There are many elements or components to exceptional leaders. Different authors focus on different aspects. I believe all people are leaders in some way or another and could therefore benefit from understanding these elements. I believe there are 5 key elements present in all exceptional leaders. They are:
Element #1: Know yourself - The most important element of any leader is to know yourself. Socrates’ two guiding principles were: Know Thyself and The unexamined life is not worth living. The ancient Greeks considered the principle of Know Thyself so important that this inscription was found to be one of three on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The Greeks understood that knowing yourself creates the platform from which personal growth and development starts. Exceptional leaders understand that personal growth and development cannot be made or forced, but knowing themselves helps them improve themselves, guide their growth, and walk the path of excellence every day.
Element #2: Begin with your legacy - Legacies are the fruits of dreams. It can be said that dreams are the seedlings of reality, the seedlings of legacies. Our dreams of the future is a window on our innermost future desires for ourselves and everything around us. Some people dream of sending people to Mars, like Eon Musk from SpaceX, and some people dream about other important things like living a happy life. Some people, like exceptional leaders, dream about leaving behind a living legacy that contributes to the world even after they are gone. This legacy creates their purpose in life. Mix in a plan and some passion and you have a recipe for success.
Element #3: Lead by example and lead yourself first - each exceptional leader knows that it starts with them. They have to start by setting the example, by giving people something to look and live up to. They know that by their example they can guide, motivate and inspire people around them.
Element #4: Guide, motivate and inspire other people - The exceptional leader knows that his primary function is to guide, inspire and motivate, not to be the hero, the one that steals the limelight. The exceptional leader knows that if he is inspired and motivated he will be able to guide the people around him to transform toward excellence using inspiration and motivation. The exceptional leader is happy to step back and let his people get the praise for good performance and success.
Element #5: The 5% more rule - When planning or doing something, apply the discipline to do it 5% better. Exceptional leaders take 5% more time to make focused decisions to revolutionize their life, careers and selves. Exceptional leaders focus 5% more on catching the next opportunity to improve themselves and the world around them. The exceptional leader gets 5% more done because they focus 5%-more on doing. They don’t just focus on starting, nor do they focus just on the process, they focusing on completing. A 5% increase of finishing things transforms organizations and people from ordinary to excellence.
Beyond understanding these elements lies striving to realize these 5 elements in our lives. Great leaders don't just understand or own these elements, they claim them to the fullest. Make it an immediate goal to connect and claim these five elements because it will make you extraordinary.
Be extraordinary!
Myles Rennie
Element #1: Know yourself - The most important element of any leader is to know yourself. Socrates’ two guiding principles were: Know Thyself and The unexamined life is not worth living. The ancient Greeks considered the principle of Know Thyself so important that this inscription was found to be one of three on the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The Greeks understood that knowing yourself creates the platform from which personal growth and development starts. Exceptional leaders understand that personal growth and development cannot be made or forced, but knowing themselves helps them improve themselves, guide their growth, and walk the path of excellence every day.
Element #2: Begin with your legacy - Legacies are the fruits of dreams. It can be said that dreams are the seedlings of reality, the seedlings of legacies. Our dreams of the future is a window on our innermost future desires for ourselves and everything around us. Some people dream of sending people to Mars, like Eon Musk from SpaceX, and some people dream about other important things like living a happy life. Some people, like exceptional leaders, dream about leaving behind a living legacy that contributes to the world even after they are gone. This legacy creates their purpose in life. Mix in a plan and some passion and you have a recipe for success.
Element #3: Lead by example and lead yourself first - each exceptional leader knows that it starts with them. They have to start by setting the example, by giving people something to look and live up to. They know that by their example they can guide, motivate and inspire people around them.
Element #4: Guide, motivate and inspire other people - The exceptional leader knows that his primary function is to guide, inspire and motivate, not to be the hero, the one that steals the limelight. The exceptional leader knows that if he is inspired and motivated he will be able to guide the people around him to transform toward excellence using inspiration and motivation. The exceptional leader is happy to step back and let his people get the praise for good performance and success.
Element #5: The 5% more rule - When planning or doing something, apply the discipline to do it 5% better. Exceptional leaders take 5% more time to make focused decisions to revolutionize their life, careers and selves. Exceptional leaders focus 5% more on catching the next opportunity to improve themselves and the world around them. The exceptional leader gets 5% more done because they focus 5%-more on doing. They don’t just focus on starting, nor do they focus just on the process, they focusing on completing. A 5% increase of finishing things transforms organizations and people from ordinary to excellence.
Beyond understanding these elements lies striving to realize these 5 elements in our lives. Great leaders don't just understand or own these elements, they claim them to the fullest. Make it an immediate goal to connect and claim these five elements because it will make you extraordinary.
Be extraordinary!
Myles Rennie
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