Tips

Four Key Behaviors to Becoming a Total Leader

April 20, 2007

There have been many debates on what shapes great leadership. Does it come from within or can it be developed?

At Creative Energy Options, Inc., a leadership development firm offering the executive education program, Total Leadership Connections™, we believe extraordinary leadership can be developed by an individual who is willing and motivated to become a total leader. You know, that very noticeable person who leads with integrity and authenticity, creating a culture of success for the benefit of the employees and the organization, not for themselves. We believe by identifying patterns, i.e., personal strengths and challenges and exploring how our patterns were shaped by family, culture and crisis, a leader can be developed.
    
A total leader engages, inspires and motivates. It's about first understanding ourselves and then what motivates others and utilizing the insight to transform office politics into high performing teams. Empowering others builds a sense of being valued. total leaders integrate the organization so everyone feels included.
    
A total leader is a visionary. One who sees, verbalizes, lives the vision and excites others to join in. Visionary leaders get others to accept the vision is real and attainable. If the team doesn't believe in the vision, it will be a slow road to success. Visionary leaders live the vision as if it already exists.
    
The total leader is a mentor who leads others to reach their highest potential. As a coach or mentor, the leader takes employees on the venture of professional and personal development. This means exploring with others what are their goals, what drives them, what are their strengths, challenges and what is their vision. It's about getting to know the folks you lead.
    
A total leader is a realizer. The realizer makes things happen; moving from abstract ideas to action plans. Being able to provide the safe, supportive environment for a team to move ideas forward into action is someone who really makes it happen!
    
Total leadership is the extraordinary leader who is self-aware, engages others in the vision, mentors and creates new leaders.
    
Mary Jane Saras, LCSW is Director of Business Development for Creative Energy Options, Inc. As a facilitator of "Total Leadership Connections"™, she helps leaders become total leaders. She can be contacted at Maryjane@ceoptions.com or by calling 570-636-3858.