12leadersWe need good leaders more than ever.

In our local schools and businesses and churches. We need them in responsible government positions in our state and at the highest national level.

So, what is good leadership? How do you find it? How do you develop it? And how do you deal with the consequences of bad leadership?

I was thinking of these questions the other day when I stumbled into a meeting sponsored by Chapel Hill’s Friends of Downtown organization that had invited Dr. Gerald Bell to make a presentation.

Bell may be best known among North Carolina basketball fans as the author of a popular book about Coach Dean Smith’s leadership lessons.

But in the rest of the world, especially the international business community, he is known for his organization, Bell Leadership, which develops leaders, coaches and teachers at the highest level. Its mission is “to help people develop their personal effectiveness and leadership skills to contribute to humankind.”

In existence since 1972, the organization based in Chapel Hill has trained over 500,000 leaders in almost 5,000 organizations in over 30 countries.

As part of its training, it has developed a detailed personality profile to help its students evaluate their leadership styles, potentials, strengths and weaknesses.

For the Friends of Downtown group, Bell summarized six characteristics of the most effective leaders.

1. Achievement. From childhood, Bell says, there is a drive to accomplish. Watch the joy of a child when he or she finally succeeds in learning to walk. The drive to succeed, to create new things and to start projects is a healthy attribute of a positive and optimistic leader.

2. Self-worth. The feeling that “I am somebody” is a positive trait. Parents who encourage children’s courage and dignity in dealing with others promote this value. The best leaders treat others with dignity.

3. Control. The need for control can be seen in 2-year olds and teenagers asserting independence. Gaining self-control through discipline, structure and clarity can signal someone who is a producer, who hates to waste time.

4. Pleasure. Contentment and happiness can be positive traits. Parents who teach that it is okay to fail and how to recover from it are giving their children a platform for positive happiness.

5. Love. We need it. Bell said, “There is a genetic code need for love.” He said you can measure how others feel about you by a ”seek-me-out-index.” How many people seek you out for advice and help when they have a problem? He says that good listening skills draw people to you.

6. Play. Enjoying play is a trait of a good leader. In fact, good strategic planning is playing with ideas.

What about the bad leadership characterization?

1. Performer. They show off, selfpromote and go on overdrive.

2. Attacker. They are hostile, critical and focus on getting even and are only happy when they’re in a fight. They never apologize.

3. Rigidity. An “unbender.” It is all black or white for rigid people. They order people to do things rather than working with them. Underneath, they dislike people. They command and destroy.

4. Avoider. They are unwilling to take risks.

5. Pleaser. They are too focused on being nice. They do not communicate directly and reflect a low degree of competitiveness.

6. Drifter. Like those, Bell says, who live in Volkswagen vans, they crave freedom but avoid responsibility.

Bell asks his students to what degree they possess the six “best leader” behavior patterns and/ or the six “worst leader’ patterns? Are they “more of an entrepreneur (best leader) or a performer (worst leader)? A team builder or a pleaser? A producer or a commander?”

When his presentation was over, I found myself wishing that Bell could take his leadership program to the Congress and the White House.

Photo: Dr. Gerald Bell

Latest Articles

  • Gallery 208: Beyond Surface: Abstractions by Kellie Perkins
  • Kindah Temple No. 62 hosts annual Spring Ceremonial
  • FTCC Foundation invests in students’ futures
  • Unique Easter traditions from around the globe
  • Flawless Touch Detailing celebrates new location
  • CFRT: The Play That Goes Wrong...Again
Up & Coming Weekly Calendar
  

Advertise Your Event:

 

Login/Subscribe