroker, a Licensed Buyers Agent (LBA) and Licensed Salesperson in NYS, in real estate. Richard Brody has owned businesses, been a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of Development, as well as a consultant. Richard has a Consulting Website ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbcons ); a blog ( http://tinyurl.com/rgbstake ); and can be followed on Twitter.
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