How to Become an Ideal Leader

When you are at work, do you get frustrated because things don't seem to be happ
ening the way there are supposed to be? You see people milling around but nothin
g gets accomplished. And in the daily hustle and bustle, do you feel that your g
oals remain just that � goals. Then maybe its time for you to stand up and do someth
ing about it.
Most people are content just to stand around listening for orders. And it isn't
unusual to adopt a follow-the-leader mentality. But maybe, somewhere inside of y
ou, you feel the desire to make things happen � to be the head, not the tail. Then m
aybe leadership just suits you fine.
Some people believe that great leaders are made, not born. Yes, it may be true t
hat some people are born with natural talents. However, without practice, withou
t drive, without enthusiasm, and without experience, there can be no true develo
pment in leadership.
You must also remember that good leaders are continually working and studying to
improve their natural skills. This takes a commitment to constantly improve in
whatever endeavor a person chooses.
First of all, let's define leadership. To be a leader, one must be able to influ
ence others to accomplish a goal, or an objective. He contributes to the organiz
ation and cohesion of a group.
Contrary to what most people believe, leadership is not about power. It is not a
bout harassing people or driving them using fear. It is about encouraging others
towards the goal of the organization. It is putting everyone on the same page a
nd helping them see the big picture of the organization. You must be a leader no
t a boss.
First of all, you have to get people to follow you. How is this accomplished?
People follow others when they see a clear sense of purpose. People will only fo
llow you if they see that you know where you are going. Remember that bumper sti
cker? The one that says, don't follow me, I'm lost too? The same holds true for
leadership. If you yourself do not know where you're headed to, chances are peop
le will not follow you at all.
You yourself must know the vision of the organization. Having a clear sense of h
ierarchy, knowing who the bosses are, who to talk to, the organization's goals a
nd objectives, and how the organization works is the only way to show others you
know what you are doing.
Being a leader is not about what you make others do. It's about who you are, wha
t you know, and what you do. You are a reflection of what you're subordinates mu
st be.
Studies have shown that one other bases of good leadership is the trust and conf
idence your subordinates have of you. If they trust you they will go through hel
l and high water for you and for the organization.
Trust and confidence is built on good relationships, trustworthiness, and high e
thics.
The way you deal with your people, and the relationships you build will lay the
foundation for the strength of your group. The stronger your relationship, the s
tronger their trust and confidence is in your capabilities.
Once you have their trust and confidence, you may now proceed to communicate the
goals and objectives you are to undertake.
Communication is a very important key to good leadership. Without this you can n
ot be a good leader. The knowledge and technical expertise you have must be clea
rly imparted to other people.
Also, you can not be a good leader and unless you have good judgment. You must b
e able to assess situations, weigh the pros and cons of any decision, and active
ly seek out a solution.
It is this judgment that your subordinates will come to rely upon. Therefore, go
od decision-making is vital to the success of your organization.
Leaders are not do-it-all heroes. You should not claim to know everything, and y
ou should not rely upon your skills alone.
You should recognize and take advantage of the skills and talents your subordina
tes have. Only when you come to this realization will you be able to work as one
 cohesive unit.
Remember being a leader takes a good deal of work and time. It is not learned ov
ernight. Remember, also, that it is not about just you. It is about you and the
people around you.
So, do you have the drive and the desire to serve required of leaders? Do you ha
ve the desire to work cooperatively with other people? Then start now. Take your
stand and be leader today.

What are some of the common characteristics of gifted children?

In normal conversation, gifted children are generally thought to be very intelli
gent kids who seem to excel in everything they do, especially of an academic nat
ure. Some adults find gifted children to also be a bit odd, behaving in ways oth
er children don't. This description is perhaps apt in some respects, but a limit
ed synopsis. Here we list some of the common characteristics of gifted children.
Not every characteristic applies to every gifted child, but this discussion is
intended to serve as a broad general guide to help identify kids who might be te
rmed 'gifted children'.
One of the most common characteristics of gifted children is a sensitive nature.
This does not necessarily mean the child is shy or timid, but may pick up on nu
ances in conversation or events at a deeper level than another child of the same
age.
Many gifted children may show well developed problem solving skills at an early
age. For example, these kids may enjoy puzzles and make very short work of one t
argeted at an older age group.
Another of the common characteristics of gifted children is that they are often
creative, artistic individuals. Many have natural musical abilities. These kids
are the ones who paint right off the piece of newsprint, out of sheer exuberance
. During a preschool dance class, this child may continue dancing, after the mus
ic stops, so caught up in the experience that they don't notice. These children
seem to commonly be spontaneous in their actions and can at times, seem flighty.
In a nutshell, you might say that one of the signature characteristics of gifte
d children is that they appear to 'dance to a different drummer'.
Perhaps because gifted children are typically quick thinkers with an ability to
abstract at an early age, another of the characteristics of gifted children is a
proclivity to impatience. They want to proceed on to the next subject, activity
or interest. Having solved a problem, or exhausted the perceived possibilities
of a topic, they may also be temperamental.
If you lose patience with your child because she's continually asking, �Why?�, comfort
ourself in knowing that this is also one of the signature characteristics of gif
ted children. These kids are extremely curious. Barraging you with �Why?� at every turn
is a sign of a curious mind and a budding critical thinker. Encourage all those
questions!
Frequently, gifted children come to enjoy the company of older kids more than th
eir own age group, simply because they find them more interesting. While the gif
ted child in 4th grade may not be socially as well developed as a 6th grader, he
may enjoy the conversation, knowledge and vocabulary of the older child.
Finally, perhaps the most common of characteristics of gifted children is that t
hey may be a loner. While generally possessed of leadership qualities, these kid
s don't usually hang out with a large group of friends, join cliques and the lik
e. A few friends suffice.
If this brief overview seems to describe your child, treat this little soul gent
ly. These kids can be challenging, but oh, so much fun, once you gain a better u
nderstanding of what makes them tick. Oh yes, gifted children are sometimes pran
ksters and good comedians!