11 April
The Four Competencies of a Leader
Keep your eye on the task, not on yourself.
The task matters, and you are a servant.
Most organizations need somebody who can lead regardless of the weather. What matters is that he or she works on the basic competencies. As the first such basic competence, I would put the willingness, ability, and self-discipline to listen. Listening is not a skill; it is a discipline. Anybody can do it. All you have to do is to keep your mouth shut.
The second essential competence is the willingness to communicate, to make yourself understood. That requires infinite patience. The next important competence is not to alibi. Say: "This doesn't work as well as it should. Let’s take it back and reengineer it."
The last basic competence is the willingness to realize how unimportant you are compared to the task. Leaders subordinate themselves to the task.
When effective leaders have the capacity to maintain their personality and individuality, even though they are totally dedicated, the task will go on after them. They also have a human existence outside of the task. Otherwise they do things for personal aggrandizement, in the belief that this furthers the cause. They become self-centered and vain. And above all, they become jealous. One of the great strengths of Winston Churchill was that Churchill, to the very end, pushed and furthered young politicians.
4月11日
领导者的四项能力
把注意力放在任务上，而不是自己身上。
任务才重要，而你只是服务者。
任务才重要，而你只是服务者。大多数组织都需要能够在任何情况下都能领导的人。关键在于他或她是否具备并践行基本能力。第一项基本能力是倾听的意愿、能力和自律。倾听不是一种技巧，而是一种纪律。任何人都可以做到，只需要闭上嘴。
第二项关键能力是沟通的意愿，使自己被理解。这需要极大的耐心。第三项重要能力是不找借口。要说：“这件事没有达到应有的效果，我们把它拿回来重新设计。”
最后一项基本能力，是意识到相对于任务本身，你并不重要。领导者应当把自己置于任务之下。
当有效的领导者能够在完全投入的同时保持个性与人格时，任务可以在他们离开后继续。他们在任务之外也有自己的生活。否则，他们会为了个人的扩张而行动，自以为这是在推进事业。他们会变得以自我为中心、虚荣，尤其会变得嫉妒。丘吉尔的一大优点在于，他直到最后都在推动和扶持年轻的政治人物。
