Leadership Qualities: Power may rule for a while, but life-changing inspiration comes from the heart.

Leadership Qualities: November 20, 2008, Business Report, The Star, By Jo Hazelhurst.

Recently, I met someone who inspired me immensely. But like many things in life, inspiration usually requires us to dig deep into who we really are - not always a comfortable task.

The meeting was a catalyst for great change in myself. I've had to confront my own choices around leadership and consider the kinds of choices I want to see myself making in the years to come.

Leadership fascinates me; I am an earnest student. And over the years, great leaders have been able to move mountains in me, even when I cling stubbornly to futile beliefs and habits. As our first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, said: "It always seems impossible until it's done."

What makes a great leader? What leadership qualities are present - consistantly? What separates Mandela, for instance, from US President George W Bush?

Mandela cares about people.

It is not enough to be powerful. Leaders like Mandela have vision that extends beyond their own followers. They look for solutions that include everyone. They build ethics and integrity into their professional and personal lives. They lead with love and compassion.

You may not be destined to lead a nation, but that doesn't mean you don't lead. Some of you lead families, friends and teams. Some lead businesses.

There is someone who follows you, who sees as you as a role model. And if you are humble, you will never forget that no matter how far up the ladder you rise, there are people whose guidance you must seek.

As a business leader, your potential to effect change is no less than that of a political leader. It's what you do with that potential that counts.

Even small businesses make a difference to their customers, employees and associates, as well as their families. These multiple interactions combine to change communities.

To choose leadership, you are either courageous or greedy - and only you know which. What will separate one from the other is what lies within you. Gangster Al Capone was strong - but that doesn't mean he was a great leader.

What is almost guaranteed is that sooner or later your inner self will be exposed and your true agenda will be shown. That is what makes leadership so tough.

Thankfully effective leadership qualities can be developed, through coaching, mentoring, training and experience.

Personally, I don't want my weaknesses and faults exposed. I can be controlling. Usually this means I'm anxious that something will go wrong. So I'm not getting any joy. And my team sure isn't having any fun.

Imagine national exposure: my ego would not survive. The bigger the team, the more people I may hurt with my weaknesses. These are things I worry about with my own leadership qualities.

But if I am not willing to engage, how will I grow past the parts of me that feel small?

I believe that anyone who leads for the right reason can become a great leader.

True greatness can be found when you can hold a vision of the bigger picture. When you have the foresight to know that, as long as everyone is not okay, you will not be okay.

Any gains will be temporary. It's not just your goal that matters, but how you get there. Mudslinging and name calling, as we see so often in South African politics and business, is a sign of emotional immaturity.

Mandela, who is known for his sharpness in words from time to time, was never afraid to challenge those he disagreed with. But he never did so in a way that was demeaning.

A great leader would not seek an unnecessary war in language, because violence in words must find a form in the physical world.

This is how all wars start. Language has such power.

Inspirational leadership brings diverse groups and communities together to work on solutions so that everyone has ownership of the process.

This is "deep democracy". If business leaders set out to become great, the business community would change not only the lives of the people these leaders interact with but also their communities and, eventually, the face of the world.

Copyright 2008

Jo Hazelhurst is an executive, team building and personal development coach/ facilitator. She also writes on business and leadership for various publications.

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