Great Leaders Are Consistent
The word leadership gets brought up in many discussions. It is the way in which we grow, modify and change our organizational or individual strategy. One characteristic I see many strong leaders sharing is their consistency in behavior.
As a solid leader, your actions (what you say, what you do, where you spend your time, what you deem important, the decisions you make, etc.) are being observed and analyzed by others and, thus, demand consistency. This way, the people under you will not be confused, surprised or caught off guard. And, remember it is not the person’s title that makes a leader. Anyone within an organization can be a leader.
So, here is a word picture to consider. Try to think of consistency as being the steady and methodical pace of a marathon runner and inconsistency as the erratic (speed up/slow down) pace of a short distance runner. Consistency of leadership as a CEO, CMO or Sales Executive is applicable to all. Here are five consistent leader themes to remember:
- Consistent leaders are honest. They do not have to remember what “partial truth” they might have told. The complete truth is so much easier to remember; and you know where you stand with such leaders.
- Consistent leaders are loyal to their employers and/or employees. This means these individuals look at the big picture and do not simply react in an emotional manner to one event. They look at the entire situation and refrain from making “knee-jerk” reactions.
- Consistent leaders are well-rounded in all aspects of their lives. They know who they are and what is truly important. They strive to do what is right (whether people are watching or not)…and to be authentic each day.
- Consistent leaders set growth-oriented goals and then track their progress to ensure they are growing in all areas (mental, physical, social and spiritual) of life. It is the consistent journey, not the end destination, that matters to such leaders.
- Consistent leaders are committed to operating with integrity. They do not change their behavior or “moral compass” depending on who they are talking to. They know character is in the “trying” to be more consistent and that it is a process.
In short, leadership is all about consistency. I hope these examples (no matter what your role in the organization is) prove helpful to you. Have a great week.
- Categories:
- Business Management - Marketing/Sales
Ryan T. Sauers has spent nearly 30 years running, leading or consulting with printing, graphics, promotional and visual communications-related organizations. Sauers is CEO of two companies, Sauers Consulting Strategies LLC and End Resultz Inc. that among other things, owns magazines and is a media firm. Key areas of focus of the firms include sales training, marketing strategy, personal branding, leadership development and organizational change.
Sauers is a frequent national speaker and columnist. He has been recognized as one of the top 80 CMOs globally and achieved the top designation of Certified Marketing Executive through Sales and Marketing Executives International.
Sauers is an adjunct university professor teaching leadership and communication courses to current and aspiring leaders. He is a Certified Myers Briggs, DiSC and Emotional Intelligence Practitioner (one of few in the U.S. to achieve all three rigorous certifications related to human communications, personality and behavior).
Sauers has completed his doctoral-level coursework in Organizational Leadership and is now (ABD - All But Dissertation) working on his dissertation on why some entrepreneurs and small businesses achieve initial and long-term success, whereas countless others do not.
Sauers is the host of the Marketing Matters radio show in Atlanta that later becomes a global podcast. He also is the host of the Community Connections TV show that comes out in video and podcast form. Sauers is the author of the best-selling books, Everyone is in Sales, and Would You Buy from You? More info at RyanSauers.com or call (678) 825-2049 or email Ryan@RyanSauers.com
