Everything I know about leadership was taught to me by another person. I was lucky I worked for several excellent leaders. I remember them to this day and what they taught me. However, there is one leadership dimension that is special to me. It is that true leadership is tested under fire, under stress, under duress, when the dogs are barking at your heels, when the other shoe drops, or when the company cash flow is negative. It is in these conditions that genuine leadership emerges.
My take is that leadership, when things are good, is easy. You can always lead your group up the hill when the enemy is not there or there is no competition for your product or there is no stress in a personal situation. Add a large dose of stress to a given situation and the real leaders emerge. Rudyard Kipling said it best, "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you." I have to read this "If" poem periodically to keep in mind the real acid test of leadership. Here is a quick link to the words.
If you have not read it in awhile, I recommend it. Print a copy and keep it at your desk. Thank heaven that leadership can be learned through practice, life long practice that is.
Keep practicing. I do.
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