1. Good Communicator. Extraordinary Leaders are those who can take the
vision they have and communicate it in ways that their followers can easily
understand, internal, and own. Then, and only then, can they carry it out!
So focus on speaking and writing more clearly, and with the passion that you
have for the vision you have. Use different ways of communicating, including
different ways verbally and non-verbally. Above all, communicate often!
2. “Sees” the End Result Long Before Others. I think the greatest compliment
on my leadership skills I ever received came from a gentleman who told me
that “you see things about 6 months before the rest of us.” Without tooting
my own horn (okay, a little bit maybe…), that is a skill of a leader. They
are always looking out ahead of themselves and their situations. Followers
are worried about what happens today, while leaders are thinking about and
strategizing about what they see for tomorrow. Be constantly looking ahead.
Practice making projections. Get good at “seeing” the future. When you can
do this better than others, they will look to you for leadership!
3. Ability to Define Goals for Self and Others. Do you know what your goals
are? Can you define them? Can you articulate them clearly (see number one)?
Can you do this for those who follow? Can you define and set their goals? An
Extraordinary Leader works at clarity and definition of goals so that they
can be internalized and acted upon by others. Work hard at this skill and
others will follow!
4. Ability to Set Strategy and Course of Action. What will you do to reach
the goal? Many people can say where we should go, but it is the
Extraordinary Leader who can lay out a plan for everyone to get there! Work
at laying out a plan for you and your followers. Remember that there are
people with different skill and passion levels, and take this into account!
Get good at this and when people want to get to their goals in a hurry, they
will call on you to lead!
5. Ability to Teach Others. One of the greatest leadership development
companies in the world has been General Electric. This is because their CEO,
Jack Welch, has always emphasized the need for current leaders to teach
others. He himself spends what others would consider an extraordinary amount
of time in the classroom teaching. But remember, he is an Extraordinary
Leader and he is developing Extraordinary Leaders to follow behind him. Work
hard at your teaching techniques, and be sure to use as many situations as
possible for the opportunity to teach those who would follow.
6. Ability to Inspire Others. You may have a great goal, but if you want to
be an Extraordinary Leader, then you will have to put a little oomph under
your followers! This is the ability to inspire! Work at helping them to see
the big picture, the great end results, and how good it is going to be for
them and others. Above all, make it exciting. If it is a good goal, it
should be exciting. If it isn’t exciting, then dump it and get a goal that
others can get excited about!
7. Delegates. An Extraordinary Leader is rarely a person who is doing
everything him or herself. Extraordinary Leaders get there job done through
others. They figure out the way, communicate the way, and inspire the
followers to go that way, and then they get OUT OF THE WAY! Delegate to your
people. Empower them! Set them free to soar! This is what an Extraordinary
Leader does. Leaders who do it any other way are just extraordinarily tired
at the end of the day with very little to show for it!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.
To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
or call 800-929-0434.
