Leadership – You Can Do It Too
Anyone who has the desire to lead, who is willing to make the commitment, and who prepares themselves properly, can become a leader. Preparation is absolutely necessary, but the most important quality necessary to be a leader is desire. The desire to lead the way, to take on difficult problems and find solutions, and the desire to go a step further than what has already been done. Leaders give of themselves, their time, their knowledge, and their experiences to ensure growth.
Leadership responsibilities include the accomplishment of TALP’s objectives and the general welfare of our association. To accomplish the objectives of Texas ALP, we must take advantage of the leaders that have gone before us. Theirs are words of wisdom and we would be wise to listen to those successful leaders who have helped us learn the skills needed for leadership success.
Leaders must have the courage to try something new, especially when the tried and true is no longer meeting the needs of association members. A true leader may say “thank you” for compliments, but should point to committee chairmen and committee members and say “the thanks should go to them because they made it happen.” A leader may have an ego, but it must be kept under control.
Leaders must have the ability to analyze, evaluate, and comprehend. This requires only basic intelligence, hard work, dedication, and commitment to the task at hand. Leaders must have the energy to get a project up and running and be able to see a project through to completion. Leaders don’t let go. They keep striving toward success until it is reached.
Leaders recognize the contributions that every member of the team makes to the success of the association. They provide positive reinforcement and constructive feedback. Leaders encourage people to do better, to push themselves a little harder, building up confidence, and instilling pride. They remind committee chairmen and committee members that what they are doing is not just a job, it is their job. Leaders ask for team leaders' opinions, get their perspectives, listen to their ideas, let them be innovative, and find ways to make those ideas a reality.
A leader must recognize that only a limited number of goals can be pursued at any one time if they are to be successful. Leadership requires the ability to put priorities in the right order to meet the most pressing needs of the members in the most efficient and cost effective ways possible. This manner of decision making is not for the faint of heart. From time to time leaders may have to make unpopular decisions and put projects in place for the good of the association as a whole, and not just a small number of members.
Leaders know where they are going, have a plan to get there, and always look ahead, evaluating their current position, making sure they can accomplish the task at hand. Leaders keep projects moving forward, making sure everyone has what they need to get the job done, when it needs to be done.
Leaders understand all of the inner workings of the committees, how they interact, and how the success of one committee results in the success of the association as a whole. Leaders understand the structure of the association, the purpose of the association, the association’s position in the industry, who does what, and why they do it.
Leaders with a good sense of timing know when to speak, when to shut up, when to push a point, when to back off. A true leader knows when to express an opinion and when to wait until they are asked. They speak out in the heat of controversy, they take a stand when right, but not necessarily popular.
Leaders are a little more progressive, a little more innovative, and a little more creative. They take the extra step, spend a little more effort, roll up their sleeves and do whatever is necessary for a project to succeed, get a little more accomplished, and get a few more results.
True leaders have an understanding of the present and a vision for the future. They have prepared to be a leader, they understand what leadership is, and are ready to assume a leadership role in the association. Leadership is about having a dream, believing in your dream, and achieving the goals fellow association members have set for success. It is exciting, it is fun, and it is the essence of life.
IMAGINE * BELIEVE * ACHIEVE * SUCCEED
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