"In the simplest terms, a leader is one who knows where he wants to go, then gets up and goes." John Erskine It is so easy to toss off terms and titles such as leadership and think everyone knows what you mean. Pick up any book on business and eventually you will stumble on a chapter or two extolling the need of leadership for success much of it platitudes and philosophy, but short on a practical definition. To some, leadership means acting like General Patton or President Bush. It may mean showing the tech foresight of a Bill Gates or Larry Ellison. Some think of great leaders as the Apollo or Zeus of their times. Others hold up Jack Welch of GE fame as the ideal corporate leader. Academics, motivational speakers, and business writers toss the term leadership about as the cornerstone to creating a junior Microsoft, but few will let you get your hooks into what leadership really is. Perhaps some of these advocates of success don’t know and hide behind great sounding slogans and phrases. Well, that won’t cut it in the unforgiving world of small business. Unless you are lucky and the world must have what you are selling regardless of your talents- a void in the leadership department will scuttle your ship. The next time someone claims so and so is a leader- get them to define what they mean by leadership. Let me take a stab at it. I think a leader is not some mysterious talent that the Gods have bestowed upon, it is not some secret formula discovered in some celestial writing, or craved on a stone hidden in the Mayan jungles, it is not initials after your name, it is not a privileged place in society, or a fourth generation Ford taking the helm of Ford Motors, it is common sense, hard work and discipline coupled with self sacrifice. It is good judgment topped with honesty and ethics. Leadership means to lead, - but like the fabled piper, a leader needs willing followers, unlike conscripts. Many a general has led his draftees to disaster. That is not leadership but dictatorship fueled by ego. Leadership in politics or business is the ability to inspire others to follow your path. To volunteer to take up arms in your cause. And why? Because your followers believe in you and believe in what you say. The magnetism of your command can be reduced to two words “trust and faith.” And without these ingredients, your followers will vanish at the first sign of trouble. Leadership –real leadership- starts with setting the example- a shinning example. Be impeccable. Be on time, Keep your commitments, Practice the Golden rule – Don’t fall for the fallacy of “Don’t do as I do, do as I say” And don’t think that rank has its privileges is an inspiration for your employees. True leaders are respected not fawned over. Honesty- a true leader is honest with his or her followers. A true leader offers the correct assessment of conditions –good or bad and does not throw a quick coat of paint over the problems. You will discover that as soon as your word is suspect, your leadership is threatened. True leaders promise only what they can and will deliver. They know that hypes or false promises to solve a problem or probe an employee will backfire. You are wise to shun the quick lie as an easy solution to a problem –the day of reckoning will pop up on your radar screen least unexpected. Take the blame and share the glory. President Truman was right on when he coined the phrase, “the buck stops here.” When in error, he did not dodge the flak of his critics. Don’t look for scapecoats when things are not going well. When the Russians defeated Napoleon –blaming the snow did not change the outcome. Remember it is we not I. If you want all the glory and can’t share the spoils, your troops will be looking for a new leader. Being a tough leader does not mean being the sarcastic wisecracking ego manic movies depict as briskly walking down hallways with an entourage barking orders and balancing cell phone conservations while making life or death decisions on the run to the waiting limo or helicopter. Only in Hollywood! Can you see Bill Gates or Warren Buffet acting so? To be a tough leader means taking responsibility for your actions and having the courage to fire your best friend. Copyright 2003 Paul E. Adams Dr Paul E Adams, Professor Emeritus Business, Ramapo College of New Jersey & Retired Entrepreneur, Syndicated Columnist, Host of the access cable TV program "Tri -State Movers and Shakers," and Author of “Fail-Proof Your Business,” Available @ Amazon.com. Comments, questions, or suggestions to: xpaul@pikeonline.net