‘If you believe in yourself, and have dedication and pride, and never quit, you’ll be a winner’ - says Paul Bryant
Pride is a very strong emotion. It is one of the most powerful driving forces known to mankind. A proud man is a strong man. There is great admiration throughout the western world of the way both America and Japan instil and display pride in their nations. Compared with the painful way we British acknowledge our British roots, the Americans in particular have a natural and deeply felt pride in their country and its achievements.
I have no better example of this than when I watch the American Football ‘Superbowl’ final. The players stand on the pitch feeling pride in their own personal achievement. The crowd are proud of their team’s achievement. As their national anthem is sung and the Stars and Stripes unfurled, military jets roar over the stadium. An immense pride is displayed for the American way of life and all it stands for. So much pride at so many levels and all at one simple sporting event!
You can so clearly see the value and effect of this; the bond it creates, and the powerful incentive that is generated by the desire to be a part of this ‘wonderful thing’. I believe we all desire to affiliation to ‘great things’ we can relate to and feel proud of.
I have always tried to take a personal pride in everything I do at work. It raises my own expectations as to what I believe I can achieve, and sets the tone and standards for those around me. It is a marvellous incentive.
People who have a pride in their company and desire to be a real part of something that is collectively far bigger than they could ever achieve themselves, will play an effective and valued role. Pride in yourself, your efforts, your abilities, and your achievements are worth much more that you would ever believe.
Be proud, and never be ashamed of that pride. Never let anyone take that away from you. If you can say to yourself ‘Where would I rather be, than Right Here, Right Now?’ you have a pride that is unrivalled. Enjoy it and benefit from it. Be proud of everything you do, and take particular pride in your achievements.
This is about you!
Never make the mistake of linking your own personal pride to the status of the role you currently hold. Your role is simply the job you happen to be applying your skills to at any given moment in time. You are always capable of different and greater things. It is not the job that makes the person; more importantly it is what the person brings to the job.
Being the Managing Director or company owner is an excellent way of spending your working life. Why? Because bosses do none of the work and receive all the benefits – right? It is said that nothing motivates a man more than to see his boss put in an honest day’s work!
You can see where the comment comes from. It is certainly correct that no tangible signs of work are visible – no dirty hands, nothing physically manufactured at the end of each day, or no till roll showing the cash value of all the sales you fought to win.
Yet a leaders role comprises very important work on behalf of your business. It must be appreciated that it is far removed from the work that your team may be completing, but nonetheless extremely demanding. Being an ambassador for the company, planning which direction it will take in the future, and carrying the responsibility for everything the company does, is no mean feat. Those who say that leaders don’t actually do any ‘real work’ rarely want any of the responsibility that is an integral part of a leaders role. Many people wish to walk out of work at the end of a working day not still churning problems, possibilities and production statistics over and over in their minds until sleep eventually wins the battle. As a leader, the role lives with you- it is you!
Being the President of the United States is probably the best job you could ever have. You are the most powerful man in the world, an ambassador of the strongest and most influential country. Playing out the role of ambassador and nation’s figurehead means there probably isn’t much time left in the day to actually have to do any work at all! There is a saying that the higher you work your way up in a company, the less work you do. If only this was true!
I would suggest that the following are present in all outstanding Managing Directors, Chairmen and great leaders of men, and particularly a good President of the USA.
- Respected – set apart yet approachable.
- Unruffled and in control.
- A unique individual – an enigma.
These are criteria that, if applied correctly to your role as leader, will allow you to be ambassador and statesman over your own responsibilities and above all else, will help you command respect from all. Respect is probably the single most important factor to be a successful manager, and particularly an outstanding leader. If you gain and retain a person’s respect, you will be able to work with them and together achieve great things.
Look at the most effective leaders. They will have earned the respect of those around them, and this is no more evident as seeing their team respond well in a crisis. If you analyse their approach it is likely you will see them as calm, in control, and extremely effective.
Fire fighters are taught never to run, but walk to the scene of a disaster. There is still urgency to their task; they stride out with purpose. If they run they may fall and injure themselves, and be no use to anyone. Their measured authoritative approach is what you notice the most.
Being set apart, in control whatever the situation, and having unique qualities that no one can quite define, places you head and shoulders above the rest. It provides you with a clear and important ‘presence’ in all situations. As a young director I longed to be the experienced Chairman who upon entering a room immediately commanded the attention of those present – before even uttering a word – a manager who everyone would wait to hear what their view was. I longed to be a man who was known for his wisdom, business knowledge, leadership and measured judgement. This is a person you should aim to be – a person who has earned the respect of everyone. Aim to rise above every situation. Be in control and command respect. Be masterfully measured.
The leaders you respect at work are almost certainly strong, unique individuals. They have personal skills and abilities that no one else could fulfil – their unique personality and character set them apart as being valuable and irreplaceable. They are the highest calibre leaders in every way.
As you continue to observe and learn what skills make people effective, you can apply these and enhance your own individual abilities. Work on all the areas and characteristics that when combined will ensure you are achieving your best. Admiral Lord Nelson was an outstanding leader of men, inspiring them to give their all for their country. He was seen to display ‘that degree of dignity which a man of quality should have’
