THOSE OF YOU who’ve been reading this blog for a while will know that I don’t see good leadership as having followers, but rather as a set of attributes that bring success not only to titled-leaders, but to anyone who embodies them.  Independence, People Skills, Expertise, and Passion enable anyone to be successful, not just those in positions of formal authority.

No one has contradicted my claim in this, but I suspect some are not convinced.  If you’re in that latter group, perhaps the following list will help.

Would you agree that these parameters fairly sum up a good leader versus a poor leader, even if individual cases are often not so clear cut?

Yes?

Now look at the lists again.  The only change is in the headings:

Our goal at Method Leadership is to present a framework for learning, practicing, and mastering these vital life skills or attributes, not because they make for better leaders (which they do and which we sorely need), but because they are vital to everyone’s happiness.  Yours.  Mine.  His.  Hers.

The more happy people on this planet, the better off we’ll all be.  Ask yourself this:  if Hitler had been a happy person, would he have followed the course he did?  Ditto for Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, and sundry other murderous villains.  And crime?  Crime, that is, the initiation of physical force against other human beings (whether by violence, theft, or fraud), is simply not something that truly happy and contented people do.

So let’s all get happy.  It’s not that hard, really.  Think for yourself, engage people justly, always be learning, commit to creating value.  That’s it… hey presto.  Happy.

Now, one more look at that list.  Actually, maybe you could print it, save it to a device, or copy it out.  Then circle whichever lines apply.

How did you do?  If there are things you need to work on, no matter.  You’re not alone.  The key is to take stock, make a plan, take action, and be committed to creating the character, and leader, of whom you are proud.  Success and happiness will follow.

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