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 Wisdom and Leadership

Drawing from conversations with hundreds of leaders in many different fields, Dr. Karen Richardson offers a unique perspective on what wisdom and leadership really mean.

"In conversations with people who have achieved wisdom, often we find that their insights come from life's pain and the lessons they are able to learn from it."

Often times, those looking for leadership seek out advice from other successful people like them. "But if you want to learn how to lead any organization or community of people," says Dr. Richardson, "you have to talk to people who are very different from you."

Maya Angelou tells us that, "people will forget what you said and did, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

To be a good leader you need to be able to understand the feelings of those who look up to you. You need to be able to empathize with them and realize that all they really want is for someone else to acknowledge their own feelings. Dr. Richardson goes on to explain that "those who are truly wise don't need to be the master of others. They simply need to recognize that others are masters of themselves and live accordingly. They know that leadership is not about being in charge or controlling people. Instead, it's about using your own power to help people become who they really are."

Here is a list of characteristics Dr. Richardson believes a good leader should have and why:

1) Desire to help others

Often leaders lead because they don't want to be helped. Or because it's easier for them not to, rather than take the time and effort necessary to really learn how to do so. From a leadership perspective, this is always a mistake. It is far better to simply know who it is you want to help than it is to want to control everyone so you don't have to be responsible for the outcome of their lives. "Most people who are truly wise are good leaders in spite of themselves," says Dr. Richardson, "because they know it's much more important for them to listen and care than it is for them to lead."

"Most people who are truly wise are good leaders in spite of themselves," says Dr. Richardson, "because they know it's much more important for them 

to listen and care than it is for them to lead.

2) Ability to forgive.

Ask any good leader who they are and you will often find that underneath their responsibilities and their own personal struggles, they are first and foremost a person who has been able to learn how to let go. "One of the greatest lessons a leader must learn," says Dr. Richardson, "is how to forgive."

Patricia Schroeder said, "Forgiving is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude." A good leader will let go of situations that make him or her bitter or angry. They will refuse to carry grudges against people who have wronged them because they understand that by doing so they are only diminishing themselves from the world around them. "To truly lead," says Dr. Richardson, "you have to be able to forgive the people who hurt you."

3) Desire to help others become great.

"Great leaders are those who have learned how to help others become great," says Dr. Richardson. "In fact, they are second only to the teachers in terms of their influence on others." Great leaders have a strong desire to see other people realize their true potential as human beings and as leaders within the world around them. They see that it is not in anyone's best interest for people to feel small or insignificant, so they work hard at helping them feel important and respected by everyone around them.

"Great leaders are those who have learned how to help other people become great.

4) Knowledge about their particular field.

If you learn what it takes to lead something, you will probably be able to do it, but if you don't know what it is you are trying to lead, then the best anyone can possibly do is hold their position. "Leadership," says Dr. Richardson, "is not something that can be learned in a book or taught via a program. It's something that has to be lived." The greatest leaders in the world have always been people who were acutely aware of their own field and what it takes for them to succeed there (and in all other areas of life). They know what they are, not because of things they have read or learned, but because of the people who have told them.

"Leadership is not something that can be learned in a book or taught via a program. It's something that has to be lived."

5) Passion for their particular field of expertise.

Great leaders are always passionate about their work within the world around them and this passion fuels their hunger to help others become even better at what they do. Great leaders live by the principle of "doing what you love and succeeding at it." Simply put, if you don't love what you do for a living then there would be absolutely no reason for anyone else to love it with you.

"Great leaders are always passionate about their work within the world around them."

6) Ability to stay centered.

When people think of great leaders, they often describe them as being full of joy or excitement, never showing any signs of anger or frustration. Dr. Richardson says that staying centered is absolutely critical for being able to lead effectively. "Keep your mind on your work," she says, "and your body and heart will follow."

7) Ability to listen to others.

The greatest leaders in the world have always been people who could listen to other people and be able to hear what they didn't say, but were trying so hard to say in a way that made sense. They are people who have a desire to learn how to be compassionate and gentle with others. To understand the feeling of others all they really need to do is imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes. "Good leaders," says Dr. Richardson, "will always listen because they know that listening is the best way to help other people feel better about themselves."

8) Ability to be compassionate with others.

Most people who come from a place of compassion will usually go on to lead a life full of joy, satisfaction and peace. Most importantly, they will also have a strong desire to help other people feel good about themselves as well. Great leaders are compassionate people. They know that peace and happiness are always within reach, if they only listen to other people with their heart.

"Most leaders came from a place of compassion. They know that peace and happiness are always within reach, if they only listen to other people with their heart."

9) Ability to be tenacious.

Good leaders will never give up on the causes they believe in or the people who need them the most. It is undoubtedly one of the reasons why so many other people want to follow them along their journey. "Tenacity is one of the greatest traits a leader can have," says Dr.

Conclusion:

"Leaders are those who have learned how to help other people become great," says Dr. Richardson. "In fact, they are second only to the teachers in terms of their influence on others." Good leaders will lead by example, and never stop learning or growing. They know that change is a constant and that to be truly great requires them to work hard at becoming better every day. They are people who know what it takes to reach their full potential within life and as leaders and they do everything they can in order to make it happen.

"Good leaders always listen because they know that listening is the best way to help other people feel better about themselves.