People don't follow others by accident. They follow individuals whose leadership they respect. People who are an 8 in leadership (on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the strongest) don't go out and look for a 6 to follow - they naturally follow a 9 or 10. The less skilled follow those more skilled and gifted. In general, people are attracted to people who are better leaders than themselves.
What causes one person to respect and follow another? Is it because of the qualities of the leader? Or is it due to process the person follows? Or maybe the circumstances? John Maxwell identifies following top six ways to help leaders gain others' respect:
1. Natural leadership ability
If you possess natural leadership ability, people will want to follow you. They will want to be around you. They will listen to you. They will become excited when you communicate vision. But remember the Law of Solid Ground. Talent itself is never enough. If you don't have some of the additional practices and characteristics listed below, you will not reach your leadership potential, and people may not continue to follow you. One of the greatest potential pitfalls for natural leaders is relying on talent alone.
2. Respect for others
Dictators and other autocratic leaders rely on violence and intimidation to get people to do what they want. That's not leadership. Good leaders rely on respect. When people respect you as a leader, they follow you.
3. Courage
Good leaders do what's right, even at the risk of failure, in the face of great danger and under the brunt of relentless criticism. A leader's courage has great value: it gives followers hope.
4. Success
People respect others' accomplishments. It's hard to argue with a good track record. When leaders are successful in their own endeavors, people respect them. Especially in this time and age when people pretend to be bigger than they actually are, many eagerly seek those with success in specific area to learn from. What is your success area? Where can you inspire others to succeed?
5. Loyalty
In a culture of constant change, turnover, and transition, loyalty is an asset. When leaders stick with the team until the job is done, remain loyal to the organization when the going gets tough, and look out for followers even when it hurts them, followers respect them and their actions.
6. Value added to others
Perhaps the greatest source of respect for a leader comes from his or her dedication to adding value to others.
Please respond to the following questions:
1. How do you determine the strongest leader in a group?
2. From your own experience or observation, describe what happens when two strong leaders are placed in the same group.
3. How do you react when you are placed in a group of strong leaders?