Dr. Barrett offers two excerpts from his book. The first excerpt explains the basic qualities those in leadership must understand in order to maximize their effectiveness as leaders. The second excerpt talks about the spotlight. Did you know it's important to know when you should be in it and when you should get out of it? Then read on!

What qualities does leadership involve?

We can describe leadership in any number of ways and I don't mind what particular description anyone prefers; it's imperative, however, that you understand some basic qualities of leadership if you want to maximize your effectiveness as a leader. For starters, these qualities include awareness that leadership is about modeling, remembering what leaders are paid for, and remaining open to personal insights.

Basic #2: Remember That Leadership is About Modeling
The next time someone asks what you do for a living, I suggest you answer by saying, "I'm a professional model." You may not walk down a runway modeling apparel - you may even think you have a face made for radio - but if you are in leadership, you do have a career in modeling. I assure you that when you walk down the hallways of your work place, you are modeling attitudes, beliefs, and convictions. You are modeling passion, vision, commitment, and work ethic. You are modeling pride in your company, products, and people. You are modeling what you value by the way you conduct yourself, manage your time, and execute your tasks and responsibilities.

As models, wise leaders remember three things:

1. Modeling is both the privilege and responsibility of leadership.
2. If you want your people to bleed than you need to hemorrhage.
3. Those you lead may be slow to duplicate the things you do well, but they will quickly identify and replicate those habits that may be less than beneficial to the business.

Can You Get Out of the Spotlight?

Being comfortable in the spotlight is an important dimension of leadership. There can be a genuine benefit in believing that you belong in the spotlight and that you have something of value to contribute from that position. However, an overlooked but equally important component of leadership is the ability to get out of the spotlight.

As a leader, you engender loyalty, teamwork, and dedication when you are able to grab the spotlight of recognition and put it on others. This ability creates a culture in which individuals know that hard work, significant effort, and great results are honored, recognized, and rewarded. It creates energy, fuels motivation, and brings out the best in people. When leaders learn to focus the spotlight of recognition and affirmation on others it is often an unseen precursor to extraordinary team success.

If you want to study one of the consummate examples of getting out of the spotlight and putting it on others, watch Joe Gibbs. Joe is the former head coach of the Washington Redskins football team and now owns a NASCAR team. Whether you see him in person, watch him interviewed on television, or read something he said, if you pay attention, you'll notice that all his remarks have one thing in common - he's always grabbing the spotlight of praise, turning it away from himself, and shining it on those with whom he works.

It's a relentless habit. You can't get Joe Gibbs to talk about himself. You can't get him to bask in the limelight or take credit for success. You can only get him to smile, laugh, and talk about his ability to hire people who are more talented than he purports to be. Reflexively, he redirects all accolades and admiration off of himself and onto his team. Is it any wonder that he's had world-class championship teams in two completely unrelated sports?

When I work with individual leaders or with senior corporate management teams, I want them to be comfortable in the spotlight; I want them to provide vision, skill, and motivation to their teams; I want them to fill a room with positive energy. I worry, though, when I see leaders move from comfort in the spotlight to becoming addicted to the spotlight. For some people, recognition and attention is like a drug they can't get enough. Countless times I have seen people become so accustomed to being in the spotlight of praise and recognition wherever they go, they lose their ability to be comfortable outside it.