There’s nothing more difficult than being a great leader!  Few can comprehend the pain of a leader.  John Updike said, “A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.”

Are you willing to take on the woes of the people?  It may be your family’s woes, your kids’ woes, your company’s woes, or your team’s woes, but a great leader is one who deals with the woes, the concerns, and the very heart of the people.

Ralph Nader went on to say, “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”  Inadequate leaders create followers, but great leaders produce more leaders.  The hallmark of great leaders is their ability to produce great leaders.

Through patience, and discipline, great leaders create more great leaders.
Being a great leader is not a matter of having a great title, or even being in a position of great leadership.  Bo Bennett said, “Without initiative, leaders are simply workers in leadership positions.”  To lead effectively, you must take the initiative, and you must effectively lead your team to victory.

They say an army of lambs led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a lamb.  Leadership is the key to all success, so today I want to talk about the seven signs of a great leader.

The 7 Signs of a Great Leader:
1. They Take the Lead
“Leadership is getting someone to do what they don’t want to do, to achieve what they want to achieve.” –Tom Landry
A great leader takes charge!  They motivate their people to do what they don’t want to do; they motivate their people to do what they think can’t be done; they motivate their people to do what they’re too tired to do.  They motivate their people to grow!  And when it’s all said and done, they’ve motivate their people to succeed.

2. They Lead by Example
“If you don’t understand that you work for your mislabeled ‘subordinates,’ then you know nothing of leadership. You know only tyranny.” –Dee Hock

Leadership is not about your position or the words you say, leadership is about your actions and your attitude.  A great leader leads through his actions and his attitude.  He or she is the first partaker of the gospel that they preach.  A great leader doesn’t sit on the sidelines; a great leader gets involved in the game.  The basketball player Larry Bird said, “Leadership is diving for a loose ball, getting the crowd involved, getting other players involved. It’s being able to take it as well as dish it out. That’s the only way you’re going to get respect from the players.”

3. They Lead With Compassion
“You don’t lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower
A great leader must be as focused as a lion, but they must also be as gentle as a lamb.  A great leader leads with compassion, always considering the emotions and perspectives of others.  A great leader doesn’t use their position to trample over the feelings of others; they use their position to grow and develop others.

4. They Accept Responsibility
“He who is a leader must always act alone. And acting alone, accept everything alone.” –Ferdinand Marcos
A leader is ultimately responsible for the results of those whom they lead; the good results, the bad results, and the down-right ugly results.  This is why many refuse to be leaders; the responsibility is often overwhelming, and the success, which depends on others, can seem impossible.  The woes of the people surely deter the desire to lead.  But great leaders will rise above these afflictions and will emerge victorious in the face of seeming impossibilities.  A great leader will patiently teach, and then lead their team to victory.

A great leader will lead in the front when there is danger, and will take responsibility for failure; they will lead from behind when there is victory, so that those who follow get the credit.

5. They Know Where They’re Going
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” –Warren G. Bennis
A great leader paints a compelling vision that people want to follow.  But it doesn’t stop there; a great leader then provides the action steps necessary to ensure the vision becomes a reality.  A great leader knows that “nothing just happens.”  I like what Harry Truman said, he said, “Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

6. They Know How to Get There
“Leadership is, among other things, the ability to inflict pain and get away with it – short-term pain for long-term gain.” –George Will
A great leader knows how to get to their destination.  In the process of getting there they may have to inflict short-term pain so that others can receive long-term gain.  Sometimes pain is necessary for gain.  Sometimes pressure is needed before you get the promise.  A great leader knows that in order to get to the destination they may have to sacrifice the comfort of some immediate friendships.
A great leader knows how to get to their intended destination.

7. They Will Get There
“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes” –Peter Drucker
When it’s all said and done, nothing matters but the results.  Results are something that you can’t argue with.  They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and they are right.  A great leader will eventually lead their team to victory.  Victory is paramount; it is the chief sign of a great leader.

In Closing
Decide to become a great leader today.  Many people are depending on you, don’t let them down.Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!