Are You Doing it Right?

A serious matter I heard on my way,

‘Twas a father and daughter discussing.

The father was firm in his steadfast decree

That she go to church instead of sluffing.

But the daughter bluntly refused as she said,

“I won’t go to church, and that’s for sure.

It used to be good, and it used to be fun.

But I don’t learn a thing anymore.”

“I’m sick of the fasting, and praying, and stuff.

It just doesn’t go as it should.

They certainly ask us to do way too much.

I’m supposed to be perfectly good!”

The father stopped walking and turned to his daughter,

A serious look crossed his face.

For he had a message so tender to give her,

Before she ran life’s toughest race.

“Do you like playing soccer?” The father asked daughter.

She nodded her head, “Yeah, so what?”

“Then you’re doing it right.” He spoke quietly now.

“Or else you wouldn’t play day and night.”

“Do you like swimming?” Question two now he asked.

“Yes, I like to do it a lot too.”

“Then you’re doing it right.” Simply said, that was done.

“Or else it would not be fun for you.”

“Now, do you like fasting?” His eyes piercing hers.

“No, I hate it.” Was her swift reply.

“It’s hard, and it’s painful, I don’t like not eating.

It’s too much to ask me to try.”

The father looked out at the distant sun setting,

The orange, red, yellow, and blue.

“Then doing it right, you are not.” He said softly.

“It’s hard, yes, but swimming is too.

“It took you three years to learn and love soccer.

You couldn’t do that in one day.

But after you’d tried just as hard as you could,

Then soccer you finally played.”

“You can’t do things halfway and hope to like them.

It takes work, courage, faith, and some luck.

You have to work hard as you possibly can,

At that fasting, and praying, and stuff.”

Tara J. Howard

Copyright 2010

The 12 Attributes of Great Leaders

1. The Courage to Stay Strong

A Leader needs the ability to withstand adversity and motivate theirself in the face of frustration. Rise above your present conditions, learn to deal with things you can’t change. Concentrate. Learn. Don’t ever let yourself even consider giving up. It’s not even an option.

2. An Ability to Listen

Good Leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear or retaliation. Don’t be afraid of conflicting opinions. Be open-minded. Listen to those who disagree with you. You can learn a lot from them. Don’t discard the other person’s opinion. Try to understand where they’re coming from. More than likely, they have a very valid point of view. Listen to what they’re thinking and what they’re feeling.

3. An Ability to Learn from Errors

To Lead successfully, you must be willing to acknowledge and learn from your mistake. Don’t get discouraged. Be humble. If it’s not working, learn to change. There are always a million ways to do anything. Find the way that works the best for you and for those you lead. If you mess up, admit it. The worst thing you can do is try to cover it up. You can never fix a mistake unless you admit that it’s there.

4. A Willingness to Change

Conditions change, and you must be able to respond. Nothing is more constant than change. Be flexible and always ready. Circumstances change and so do people. Be accepting of everyone. See everyone’s value.

5. Emotional Intelligence

A Leader must encourage their closest advisors to give their best and remain loyal. Share credit for your successes, and shoulder public blame for the failure of subordinates. Transmit strength to others, to make them feel more determined to do their jobs well. Share the credit, take the blame. Boost, strengthen, encourage others.

6. Self-Confidence

Whatever you do, do with confidence. And even if it’s wrong, it will be more right than doing the right thing without confidence. Nobody will follow a weak leader. Even if you don’t feel strong, act like it and strength will follow. Believe you’re strong and your mind will listen. You can’t become strong by acting weak.

7. Self-Control

Great Leaders manage their emotions and remain calm in the midst of trouble. Keep a cool head. No matter how mad you are, don’t take it out on others. Don’t make enemies through your anger. Don’t lose your temper. You are the one that everyone is looking up to.

8. A Popular Touch

The Best Leaders have an intuitive awareness of public sentiment, a sense of when to wait and when to lead. Learn patience, not force. Listen to your followers. Know your audience. Follow your senses. What seems to make the most sense, is not always the best option either. Know what you’re feeling, and know what your followers are feeling too.

9. A Moral Compass

Only Strong Leaders have the courage and integrity to follow their convictions when the risk is great. Have integrity. Always do what’s right. Do the right thing even when there may be severe consequences or when the outlook may look gloomy or uncertain. Just know, that whenever you follow the straight road and do exactly what you know is right, you can never go wrong.

10. A Capacity to Relax

Make time for fun to relax and renew. Having a sense of humor always helps to keep

your mood up. Play jokes, see the fun side of life. When you’re enjoying what you’re

doing and having fun, you can get so much more done. Just make sure that you don’t

let everything get so light-hearted that nothing can get done. Find the balance

between serious and fun.

11. A Gift for Inspiring Others

Bond the people. Bring them together. Don’t tear them apart. Strengthen the people. Give them renewed hope and strength. Don’t push others away. Give them every opportunity to help you and to help each other. Allowing that bonding is what makes you stronger as a Leader. Trusting and relying on other people brings them closer to you and makes their trust and respect for you stronger. If you can’t learn to trust your subordinates, than how will they ever really trust you?

12. The Ability to See Higher

Don’t look down. Always look up. Throw your shoulders back, put your chin up, and see everything the world has to offer. Never look down on yourself either. Look up. See yourself as higher than you are at the moment. Your heart and mind will strive to reach that image of yourself. Don’t get cocky or prideful. But always be looking up and forward. Where your eyes see, you will follow. So look high, and aim for that.

Tara Howard

Copyright September 2014