Recently, I was privileged to spend a couple of hours being instructed by Dr David Bednar, formerly professor of the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. He instructed us that Leadership is “not so much about what you do; but of core importance is what you leave after you are gone.” “Your charge is to develop men and women who can take your place.”

Here are some of his counsel:
“The first over arching attribute of a great leader is the capacity to act and not be acted upon—the ability to initiate, to innovate, and to learn the parameters within which all participants should act to accomplish the work and achieve the desired outcomes. The second key attribute is discernment to assist the people with whom the leader serves to become better than they ever thought they could become.”

“Leaders need to foster and nurture a culture of freedom within which people can act for themselves without fear of humiliation. Correction—yes. Demanding expectations and requirements—yes. Discipline—yes. Strong feedback—yes. But humiliation—no!”

“Leaders need to discern and frame the right questions.”

“Leaders need to make the complex simple.”

“Leadership is teaching. Great teachers help learners discover things that the learners likely would not have discovered without the help of the teacher—and do so in a way that helps learners become more independent and competent. One of the highest manifestations of the gift of discernment is the capacity to see in another person the good, the ability, and the potential that individual perhaps has not seen in himself or herself. And this discernment also includes the power to help the individual recognize and develop his or her latent good, ability, and potential. Thus, leading is teaching.”