Even small things that happen to you contribute to your personal development – Reason 31

My first job was such that I don’t ever include it in my curriculum.  However, I learned so much from it; small lessons that help me to keep organised in a very fast-paced world.

There is always something that will help you to be a better person, if you just take the time to look for that, no matter what it is.

Leaders do take their time to look at everything that happens to them and by doing that, they are able to transform a seemingly useless situation into opportunities for personal growth.

Take for instance a person like Steve Jobs[1], arguably one of the most important leaders in the field of technology.  In his speech at Stanford, he summarised his experiences in life; casting light on at least one thing that wouldn’t look as important, but had a huge impact in computing as we know today.

When he could not afford college, he took classes which would not be considered so relevant to his profession: calligraphy.  That changed a world where computers were not supposed to offer aesthetics and Jobs thought differently, and he was right about it.  Not only does his computer offer a good image for writing or for graphics in general, but all personal computers in the world have now that aim, following Jobs’ example.

If you are a leader, remember how in a few years these things you are doing that may seem boring or irrelevant may turn part of your life and your gift to the world.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1] Steve Jobs is arguably one of the most influential people for the 20th and 21st centuries.  He is the founder of Apple Computer and an inspiration for many of the inventions that are part of people’s day-to-day lives.  For his well-known speech at Stanford University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

A leader may teach others, but also learn from them – Reason 30

We have a world filled with natural teachers, people who easily explain to others how to do something, what the meaning of life is and how to be a better person.  As world teachers, we enrich each other with new perspectives and we correct each other’s behaviour, with the aim to help them to be better and to promote harmony in our society.

At the same time, we are a world of eager students learning from others at every step.  Due to this, we change because we observe others, we understand what they are doing, we discern and then we replicate it in our own actions.

However, an obstacle in our development process is the fact we pose as teachers when we should be quiet and learn, or we try to be students when others are waiting for us to give an example.  Being a leader means to know what to be at what time.

A leader is the one who is silent when it is time to learn from others and to change his or her behaviour.  In that sense, a leader will be like a child with eagerness to learn and improve and also like a wise person who knows she or he does not know it all.

At a time of teaching, a leader will look for ways to encourage others to do things differently without it seeming like correction.  Best of all, a leader will follow up and make sure others have understood the lesson they gave through their example.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

The power of cooperation gives context to the world – Reason 29

If someone would describe the world today in about 50 years’ time, they could use a spider web as an analogy.  On one hand, the web we are living is strong and interconnected; on the other hand, just as a child could break it, our huge human network is as fragile.

For everyday people, to know how to manage life in this web is part of the big challenge and many times the person can feel like a fly that is caught up in it.  For a leader, the fact we are a network is an advantage, since she or he constantly has a task to perform, or an activity that is probably bigger than her or his capacity.

Leaders replace old paradigm of bosses who use their authority as a means to impose order and to get people to contribute with cooperation as a natural skill to get the same results but with different consequences.

Leaders easily learn to navigate in this big human web and how to capitalise this huge potential.  An example of that comes from former USA President Bill Clinton who touched that topic in a notable paper for the International Monetary Fund, with the indicative title The Power of Cooperation[1].  He describes the possibilities of cooperation and results, silently showing their advantages in relation to former paradigms like conquer and win.

That goes beyond politics and global scenarios: for a leader, cooperation starts from within, from his or her own conviction and the natural sense of giving help to others.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

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[1]The Power of Cooperation.  http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2012/12/clinton.htm

A leader embraces those who create obstacles just like a student to a teacher - Reason 28

One of the beautiful things about being a leader is that criticism is welcome as it helps the person to improve.  Instead of getting upset by what others may say, a leader will embrace feedback and use it constructively.

For a leader, life is more than just living: it is an adventure, a book to be written and the most important university.  When he or she focuses on the university aspect, as good as the teachers are, the better the lessons will be.

The person who insults you is in fact a friend in disguise or a teacher who is interested in helping you to improve and to be an even better leader.

Maybe their method or manner of speaking is questionable, but since it is often unavoidable to have people opposing you, being a leader converts a normally annoying situation into a chance to grow.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)