Several great leaders in the form of teachers, athletic coaches, mentors, peers, youth group leaders, friends, and others have touched my life through their leadership examples. They’ve shaped me into the person I am today. They’ve told me when I was doing something wrong and encouraged me when I was going through a challenge. In addition, they’ve taught me correct principles to help me avoid mistakes. Of all the great leaders I’ve had, there have been two that have taught me more than anyone else.
My Leadership Examples
Those two great leadership examples are my parents. My dad and mom have been great leadership examples throughout my life. They’ve taught me many important leadership principles throughout my life. They both understand that they are leadership examples to me so they teach leadership principles whenever possible. Their leadership examples are very powerful. They’ve taught me the following ten lessons.
1. Lead By Example
My dad and mom taught me the importance of leading by example. As the leader, you can set the example for those you lead. When you lead a diverse group, you may not fully understand everything your employees work on, but you can still set an example when it comes to values.
2. Have Faith
As I mentioned in my previous post, my mom and dad have always taught me to have faith in God, other people, and myself. They taught me through words and by their leadership examples. As a leader, faith allows you to get things done that you never thought possible.
3. Be Honest
My parents have always taught me the importance of being honest. I remember several times when I was little where my mom received extra change or didn’t pay enough for the groceries at the supermarket. In those cases, she always went back and paid the difference or gave back the extra change. My dad explained to me that honesty was very important in all he did and he actively lived to prove it everyday.
4. Have Integrity
My dad and mom have always been a great leadership examples of integrity. They’ve taught me that you need to be the same person and live the same values no matter who is watching. The true integrity of a person is shown when they don’t think anyone is watching. As a leader, your integrity is one of your most important attributes. No one can take your integrity from you.
5. Work Hard
My parents are the hardest workers I know. My mom was very entrepreneurial and came up with ways to use her talents to make extra money while staying at home and being a mom. She ran the biggest craft shows in Montana craft shows that she started from scratch. After 18 years, she retired from craft shows to started doing medical transcription work. She became one of the biggest medical transcription providers in Montana. My dad has also always been a hard worker. He showed me how to work hard by having me work right along side him.
6. Be Dedicated
My parents valued dedication. Whenever they put their mind to something, they followed through. When leaders are dedicated they follow through on their commitments.
7. Understand Your Value
My parents taught me that whatever you put your mind to you can accomplish. Every person has a great value. Many people, however, don’t even realize their value. My parents leadership examples helped me understand my value and ability to accomplish my dreams.
8. Be Proactive
My parents taught me to be proactive and not reactive. As a leader, you can be proactive by determining your course of action and moving forward. When you are proactive, you don’t wait to see the actions of others before you decide how you are going to act. You actively make your own choices. You may choose to make course adjustments as you go, but you know that a proactive approach will help you reach your goals.
9. Make Good Choices
You choose your own destiny. My parents taught me the importance good choices. You are responsible for the choices you make. As a leader, choose to make good choices daily!
10. Love Those You Lead
Be accepting and love those you lead. To truly love those you lead, you will be required to forgive on a regular basis. When you lead others, you can love them when they make good and bad choices.
My parents have set great leadership examples for me to follow. What leadership examples do you have to follow? How have your leadership examples had an effect on you? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
My wife and I were talking about you the other day…(tee-hee).
The seeds of great leadership are sown in great parenting practices. Intelligence, the ability to understand incoming information plays a big role in success. However, the honesty, integrity, and all the other great attributes of great leadership can be traced to great parents. I only met your mom once, but can say that your success is the result of your parents doing the best they can to raise you. Now I can probably guess correctly that her successes (family, endeavors) are a result of good upbringing as well.
It is sad that more emphasis is not pushed on raising children under traditional settings (dedicated father and mother teaching moral values etc.) Instead they seem to teach whatever will bring them more popularity and fortune. I’ll admit it, I am a product of not so good conditions, and have paid and am paying for it still. However, success isn’t best measured until you reach the end result. In that case, for someone young like me, to be successful is more like observing if I’m headed in the right direction (roughly).
Joe,
I completely agree with you that many of the great leaders of the world are the result of great parents. I know that in my case my parents played a huge role in who I am today. I wouldn’t say that I am a great leader just yet, but I am just doing my very best every day with the hope that some day I will be a great leader. I was very blessed to have good parents that showed me the way through their example of leadership.
As you mentioned, just because someone doesn’t have great parents doesn’t mean they can’t be a great leader. They may have a little more resistance because of the environment they grew up in, but everyone can live out their dreams if they are determined and do their very best.
Thanks for sharing such a great comment!
We need to learn by experience and try to find a formula to train our wards our students and equip them with complete dedication and DISCIPLINE and all the know how a purposeful human and useful to society as model and successful guide and an efficient leader. Your guidance has immense potential. ………………………………regards.
Welcome Janakilaxman,
You are totally right that dedication and discipline are very important to getting things done. It is especially important when it comes to teaching, leading, and helping people reach their fullest potential. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Brandon, what a blessings to have your parents as an example of great leadership. Joe, you are on your way! My mom was an great example. She has since gone on to glory 4 years ago yesterday. I was hardheaded and did not always listen, however I finally got it and according to my sons I have done a great job and they are in turn have blessed me with some awesome grandchildren and one as a single dad. I pray more parents pay attention to what they are allowing their children to witness. Thank you Brandon for sharing a inspiring truth!
Welcome Grace,
Thank you very much for reading this post and sharing your thoughts and story. It is amazing how there are so many small little lessons that we learn from our parents that we don’t ever realize in the moment. As we get older we realize how much wisdom they had. In turn, there are so many small teaching moments that we have to teach our children that we must take advantage of in the moment or the moment will pass us by. I think that is what leadership is all about!