The Character of Leadership
The Roadmap and Compass that Guides You through the Landmines of Management
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Leaders, are movers and shakers, original, inventive, unpredictable, imaginative individuals, full of surprises that discomfort the enemy in war and the main office in peace. Managers, on the other hand, are safe, conservative, predictable, conforming organizational men and team players, dedicated to the establishment. Managers who do not understand leadership, do not promote individuals whose competence might threaten their own position, and so as the power of management spreads ever wider, the quality deteriorates, if that is possible. In short, while management shuns equality, it feeds on mediocrity. On the other hand, leadership is escape from mediocrity. True leaders are inspiring because they are inspired, caught up in a higher purpose, idealistic and incorruptible. So vast, is the discrepancy between management and leadership that only a blind man would get them backwards. Yet that is exactly what we do. Because effective leadership is an art, not a science, there are comparatively few who naturally possess the gifts of leadership. Consequently, it becomes difficult for them to see this management forest for its trees. So, if one is not blessed with the gifts that great leaders possess, what will they ever do to overcome their deficiencies? It is a relatively simple problem to resolve, but it is not easy and takes great patience. Find out what the best are doing, and do what they do. But take care that in the process of learning what the best are doing, beware of “quick-fix” solutions. There aren’t any.
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About the Book
Why do some managers succeed and why do others fail? Mediocre performance in management is born from a failure to understand that real leadership requires action and exceptional accomplishment in meeting goals and working well with others. Plain and simple—effective leadership is the key to building great companies.
David Reeves, a successful business leader who developed profitable agencies for a major life insurance company for more than twenty-seven years, shares principles that will help others identify the difference between management and leadership, learn how to effectively lead a group, and motivate others to accomplish goals. Through sharing his own personal experiences and the stories of successful leaders, Reeves teaches managers and future leaders how to:
- Develop personal integrity that is strong enough to make and keep commitments
- Find the courage to change the things that must be changed
- Listen and communicate effectively
- Recruit and hire only the best individuals
- Build a culture focused on excellence
About the Author
David W. Reeves was a member of the 1966 NCAA All-American Track & Field Team where his records for 100- and 200-meter runs stood for more than ten years. He built successful, award-winning agencies for a life insurance company for more than twenty-seven years.