In our series on leadership attributes, we have previously looked at how leaders are learners. They demonstrate continuous and lifelong learning. A subset of continuous learning is reading. Leaders are readers.
In his book The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters, Albert Mohler writes that there is no substitute for effective reading when it comes to developing and maintaining the intelligence necessary to lead. Where I worked my entire career, continuous learning was emphasized – be it an insurance certification or an IT designation. Reading is always an important part of learning.
Even though I am now retired, I am still an avid reader. Actually, since I am retired, I have more time than ever to read. And as I read as a leader, I read primarily in four categories: Continue reading
In our series on leadership attributes, we now look at the legacy that a leader leaves. I’ve previously written an article titled 
In our series on leadership attributes, we now look at influence. John Maxwell often says that leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. Do you agree with this? I recall one of my leaders years ago disagreeing with this statement after I had shared it in a meeting. But saying that leadership is influence does seem to make sense.
Helping others to develop to their fullest potential is my favorite aspect of leadership. I always enjoyed working with team members and mentees, and still enjoy the mentoring or discipling relationships that I am a part of. There is something about working with individuals who want to grow, improve, and reach their highest potential that energizes me. It’s a joy to see someone achieve their goals, which is oftentimes securing their first formal leadership position.
As we continue our series on leadership attributes, we now turn to appreciation. Several years ago, I asked a group of leaders and co-workers in the organization I worked what attributes of a leader were important to them. I received a wide variety of responses. One of the attributes that was mentioned was appreciative. To be a leader others want to follow you need to be appreciative.
John Maxwell is well known for stating that he wants to “add value” to those he leads and mentors. Maxwell’s “Law of Addition”, from his classic book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, states that leaders add value by serving others. That law, which is what I believe servant leadership is all about, is my favorite law from what is one of my favorite leadership books. Leaders are there to serve their followers, not the other way around. Maxwell tells us that when you serve others, their success becomes your success. But what does it actually mean to “add value” to others? 
I was recently reminded how important it is to learn lessons from our leaders. That got me to thinking that there are a number of ways in which we can learn leadership lessons. For example, I learned a strong work ethic from my parents. They were both very hard workers, modeling that daily for my brother, sister and I. More recently, I learned lessons in courage from my brother, who nearly lost his life battling COVID, spending 53 days in the hospital. In fact, he was told just before he was placed on a ventilator that he probably wouldn’t make it. Who have you learned from, and what have been some of your best lessons learned? 
I re-read John Maxwell’s 2008 book Leadership Gold: Lessons I’ve Learned from a Lifetime of Leading. You can read my review of the book 
