Great Leaders Pay It Forward

A great leader continuously has a hunger to learn, develop and pay it forward. When you witness a great leader you will witness a person who makes it about those they lead and not about themselves. A great leader focuses on the keys to their people’s development and success, never worrying about their own.

Is this true?

I believe a great leader, because of this mindset, leaves a legacy because of the focus on others. When this focus drives development, people, teams and businesses develop. Furthermore, the next line of leaders develop. Great leaders, because they are making it about being a coach naturally understand that people want to be led. People hunger for leadership, and they rally around their leader when they find a great leader.

How is this so?

Because a great leader is satisfied when their people win, that is their reward. When awards, promotions and success happen a great leader enjoys seeing their people and teams receive the limelight. This is true in business, true in society, and true in sports. Ultimately all three of these groups have individuals that strive when coached, groomed, focused on, and developed.

Great leaders win more than once.

Yes, great leaders have the innate ability to recreate success, with new teams, with new players and in new industries. We all have seen other leaders have short term success, but then we see their struggle to repeat. But a great leader has strong values and principles that everything they do is set on this foundation.

Great leaders evolve.

Yes, great leaders do not fear change, they embrace change. They understand that industries, tactics, and strategies change especially with innovation. Yet great leaders have a process to determine what change is and how they will determine the next steps and next stages. They welcome insight and feedback from trusted advisors and then set their strategy in motion.

Great leaders pay it forward.

Great leaders want others to have success. They desire others to learn and pay it forward as well. Think about great coaches in sports. Bill Walsh developed so many future coaches. Greg Popovich loses assistant coaches almost every year because they are sought after as head coaches. Dick Vermeil, Pat Riley, and yes Phil Jackson have recreated success elsewhere with their leadership over a team.

Who is your example and why? Please share and inspire us.