“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”
— Bob Proctor
Society will always make room for leaders who see the growth potential within the people they’ll be taking to the next level.
If you believe people are valuable, you will naturally desire to help them see the best in themselves.
You see more in them than they see in themselves.
You will seize every opportunity to spend time with them.
Your confidence in them will raise their confidence in themselves.
In his book “The Leader’s Greatest Return,” John Maxwell writes, “Everyone wins when leaders develop good leaders.”
“1. Leaders want to do what they were created to do
By far the strongest motivator I’ve seen in people is purpose. The human spirit come alive when it finds a cause worth fighting for. With purpose, peoples’ have-to life turns into a want-to life.
2. Autonomy - Leader want the freedom to control their lives
“… They love having freedom – freedom to choose their business path, freedom to make their own decisions about how they work, and freedom to determine their personal potential.”
3. Relationships - Leaders want to do things with other people
One of my great pleasures in life is getting to do something that matters with people who matter to me. This is more than just working with a team or increasing effectiveness by partnering with others…
Q: What is greater than using your gifts to help others?
A: Using your gifts in collaboration with others to help others. That’s what WE are doing.
4. Progress – Leaders want to experience personal and professional growth
When I was a young leaders just starting off in my career, a mentor told me, “spend your life being for something, and running to something.
5. Mastery – Leaders want to excel at their work
The desire for personal and professional growth often leads to the next source of motivation that inspires many people: The desire for mastery. Ongoing growth doesn’t guarantee mastery but is you’re not growing and working at getting better, you have no shot at experiencing the exhilaration that comes from being great at what you do.
6. Recognition – Leaders want others to appreciate their accomplishments
… Everyone desires to be recognized, praised, and appreciated. As you lead and motivate others, never forget that. Recognize and praise their work. Let them know you appreciate their accomplishments.
7. Money – Leaders want to be financially secure
Once you’ve achieved your financial goals, my suggestion is to begin focusing on giving. When you experience the joy of giving and develop the mind-set that you can be a river, and not a reservoir, with your wealth and help of others, then gaining wealth can continue to be a powerful motivator.
As you develop leaders, your job is to find out which of these seven keys resonates with people and help them to connect with them.” (1)
In Closing,
Iyanla Vanzant says, “The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.”
Sheryl Sandberg says, “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
End Notes
(1) The Leaders Greatest Return Pg’s 66-75 By John C. Maxwell
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co. ***