Making food and enjoying it with others is one of my greatest joys. As I sit to write about “What makes a good leader?” I see a recipe book in my mind. A cookbook provides fresh ways of combining ingredients to create exquisite meals. In most genres of cooking there are a few base ingredients that appear in every recipe. The ratio of those ingredients might fluctuate, but they are consistently present in some manner. As I thought about leadership, I imagine it being the same principle as a recipe. There are a few common ingredients in every good leader, but there are a myriad of ingredients that could come together and create a unique flavor.
Below I’ve shared my “secret recipe” of leadership. (Well, the ingredients are all common place and there really is no secret!) These are ingredients that I’ve added into my own life on a daily basis and find the outcome is very worthwhile.
Annie May’s Favorite Leadership Recipe:
TOTAL TIME: A life time
Prep Time: Depends on how much humility is in the air
Serves: A multitude
Difficulty Level: Requires much
INGREDIENTS:
Humility
Be an Initiator
Ask Questions
Listen Well
Love
Be Present & Aware
Embrace Conflict
Courage & Boldness
Be Vulnerable & Honest
Forgive Easily
See Opportunity in Everything
Commit to Grow Others
DIRECTIONS:
In your mind and heart decide to lead with Love and a Commitment to Grow Others. This requires you to Listen Well, be Present and Aware, and Ask Questions of yourself and those around you. You will begin to See Opportunity in Everything. Always Be an Initiator and Embrace Conflict when it comes. It takes Courage and Boldness to Forgive Easily. If circumstances start getting you down, Be Vulnerable & Honest about it. Make sure Humility is active, or else all other ingredients will not combine properly.
Brown is a panelist at the upcoming Coffee Talk, “What makes a good leader?” at 10 a.m., June 7 at Indaba Coffee.
