The One Sentence That Best Describes a Leader of LIGHT
Let’s Cut to the Chase.
Leaders of LIGHT are remarkable people.
How so?
First, Leaders of LIGHT are dealers in hope.
And, as dealers in hope, Leaders of LIGHT make darn sure that everyone around them understands that tomorrow is going to be better than today.
They do this not as some sort of pop-psychology hack. Rather, they do this because they inherently know that H-O-P-E is the central ingredient that every person needs in their life to keep moving forward.
Said differently, Leaders of LIGHT understand that once people choose hope, everything is possible—and that’s the game-changer.
Secondly, Leaders of LIGHT are also careful to instill purpose and meaning into all they do—and they make sure that everyone in their charge knows the “why” behind the “what,” “where,” and “by when.”
In so doing, Leaders of LIGHT transform mundane tasks into purposeful actions. And when people know what they are working on truly matters, life suddenly takes on new meaning.
But there’s more.
Thirdly, Leaders of LIGHT are unceasingly grateful for the efforts and support of all those around them—and they are not shy about letting others know it.
And as a direct result of making gratitude a standard practice, people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Fourthly, Leaders of LIGHT are driven by the belief that being healthy in mind, body, and spirit is an absolute necessity in order to lead a life well lived.
Because of this, they do everything in their power to make sure that the people in their charge are taking care of themselves.
And now for the big finish.
Fifthly, when it comes to their daily interactions, Leaders of LIGHT are civil; they are thoughtful; they are kind.
They choose their words carefully.
Their speech is perpetually seasoned with salt.
They are sensitive in their interactions with others.
And, in those rare instances when things go south, Leaders of LIGHT are the first to say they are sorry.
Like I said, Leaders of LIGHT are remarkable people.
Here’s How You Can Remember the Powerful things that Leaders of LIGHT Do.
To help you remember the five distinct characteristics that separate the great leaders from the simply good ones, we’ve created a simple little mnemonic (Now that’s a word that will impress your friends—it’s pronounced Nih-Mon-ik.)
Specifically, you can remember all this by L-I-G-H-T.
- L = Lead with hope
- I = Instill purpose and meaning into everything you do
- G = Galvanize Gratitude
- H = Honor health: body, mind, and spirit
- T = Talk, walk, and teach, civility, kindness, forgiveness, and a love for all
And when you intentionally infuse all of these things into your leadership style, dreams get dreamed, people get energized, and things get done.
This is powerful stuff.
But we‘re going to do you one better.
What Leaders of LIGHT Do in One Sentence
So, here’s everything that leaders of light do in one single sentence.
Leaders of LIGHT want the very best FOR others and they want the very best FROM others.
It’s as simple (and as hard) as that!
Let’s take a few minutes to break this down.
What it Means to Want the Very Best FOR Others
Put simply, to want the very best for another human being means desiring their happiness, growth, and fulfillment.
And to do this, Leaders of LIGHT are willing to:
Spend Time:
Spending time with your people forges trust, fosters commitment, and, most importantly, demonstrates to others that you care (because you are willing to give freely of your most valuable asset, which is your time!).
Be Present:
In addition to just spending time with people, leaders who want the very best FOR others do everything in their power to be present. This means stowing digital devices, looking people in the eyes, and listening with every ounce of your energy.
Share Experiences:
By sharing your hard-learned experiences, you are demonstrating to all those around you that you want the best FOR them because you are willing to be vulnerable; you are willing to reveal your missed opportunities; and you are making it a point to let people know that you do not want them to make the same mistakes.
And the payoff of this is that it shifts your relationship from superior-subordinate to human-to-human.
Pretty cool.
Offer Encouragement:
Last but not least, when you as a Leader of LIGHT encourage others, you are making it known that you truly believe in them, and this is what boosts confidence, increases motivation, and energizes engagement.
What it Means to Want the Very Best FROM Others
This is where things get interesting.
Not only do Leaders of LIGHT want the very best FOR others, but they also want the very best FROM others.
And to do this, Leaders of LIGHT are careful to:
Identify Strengths:
Rather than focusing on a person’s weaknesses, Leaders of LIGHT are notoriously good at helping others identify their strengths.
And once people finally figure out what they are really, really good at, it’s “Katy bar the door.”
Set High Expectations:
In a nutshell, setting high expectations clearly demonstrates that you believe that those around you are capable of accomplishing great things.
And here’s the stunner.
Five decades worth of research reveals that if you, as a Leader of LIGHT, care enough to do this, not only will people rise to your desired level—but they will exceed it!
Offer Tools and Resources:
Nothing speaks more loudly to the fact that you want the best FROM those around you than when you do your best to ensure that they have the right tools and resources necessary to be successful.
In fact, this step is so important in bringing out the best in others that one of the world’s leading consulting firms (Gallup) has included this as one of the 12 most important things leaders can do.
Practice Accountability:
Last but not least, leaders who want the best FROM others care enough to hold people accountable for their actions, for their decisions, and for their performance.
Here’s why this matters.
When you hold people accountable, they grow.
And when people grow, they experience this deep and profound sense of satisfaction and they soon come to realize that they are capable of great things.
Although it’s hard, ask any leader worth their salt and they will tell you that there is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone grow from being held accountable.
Leading with LIGHT
Like I said at the opening of this article, Leaders of LIGHT are remarkable people.
But here’s the thing.
YOU can be a Leader of LIGHT.
YOU can lead with hope.
YOU can instill purpose and meaning.
YOU can galvanize gratitude.
YOU can honor health: mind, body, and spirit.
YOU can talk, walk, and teach civility.
And to do this, you simply need to want the very best FOR people, and you need to want the very best FROM them.
Until next time: see LIGHT, be LIGHT, and spread LIGHT in a way that only you can.
Until Next Time...
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About Lead with Light
Lead with Light is an initiative that aims to equip current and emerging leaders with a reimagined approach to servant leadership.
Our ultimate vision is to grow and develop thousands of Leaders of Light to ignite a movement to see light, be light, and spread light in ways only each can.