The 7 E's of Leadership

I was recently an inspirational speaker for a hospital leadership retreat. The other inspirational speaker for the hospital leaders, Ralph Burns, unravelled for us 7 key leadership qualities in his motivational speech.

Here are the 7 Leadership Qualites:

1. 1. Engage. It is impossible to lead from a distance; without engagement, you cannot lead effectively.
2. Equip. For most people, poorly defined tasks are one of the highest areas of dissatisfaction.
3. Encourage. It's not just in tough situations that people need encouragement.
4. Empower. True empowerment is preparation followed by appropriate freedom.
5. Energize. Great leaders energize and inspire those they lead.
6. Elevate. It's not about getting the credit; it's about helping the organization, and everyone in it be the best they can.
7. Educate. Leadership is all about helping others become the best they can be. Leadership is built on a foundation of teaching, helping and guiding.

The inspirational speaker ended his motivational speech by compelling hospital leaders to embrace and focus on one or two qualities for a full month and see what an impact it makes.

• Qualities of leaders:
  
  Supportive
  Self assured
  Compelling
  Multi tasking
  Good listener
  Attention to detail
  Character
  Respect
  Patient
  Sets a clear vision
  Values
  Not afraid to get hands dirty
  Hold staff and yourself accountable
  Be a resource
  Provide solutions
  Delegates
  Ability to motivate
  Establishes policies and procedures
  Dependable
  Innovation
  Facilitator
  Establish high service standards
  Provides corrective action
  Is Flexible and approachable
  Promotes teamwork
  Is an industry expert
  Is a mentor
  Identifies strengths and builds on them
  Fair and consistent
  Provides tools
  
  The motivational speech ended with a discussion of what it means to be a leader. The group agreed that a leader is a person who directs a team to successfully complete a goal.

• If we please everybody we are not doing our job.
• Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.
• Leaders are made, they are not born

5 Qualities of Strong Leaders:

Have people around you with skills that you don't have. Great leaders can't afford to be threatened by people better than them. In fact, you strengthen a team when you have people around you that possess skills you lack. As a motivational speaker, I work alone, however, I do contract to many different people who help keep me in line( like my accountant- it's a love/ hate relationship). Sometimes other people's skill set seems like a drag or a pain in the butt but they actually create balance.

Don't allow there to be parallel worlds with different ideas or vision. This one I had never considered! The pastor passionately believes that two worlds can't exist in one world. For instance, when one group decides to develop their own way, you can see a Passive Resistance unfold that rocks core values.

Be decisive. Sometimes someone else's agenda can push the speed of your leadership. Leaders have to be decisive but not before its time (or you're ready). Avoid an environment where the leader can be lobbied or prematurely pressured to take action. Quick decisions that dilute your leadership allow the mission to leak out and weakens a team.

Have strong cultural boundaries. A culture shouldn't be gray, muted or mixed, but clear. Boundaries that are clear and decisive keep people engaged. Learn more about Leadership Motivational Speaker Brian Houston.

Look further up the road, ahead of others. Looking ahead helps prepare for the future and build momentum based on vision. The alternative is bouncing from conflict to conflict. Build atmosphere with vision. Also, listen to collective wisdom. This doesn't mean we listen to everyone-  only the wisdom of people who matter. The spirit of your team and values of core customers matter.