Are You an Affirmer?

Great Leaders Affirm Those They Lead. 
Great leaders tell people about their positive qualities, and praise their accomplishments.  This kind of affirmation raises people’s performance to the next level.

Great leaders place people ahead of results, direct their improvement, and deal with problems swiftly.  Tell your team members that you believe in them.

"...everyone needs encouragement...and is changed by it." John C. Maxwell

Go Team!

Great Leaders are the Chief Cheerleader of the Vision.
Great leaders keep a group focused on vision. Jesus understood the importance of vision when He said, "Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch?” Leaders motivate others by sharing their enthusiasm for the vision.  The contagious nature of their enthusiasm raises everyone spirits as it spreads throughout the team. 

Jack Welch, a great leader who started his career on the shop floor of General Electric and eventually became CEO, had this to say concerning leadership: "Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."

There Are No Invisible Leaders

Great Leaders are Highly Visible.
A great leader takes the time to get to know and listen to those for whom they are responsible.  This is more than having an open-door policy.  Great leaders circulate through their team several times a day encouraging, clarifying, and affirming them.  Richard Branson has said, "Being a good listener is absolutely critical to being a good leader; you have to listen to the people who are on the front line." From my experience, I have seen some of the best solutions come from some of the most unlikely places.