Path to Extraordinary Leadership

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Introduction

Some say that Extraordinary Leadership is something that is injected into our psychology at the moment of our conception. Apparently these leadership characteristics and traits come packaged as part of our DNA makeup. We are therefore either born with the gift for Extraordinary Leadership or we unfortunately draw the short end of the straw. Conversely, others believe that Extraordinary Leaders are not born but rather nurtured and inspired into feats of greatness.

The discussion that follows pre-supposes that we are not born with the essential qualities of leadership ingrained into our psyche. It rather introduces several key components of leadership that can be developed and blended into our psychology over time.

The 1st branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map breaks down the fundamental Leadership Mindset and the essential traits that are required for inspiring leadership in business, sports and life. The 2nd branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map identifies a number of critical skills that a leader must work to cultivate and develop within themselves on a daily basis. The 3rd branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map touches upon some essential practices of leadership that involve motivating others and leading people in challenging times. The final branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map delves into some common leadership mistakes that we must avoid at all costs if we seek to climb the ladder towards the Extraordinary.

The Mindset of an Extraordinary Leader

This branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map breaks down the fundamental traits of an Extraordinary Leader, including the essential principles they live by on a daily basis and the qualities they cultivate within their psyche that help support their actions and decisions.

Leadership Traits

The following is a list of essential traits that one must learn to cultivate into their personality in order to grow as an Extraordinary Leader in business, sports, school and life.

One must be…

Committed

An Extraordinary Leader is 100% committed to their team, company, goals, and vision.

Assertive

An Extraordinary Leader takes action and makes decisions assertively and decisively.

Passionate to Fulfill Vision

An Extraordinary Leader pursues their goals, objectives and visions with a passionate intensity in everything they do on a daily basis.

Courageous in Finding Solutions

An Extraordinary Leader has the courage to find solutions where others only see problems and disappointments.

Confident

An Extraordinary Leader maintains their poise and confidence no matter what events or circumstances are standing in their way.

Honest

An Extraordinary Leader is honest when dealing with others, and most importantly is honest and true to themselves, especially in times of difficulty and trouble.

Never Compromising Highest Standards

An Extraordinary Leader stays true to their highest values and standards no matter how much external pressure they receive from other people and seemingly uncontrollable circumstances.

Not Living by Situational Ethics

An Extraordinary Leader does not live by Situational Ethics. Instead they stay true to their highest principles no matter what consequences may result from their decisions or actions.

Willing to Admit their Mistakes

An Extraordinary Leader shows their humanity by admitting to minor – and at times major – weaknesses, faults and mistakes.

Have a Sense of Humor

An Extraordinary Leader projects their own unique sense-of-humor, and always seeks to point out the lighter side of a situation.

Leadership Principles

The following is a list of important principles that Extraordinary Leaders live by on a daily basis. They seek to project these principles into their daily decisions and actions.

One must be…

Strong Not Rude

An Extraordinary Leader is strong, assertive and decisive, while at the same time being respectful and courteous when dealing with others.

Kind Not Weak

An Extraordinary Leader shows a gentle kindness when the situation requires. However, it would take a fool to assume that this kindness is a sign of weakness. The kindness shown by an Extraordinary Leader is rather a sign of respect for those he/she deals with on a daily basis.

Bold Not a Bully

An Extraordinary Leader takes massive fearless action and does whatever is required to get the job done. However, this does not mean that they bully their way towards their goals and objectives. Instead they progressively navigate and persuade their way through people and obstacles towards their desired outcomes.

Thoughtful Not Lazy

An Extraordinary Leader takes time to think and ponder their leadership style and circumstances each and every day in order to improve the outcomes they desire to bring forth into their life. This should not be mistaken as laziness.

Proud Not Arrogant

An Extraordinary Leader is proud of their work, their people and their accomplishments. Yet you will not hear them bragging about their achievements to others.

Humble Not Timid

An Extraordinary Leader is humble about their accomplishments and abilities. They rather give credit to others than take it for themselves. This should not be mistaken for timidness which stems from a lack of confidence in one’s abilities.

Witty Not Silly

An Extraordinary Leader is witty in nature. They are cunning and clever in their approach to people, events and circumstances.

Leadership Qualities

The following is a list of important qualities that Extraordinary Leaders live by on a daily basis. They seek grow these qualities within themselves on a daily basis.

One must be…

Visionary

An Extraordinary Leader is a visionary. They Think BIG and picture what they want in their minds with clarity and purpose. Moreover they share these visions and plans with others in order to move and inspire them into action for one common purpose and cause.

Firm Against Criticism

An Extraordinary Leader is firm against criticism, fully understanding that unconstructive criticism can destroy even the most resilient hearts.

Inspirational

An Extraordinary Leader projects inspiration through their words, gestures and actions. These symbols inspire their team into massive action for a common purpose, vision and goal.

Excellence Minded

An Extraordinary Leader always thinks in terms of perfecting every action and process that will further help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their enterprise. As a result you will never find them compromising their highest standards or values.

Responsible

An Extraordinary Leader takes full responsibility for their decisions and actions. You will never find them explaining or complaining to others about their current circumstances.

Focused

An Extraordinary Leader is focused on the strengths and needs of the situation, in respect to themselves and especially to the needs of others.

An Extraordinary Leader is focused on the most important tasks, roles and priorities at all times no matter how much mayhem is circulating around them.

Interpersonal Qualities

An Extraordinary Leader has exceptional interpersonal qualities that shine through when dealing with other people. They are always consistent and fair, open to new ideas and perspectives, and project magnanimity – always giving credit to others for their efforts, work and results.

Indispensable Leadership Skills

This branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map delves into the essential skills that an Extraordinary Leader must work on developing within themselves on a daily basis in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness of their actions and decisions.

Interpersonal Skills

The following is a list of Interpersonal Skills that an Extraordinary Leader must master in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness when dealing with other people.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills strengthen an Extraordinary Leader’s ability to reach agreements in an efficient and effective manner.

Delegation Skills

Delegation skills allow an Extraordinary Leader to leverage their time more effectively.

Persuasion & Influence Skills

Persuasion and Influence skills help an Extraordinary Leader to inspire and motivate others into action.

Sales Skills

Sales skills strengthen an Extraordinary Leader’s ability to sell themselves, their company, their team and their product or service to others in a more effective and efficient manner.

Public Speaking Skills

Public Speaking skills allow an Extraordinary Leader to get their point and argument across to others in a confident, entertaining and persuasive manner.

Psychological / Behavioral / Rapport Creation Skills

An Extraordinary Leader must have a solid understanding of human behavior. First, they must become aware of people’s physical and psychological tendencies, habits, values, beliefs, needs, etc, at a deeply profound level. Secondly, they must adjust their approach accordingly in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness when dealing with others. The deeper their understanding of these psychological traits, the more profound of an influence they will have on other people’s lives.

Personal Skills

The following is a list of personal Skills that an Extraordinary Leader must master in order to stay ahead of the game and on top of the daily events and circumstances that confront their reality.

Goal Setting / Time Management Skills

Goal Setting is closely intertwined with Time Management Skills. An Extraordinary Leader requires both to set long-term visions, short-term objectives, priorities, and tasks for themselves and others.

Effective Thinking Skills

Critical Questioning Tactics: An Extraordinary Leader must be able to keep an open mind about every event, person or circumstance. This is where effective Critical Thinking Tactics become essential to their decision making process.

Creative Thinking Ability: An Extraordinary Leader must be able to think outside the box about problems and circumstances that may impede their progress towards the attainment of their goals and objectives.

Problem Solving Thinking Strategies: An Extraordinary Leader must have the ability to think through the problems confronting their reality in a logical and structured manner that naturally enhances their efficiency and effectiveness as they go about their day.

Self-Motivation & Self-Awareness Skills

An Extraordinary Leader must have an understanding of their own tendencies, habits, values, rules, meta-programs, beliefs and behaviors at a profoundly deep level of awareness. Only with this understanding will they be able to direct their own behavior in the most efficient and effective manner possible at all times.

Decision Making Skills

An Extraordinary Leader understands how to make effective decisions at the right moment and time. They fully comprehend the drawbacks, benefits, and consequences of each decision before it is made. And they time their decisions, perfectly aligning them to the needs of the situation and the people involved in bringing this decision into fruition.

Adaptability Skills

Being Adaptable means maintaining a flexibility of thought and a fluidity in action that will allow an Extraordinary Leader to change course and direction as events and circumstances are transforming around them.

Outstanding Leadership Actions

This branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map breaks down a number of actions that all leaders will find important and necessary as they move down the path towards improving their leadership style and effectiveness.

Motivating People

An Extraordinary Leader must have an uncanny ability to motivate and inspire their people into action. The following presents a number of significant components that are necessary and required when it comes to motivating people from the highest levels.

Encourage Highest Standards

An Extraordinary Leader encourages the highest standards of work, behavior and action in order to help their people gain the very most out of their personal abilities.

Communicate Honestly & Clearly

An Extraordinary Leader understands the importance of honest and clear communication at all times. This clarity helps instill confidence, while honesty stimulates mutual respect between the leader and his/her people.

Inspire through Action

An Extraordinary Leader clearly understands that only through leading by example and inspiring others via their own personal actions, will they be able to get the most out of their people.

Become a Teacher

An Extraordinary Leader takes on the role as a teacher and mentor. They help grow the minds of the people that follow them by instilling knowledge and wisdom using creative and inspirational tactics.

Empathize, Dream & Strategize with Others

An Extraordinary Leader treats others humanly with deep respect and appreciation. Empathizing, dreaming and strategizing with others grows the personal bonds and strengthens the connection between a leader and their followers.

Leading in Challenging Times

An Extraordinary Leader is most extraordinary in times of crisis when everything seems to be falling apart and crashing down around them. The following lists a number of key personal strategies that Extraordinary Leaders use to keep themselves focused and in control of seemingly uncontrollable events and circumstances.

Create Small Victories

An Extraordinary Leader finds ways to create small victories that keep them and their Followers motivated and moving forward.

Keep Sense-of-Humor

No matter what is going on around them, an Extraordinary Leader always sees the lighter-side of every situation. They fully understand that a sense-of-humor is a key component that will relax and re-focus them on what is most important at any moment in time.

Keep Motivation Levels High

An Extraordinary Leader finds ways to keep their motivation levels as high as possible at all times. The motivational strategies they utilize in these situations depend on their personality and circumstances.

Make Emotional Intelligent Decisions

An Extraordinary Leader understands that in times of crisis that their emotions can influence their rationale and decision making process in unfortunate ways. Hence, they keep their emotions in check at all times and only make decisions that are based on logical conclusions and solid evidence.

Be First to Sacrifice

In times of crisis an Extraordinary Leader is always the first to make personal sacrifices. This in turn inspires their Followers to follow suit.

Focus on the Bigger Picture

During challenging times, an Extraordinary Leader understands the importance of maintaining their focus on the bigger picture, and not absorbing their mind within daily “spot-fires” that would normally distract others.

Common Leadership Mistakes

The final branch of the IQ Matrix Mind Map delves into some common leadership mistakes that we must avoid at all costs if we seek to climb the ladder towards the Extraordinary.

Interpersonal Mistakes

The following is a list of just a few common Interpersonal mistakes that leaders often make.

Flaunting Power

A Weak Leader has a tendency to flaunt their power while in the presence of others. This builds resentment and anger within the people who follow them.

Complaining to Subordinates

A Weak Leader constantly complains to others about their circumstances, unfulfilled objectives, unrealized goals and targets, and about mistakes that have been made by themselves or others.

Making Assumptions

A Weak Leader is quick to jump to assumptions about events, people and circumstances without first confirming all the evidence, statistics and facts.

Not Leading by Example

A Weak Leader does not live by the principles they preach. Their words will point their Followers in one direction, while their personal actions will contradict the language they speak. Inconsistency builds resentment, and resentment creates dissention within the ranks.

Personal Mistakes

The following is a list of just a few common Personal mistakes that leaders often make.

Not Giving Power Away

A Weak Leader is fearful of giving their power away to others. They will hold onto knowledge, skills, tools and resources in order to maintain full control in their hands. This fear eventually eats them alive and they destroy themselves from within.

Not Willing to Make Tough Decisions

A Weak Leader doesn’t like to take responsibility for their mistakes. For this reason they tend to shun away from making the tough decisions that could lead to discouraging outcomes.

Company Mistakes

The following is a list of just a few common Company mistakes that leaders often make.

Not Riding Momentum

A Weak Leader takes periods of momentum for granted. They become complacent and sabotage the progress of their team by not taking full advantage of the momentum that has been created.

Not Appointing a 2nd in Command

A Weak Leader enjoys being in full and complete control of every event and circumstance. However, as momentum grows and things expand it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain order. A Weak Leader simply does not realize that appointing a 2nd in command will help ease the pressure off their shoulders while potentially improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.

Ignoring Company Problems

A Weak Leader doesn’t like dealing with problems or conflict. They therefore ignore these situations and allow them to fester and strengthen over time. What they don’t realize is that problems cannot be avoided. Instead problems must be dealt with in a proficient and speedy manner, otherwise they may very well grow uncontrollably into a crisis that may lead to the downfall of the entire company or team.

Final Thoughts

Becoming an Extraordinary Leader takes work, dedication and a commitment to excellence. It is something that we strengthen and grow over a period of time as we learn more about ourselves and about our ability to deal with other people and circumstances in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Moreover, the Path to Extraordinary Leadership is more of a journey rather than an end destination. We become Extraordinary through our consistent actions and dedication to a cause and vision that inspires those around us in Extraordinary and unexpected ways.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any further queries or questions, or would like to share your experiences about this topic, than please do so in the comments section below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The Path to Extraordinary Leadership is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• 20 Indicators of Failing at Leadership @ Slow Leadership
• 2 Styles of Leadership & Their Consequences @ Slow Leadership
• Nelson Mandela’s 8 Lessons in Leadership @ Slow Leadership
• 8 Rules of Leadership from George Washington @ 7P Productions
• Leadership Training Begins with Personal Leadership Skills @ Trans4mind
• The 7 Demands of Leadership @ Cultivate Greatness
• 11 Principles of Entrepreneurial Leadership @ Cultivate Greatness
• 25 Great Quotes on Leadership @ Positivity Blog
• Why Doesn’t Leadership Training Produce Leaders @ Cultivate Greatness
• 6 Essential Areas to Being a Great Leader @ Cultivate Greatness
• 7 Leadership Tips Inspired by Barack Obama @ Yin vs Yang
• Leadership: Accepting Mistakes @ Learn This
• Leadership: Remember It’s About People @ Learn This
• 6 Lessons on Leadership from Captain Bligh @ Alec Satin
• Leadership: 5 Facts Leadership Gurus Don’t Tell @ Enhance Life
• Top 10 Leadership Lessons @ Sources of Insight

Recommended Products

Leadership: The Critical Difference – Your company may not have all the money in the world, but you can still have the best training in the world. With the rate of business failures today, it’s important to start out with an effective business strategy. Brian Tracy will teach you all of the various components of an effective business strategy. Learn the same strategies that all successful business are built on.

The Dale Carnegie Leadership Mastery Course – Leadership can put you in total control of your life and make your dreams a reality. It can move your career on to the fast track and bring you high levels of prestige. It can make you a powerful communicator with a vast influence over others. Plus, it can improve your relationships, your decision-making ability, and your peace of mind about the world and where it’s headed.

The Essence of Leadership – With great photography, inspirational quotes, and stories to reinforce each point, Mac Anderson shares what he has learned about leadership in his 30 years as a successful enterpreneur.

Achieving Credibility: The Key to Effective Leadership – Here you’ll find a truly human approach to leadership, one that identifies and focuses on the traits we all admire in other people. Kouzes helps you put your finger on the intangibles that make some people simply stand head and shoulders above their peers. And most of all, you’ll come to understand why building credibility is such a fundamental aspect of the leadership process.

Recommended Books

• The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow by John C. Maxwell
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell
• Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard E Boyatzis & Annie McKee
• Total Leadership; Be a Better Leader, Have a Richer Life by Steward D. Friedman
• Principle Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey
• Leadership 101: What Every Leader Need to Know by John C. Maxwell
• Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell
• The Power Principle: Influence With Honor by Blaine Lee

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.