When was the last time you felt inspired?

As cofounder and leader of The Women of Community Impact, I feel inspired and energized each time we successfully launch a new service project or networking event.

Before we talk more about where your leadership inspiration comes from, I want to highlight a few of the events The Women of Community Impact has hosted in the past month. We just wrapped up a backpack and personal hygiene donation drive for foster children, but it’s not too late to contribute toward another back-to- school backpack drive that we are sponsoring in August.

Leading Ladies Of Northern Kentucky under the direction of Michelle Lorms hosted a networking event that included a donation drive to support The Women of Community Impact providing filled backpacks to foster kids at DDCH Family Center. I want to give a special thank you to Megan Jackson at Master Provisions for connecting us to DDCH Family Center.

Another networking event hosted by Beautiful Faces Going Places, which is headed up by Carol Dockum, filled backpacks that will go to foster children at New Path, formerly known as St. Joseph’s Orphanage, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Last but certainly not least, Buford Business Alliance, led by Freda Kalina, hosted a ribbon-cutting networking event for Linda Gober with LDG Accounting Services. Attendees brought donations to fill backpacks provided by The Women of Community Impact that went to support Creative Community Services and Positive Impact.

I want to give a very heartfelt thank you on behalf of our board to these organizations and their outstanding leaders for their inspiration, dedication, and servant heart leadership.

Now onto today’s topic… Internationally renowned leadership expert and author John C. Maxwell says, “A Leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” And I couldn’t agree more.

Leadership is one of the qualities you need to master in order to build a Legacy Business. The good news is that whether you lead an entire company, a team of people, a community or volunteer organization, your family, or just yourself, you are already a leader in some form.

Here are 10 of the leadership principles I have learned from my mentors as well as from my own experience serving my community and growing a Legacy Business.

1. Leaders are visionaries. They have a clear picture of where they are going and a plan of how they intend to get there.
2. It’s a myth that leadership is about power. Many people buy into this, but true leadership isn’t about directing or coercing people to do what you want them to do. Being a strong leader means inspiring them to join you in pursuit of a shared objective, ideal, mission or cause.
3. Leaders know exactly who they are and what values they stand for. They are committed to abiding by these values regardless of the circumstances or challenges they face. And they communicate their values openly with the people they lead.
4. Leadership is setting an example for others to follow. True leaders possess the values and characteristics we wish to emulate, the most important of which is integrity. By acting with integrity, they inspire others to place their trust in them. Those who lead by example are able to say “do as I do”, not just “do as I say.”
5. Leaders can communicate big picture and small details. In order to inspire a team to do their best work for you, they need to understand the importance of their role in making your vision a reality. In other words: share the “big picture” with your team and how they play a critical role in achieving it.
6. Effective leaders express gratitude for a job well done. Rather than take their team for granted, they show appreciation for their team members’ efforts – especially when they make meaningful contributions or go above and beyond the call of duty. When a leader makes a conscientious effort to recognize and reward their team, each team player feels motivated to put forth their best effort and strive for excellence.
7. Strong leaders are supportive. The best leaders understand that their chief responsibility is making sure their team members have the guidance, tools, and resources necessary to fulfill their responsibilities and meet expectations. They eagerly receive feedback and welcome creative problem solving from their team. Some of the most creative and valuable ideas emerge when you listen to other people’s ideas, no matter how different they are from your own. Encourage your team to share their opinions!
8. Leaders are involved. True leaders don’t assign tasks or roles that they themselves wouldn’t be willing to perform. Rather than directing from a distance, they play a hands-on role. This sends the message that the leader does not view themselves as superior.
9. Those who promote themselves at the expense of others are not leaders. Real leaders care about others and want to empower them to succeed. They embrace and promote a spirit of selfless service. When you make the needs and desires of others a priority, they will give you the best they have to give.
10. Leaders are growth-oriented. They recognize that however many years of experience they have, there is always more to learn and room for growth. In pursuit of excellence, they ask questions and seek guidance from those who have the skills, tools and knowledge they want to develop.

At Celeste Giordano Coaching I teach entrepreneurs and professionals who understand the relationship between maximizing their leadership potential and achieving consistent and powerful RESULTS to cultivate their leadership potential and expand their circle of influence.

Are you living up to your leadership potential? Contact me today to learn how to lead with purpose and integrity.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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