Nine C’s of LeadershipNine C’s of Leadership

From

“Where Have All The Leaders Gone?”

By Lee Iacoca (2007)

1. A leader has to be a 1. A leader has to be a person of person of CCharacter.haracter.

• A leader knows the difference between right and wrong and have the guts to do the right thing.

• A leader does not abuse his power. He weighs the consequences of his actions.

2. A leader has to 2. A leader has to CCommunicate.ommunicate.

• Leaders must know how to talk straight, not spending time convincing us that things are not really as bad as they seem.

• Communication has to start with telling the truth, even when it’s painful.

3. A leader has to be 3. A leader has to be CCompetent.ompetent.

• A leader should know what’s got be done. He must be a problem solver.

• A competent leader chooses his/her team well.

• He/she picks people who know what they’re doing.

4. A leader has to show 4. A leader has to show CCuriosityuriosity

• He/she listens to people outside of the “Yes, sir” crowd in his/her inner circle.

• If a leader never steps outside his/her comfort zone to hear different ideas, he/she grows stale.

• If you don’t put your beliefs to the test, how would you know if they are right?

5. A leader has to be 5. A leader has to be CCreative.reative.

• A leader has to think outside the box.

• Leadership is about managing change. Things change, and you get creative.

• A leader adapts to change.

6. A leader must have 6. A leader must have CCourage.ourage.

• A leader must have “balls.”

• Courage is a commitment to sit down at the negotiating table and talk.

• A political leader takes a position even when he/she knows it will cost him/her votes.

7. To be a leader, you’ve go 7. To be a leader, you’ve go to have to have CConviction.onviction.

• A leader must have passion to get something done.

• He/she never abandons advocacies and missions in life.

8. A leader should have 8. A leader should have CCharisma.harisma.

• Charisma is the quality that makes people want to follow you.

• A leader must be able to inspire.

• People follow a leader because they trust him.

9. You can’t be a leader, if you 9. You can’t be a leader, if you don’t have don’t have CCommon Senseommon Sense

• Common sense means knowing “a dip of horseshit from a dip of vanilla ice cream.” If you don’t know the difference, you can never be a leader.

Leaders are madeLeaders are madeespecially in times of especially in times of CCrisis.risis.

In these times of crisis, we need to choose our leaders wisely.