Ten principles of effective leadership

I recently read a post giving tips for efficient blogging. Tip 3 says readers love bullets, lists, and numbers. Reading that tip reminded me of a leadership seminar I attended last year presented by Doug Wood. The topic was becoming an effective leader. He presented ten principles of effective leadership that will build desired results, relationships and quality of life. The following list describes each principle with my added observations:

1. Be a leader, not a victim: Do not blame others or look for scapegoats. Your ability to be a leader starts with mastering yourself. Shun the victim paradigm. (See Principle 5 from my recent article).

2. Beware of your blind spots: The key to teamwork is valuing others’ perspectives, and encouraging them to fill in where you have gaps.

3. Take care of important relationships: Treat others as though they are the most important thing. A Chinese proverb says: If you want one year’s prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years’ prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years’ prosperity, grow people.

4. Balance short- and long-term results: The ‘golden egg’ or the ‘golden goose;’ which do you protect? Both, but with balance.

5. Know and live your mission: Create a personal mission statement that is short, memorable, passionate, measurable and for which you become accountable.

6. Do what matters most – now: Do things that will make your personal life more meaningful, and do what it takes to move to a higher level of professional success.

7. Be a master communicator: Practice the 2:1 rule; listen twice as much as you speak. From listening comes wisdom.

8. Be a great team player: When you have disagreements or conflicts with others, try this approach: “you see it differently, help me understand.”

9. Commit one hour per day to personal renewal: Take time for spiritual, physical, and professional growth. A great leader takes care of him/her self.

10. Live with integrity: Live and lead in honesty and forthrightness; be true to your word.

As a side note, I was not able to find Doug Wood’s blog or website; here’s more information about Doug in hopes someone can help me contact him: He spent ten years teaching at the Marriott School of Management before moving to the private sector, most recently as a senior leadership consultant at Franklin Covey. He now works as an independent consultant, teaching business leaders around the globe how to align their long-term vision with their short-term goals. If you know where Doug has posted his ten principles (his website, blog, etc.) please let me know.