Feeling lonely at the top?

[Leo Leadership #1]: If its lonely at the top, you are not doing something right!
Written by Vincent Khor, District 308B2 Coordinator for Leo Forum, Leadership Training & Development

Dear fellow Leo leaders of District 308B2,

I just finished my exam, sitting in front of the computer and thought of writing something about leadership to you guys, since it is my portfolio in the District Leo Cabinet.

Being a leader, especially you, either as the Leo President, Vice President, Secretary or even a Project Chairperson, it is not an easy task, and it is definitely a great OPPORTUNITY, and great EXPERIENCE. Every night, spend 5 minutes to review what you had done to your club, to your fellow team mates, to you fellow members. Look at yourself, see where your weakness is and what have been your mistakes all the while, and try to correct them. The question this week that I am going to ask you all are:

1) ARE YOU FEELING LONELY ON TOP OF YOUR LEADERSHIP? If you are feeling even 10% of it, you are doing something wrong.

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LEADERSHIP = FRIENDSHIP, friendship is the foundation of influence; President Abraham Lincoln said: "If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend." Good relationships make influence possible, and friendship is the most positive relationship you can develop with your teammates. Do not treat your members as only your teammate, treat them as your friends... as I believe leadership which works on "relational basis" works 100 times better than leadership which works on "positional basis" When I was an Alpha Leo President, asking members to come for a project/ activity is so easy. You just need to tell them: "Your Co-curriculum marks will be deducted if you absent." Sometimes you as the President, you care more about how the outsiders or the Lions look at you, more than how your members feel or whether they really interested in what they are doing. But, things change when you become the Omega Leo President... you can't use the same way you are using in Alpha Leo Clubs. At this point of leadership, your friendship and influences to your club members become so important to make things happen. That's how you differentiate "Manager" and "Leader" who used "positional leadership" and "relational leadership" respectively.

Those CLOSEST to the LEADER determine the success level of a Leader. This statement can have positive or negative outcomes, depending on your ability to develop those closest to you. For many years, I had been realized that many so called "TOP President" had failed to train those closest to them, which are their SUCCESSORS. Stop for a moment and think of the 5 -6 people closest to you in your organization. Are you developing them? Do you have a plan for them? Are they growing? Have they been able to lift your load or better than you?

As the potential leaders of your club/ organization, you are either an asset or a liability to the organization. Here is a story: "When there's a problem, a 'fire' in your club, you as a leader are often the 1st to arrive at the scene. You have in your hands 2 buckets. One contains water and the other contains gasoline. The 'spark' before your will either become greater problem because you pour the gasoline on it, or it will be extinguished because you use the bucket of water." The question that you as the Club Leader needs to ask is: "Am I training them to use the gasoline or the water?" .
P/S: The best example that you can see is our 4th and 5th Prime Minister =)

So, start building good personal relationship with your members and teammates today, and work as ONE. Stop being selfish... Start training your juniors/ successors around you, you will find them even more rewarding than the TOP PRESIDENT Award when they are a better leader than you.

Even when you've played the game of your life, it's the feeling of teamwork that you'll remember. You'll forget the plays, the shots and the scores, but you will never forget your teammates. Leadership and learning is indispensible. Enjoy your journey as the Leo leaders of District 308B2! ROAR!! ROAR!! ROAR!!

References: John C. Maxwell

Posted by: Mak HW