One of the most fundamental elements of great teams are great leaders. But what makes a leader great?
Talking Points:
- There are five simple questions to ask yourself to know if you’re the leader.
- Are People Following You? This is the most basic definition of leadership. Look behind you. Are people following? Do you have a relationship with them, or is it just business?
- Do You Have the Greatest Clarity? We’re talking about the mission of your home or organization. Are you clear on the end goal? If someone else sees it more clearly than you, maybe they’re the leader.
- Do You Have the Deepest Conviction? Do you really believe in the mission from above? Does it run so deep that you’re willing to sacrifice for it? The leader is the first to take a bullet for the home or organization.
- Are You the Most Authentic? Good leaders fearlessly live according to their mission, vision, and values. They’re not perfect, but they’re consistent and can be trusted to act with the whole team in mind
- Are You Submitted to Great Leaders? Every good leader stands on the shoulders of great leaders. Are you submitted to others, or are you a maverick trying to do your own thing?
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Name a great leader in your life. What makes him or her great?
- Which question is the easiest for you to say “yes” to? Which is the hardest for you? Explain.
- Why is missional clarity important for a leader? What can happen to a team (at home or work) that is unclear on its bottom line?
- What are the signs that someone has a deep conviction about the team they are leading? How can you know when they’ve lost that conviction?
- Leaders who “fake it” are eventually exposed and deposed. Give an example of a leader who was not authentic. What happened to the leader and/or team?
- Do you agree that great leaders were once faithful followers? Why or why not?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
