DNA of a Leader

 

Port Blair

Leaders create space, others take it,
Leaders solve problems, others create it.

Leaders connect people, others divide,
Leaders pull people up, others push them away.

Leaders give credit, others take it,
Leaders operate from love, others from fear.

Leaders unblock, others create blocks,
Leaders encourage, others discourage.

Leaders make their people feel safe, others instill fear,
Leaders make their people smile, others cause tears.

Leaders trust others, others don’t trust,
Leaders earn and keep trust, others break it.

Leaders don’t fear uncertainty, others fear no-certainty,
Leaders move the game forward, others prefer status quo.

Leaders don’t play favorites, others have pets,
Leaders use merit, others rely on politics.

Leaders create stars around them, others try to become one,
Leaders enjoy successes of others, others want it only for them.

Leaders magnify goodness, others magnify shortcomings,
Leaders correct mistakes, others are blind to what’s good.

Leaders know the big picture and take time to explain it,
Others either don’t know or don’t like to share it.

Leaders don’t hide information, others thrive on secrets,
Leaders give chance to all, others take all the chances.

Leaders say one thing to everyone, others say one thing per person,
Leaders call spade a spade, others call a spade jade and vice-versa.

Leaders talk less and listen more, others only talk,
Leaders want to understand others, others only want to be understood.

Leaders focus on quality, others on quantity,
Leaders want to be the most sensible, others want to be the loudest.

Leaders can do silent work, others crave visibility,
Leaders want the work to be done, others want to be seen doing it.

Leaders take a stand, others vacillate,
Leaders come to the point, others beat around the bush.

Leaders give autonomy, others want to control,
Leaders make others grow, others nourish their own ego.

Leaders know when and how to get out of the way,
Others don't realize that they are in the way.

Leaders deliver results, others deliver sound bytes,
Leaders create magic and miracles, where others can’t survive.

Leaders make bold moves, others play it safe,
Leaders demand greatness, others wade in mediocrity.

Leaders have a focus, others are all over the place,
Concentrated sun rays burn paper, scattered rays create imagery.

Leaders inspire others to perform, others pressurize,
Leaders understand their people, others care a dime.

Leaders protect their people, others hide behind them,
Leaders take bullets for their people, others fire many.

Leaders think about the future of their people,
Others only think about what they can extract.

Leaders create relationships for life, others spoil it,
Everyone wants to work for a leader, others make people exit.

PS. Originally published on February 4, 2017 on LinkedIn.