Leadership requires more than speaking and acting in an inspirational and influential way. You must also be willing to take responsibility when something needs doing. For instance, if you’re the director of a play and the actors are not excited to rehearse, it is your job to inspire them to give their all so the play is a success. Leaders should inspire, not intimidate. Don’t lead through fear. Leaders must both admit when they were wrong and take credit for victories.
Don’t be stubborn. Standing by your principles and acting with integrity doesn’t mean that you are unwilling to accept or consider alternative ideas. Make an effort to always follow through on what you say you’ll do. [3] X Expert Source Maureen TaylorCommunications Coach Expert Interview. 24 March 2021.
A positive attitude gives you confidence, hope, and the belief that tomorrow will be better.
Be inclusive of all people willing to contribute to a project or team. Don’t play favorites or try to divide people. Just because someone has a different background or level of experience doesn’t meant they are not valuable Always try to see the best in people. Don’t give too much attention to naysayers and people who only want to drag you down.
If you enjoy music, form a band. If you enjoy art, visit museums with friends and set aside time each day to work on your art. Live your life with passion. Give your best to friends, coworkers, and family each day.
Take pride in your work and doing it will be a pleasure, not a chore. Keep your office or workspace clean and well-organized
For instance, if you work at a restaurant and your coworker needs to mop the floor, wash the dishes, and refill the soda fountain, offer to complete one of his tasks when you are not too busy. Do not help your coworkers at your own expense. Take care of your own duties before taking on those of others. Do not let your coworkers walk all over you. If they are not struggling with their work, they should be left to do it themselves.
Make suggestions about how things could be improved if you see problems in a project or in the work-flow. For instance, if your department and another both need to use the same computer during your design phases, suggest that the company invest in a second computer so both departments can get their work done simultaneously. People who suck up to their bosses are generally considered untrustworthy and do not receive workplace admiration.
Demonstrate that you trust and rely on your staff by delegating various responsibilities to them. Do not delegate important tasks to individuals who cannot accomplish them. Use your knowledge of each person on your staff to identify how much and what kind of work they can handle. It is important to push people in the workplace to make them feel they are being challenged and engaged, but be careful not to overwhelm them.
People who treat others kindly and recognize their successes – as well as their failures and flaws – are worthy of admiration. Do not publicly berate or embarrass your staff. Always speak to them with respect in a calm, even tone. If you have a problem or issue with one of your employees, ask them to your office or another private space where you can address any problems or concerns you might have with them. Do not play favorites among your staff. [10] X Research source If you pit them against one another in divisive ways, you will not inspire honest and virtuous behavior, and your workers will not be driven to work as productively as they could.
Including your child in family decisions doesn’t mean relinquishing all responsibility for those decisions. You’re still the parent and ultimately, authority still rests with you.
For instance, your child says, “I want to be a dancer when I grow up,” you could ask, “Why do you want to be a dancer?” Listen to their answers and don’t belittle what they have to say. [14] X Research source If you need more information, ask follow-up questions. Take time to seriously answer any questions your child asks. Show your child know that you will always be there for them. If they need help with homework or if they are sick, take time out of your schedule to care for them.
For instance, if you mistook your child’s drawing a of a bird for a butterfly, your child might feel distraught. Admit that you made a mistake by identifying it wrongly and reassure them that it is a great drawing. Say, “I’m sorry, can you forgive me?” When your children make mistakes, you should always expect them to acknowledge the mistake. Your child should apologize and correct the situation as needed. For instance, if they spilled milk on the floor while you were out of the room, ensure that they admit to doing so and then help you clean it up (assuming they are of an appropriate age to do so). Tell your child you love them even when they make mistakes.
If you did not graduate high school, consider getting your GED. If you did graduate high school, consider going to college. You could get a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree. You don’t need a college education to be well-educated or interested in learning, though it does help. Keep up with current events by reading the newspaper regularly. Visit your local library to check out some books. Read a mix of both fiction and nonfiction. Watch documentaries as well as feature films. Expand your mind by diving deeper into topics you know little about. By challenging yourself, you will be able to think about things in a different way. By taking your child to local art museums, you can learn together.
Develop patience and control your anger when you feel it rising within you. Do not take your frustration about a difficult situation out on your child or anyone else. Find positive ways to deal with your frustration through deep breathing, yoga, mediation, or engaging yourself with a fun hobby. While it is natural to feel depressed when confronted with loss of a family member or other hardship, stay strong and positive for your child. Talk to a trained therapist if your feelings persist.
Rabbis, pastors, imams, and priests can all gain admiration when they speak and act in concert with the teachings of their holy books. If your advice is sought by politicians or other public figures, always use your platform to encourage positive change. Join a monastery or nunnery. Monks and nuns live in a community with others who practice their faith in order to better understand their holy books and teachings. Becoming a monk or nun is a good path toward a future as a religious leader.
Look at problems in your community and think of ways to solve them with science and technology. If you’re not skilled in those fields, propose an idea to someone who can engineer a solution.
If you want to be a respected politician, it helps to have a law degree. You could also have a political science degree, though any degree helps. It is unlikely you will be able to get elected as a politician unless you have a college education of some kind. Run for local office as a mayor, state representative, or city council member. As you gain more experience, consider running for senator or representative at the national level. To be a respected politician, be honest and do not engage in corruption or selfish behavior. Lead with vision and respect the will of those who elected you. Work tirelessly for the good of your community, state, or nation. Fight for justice, truth, and a better world. [18] X Research source
