It’s not what’s happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it’s your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you’re going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny.
– Anthony Robbins (American advisor to leaders)
A leader is the custodian and guardian of a nation’s ideals and beliefs. Custodians hold something in trust on behalf of others. Their behavior is not motivated out of self-interest.
Ayesha Shafiq, eParis Extra columnist
A leader knows his role is temporary. He is focused towards a time period for the attainment of a common goal. Once his goal is achieved his job is done. A leader never hungers for power or position but focuses on goals to materialize within a certain span of time.
Leaders choose service over self-interest. Leaders prefer simple lives with human freedoms for themselves and for generations to come.
Leaders believe that leadership is not about ownership or control. Leaders know that they are accountable to the welfare of their people and they have to perform for others. Leaders simply have a different attitude; they have a different state of mind. They look at the world differently from others. Their determined nature is usually accompanied with a more open and broader perspective concerning the welfare of their people.
A leader maintains not only his focus all the time, but is also responsible for raising the focus of those that he leads so that his people are empowered to reach their potential and goals.
Leaders direct their focus towards problems, not people. They focus their energies towards answers, not excuses. A leader enables his people to get the roadblocks out of the way. He keeps the morale of the people high and holds the course of action for the benefit of all.
It is human nature that people do not always act in their own best interest. They need guidance. Human studies have shown that we all get cues, not from realities of the environment, but from our own biases, desires, perceptions and distractions. Therefore, the focus of a leader makes the followers create a more accurate and constructive view of reality by painting the larger picture.
When we are given leadership responsibility, we are responsible for maintaining a set of standards that is in line with higher laws. We are not to impose our wants or desires on those we lead but to apply those standards that are fair to all as authorized by God.
Just as the leader is to be serving and taking into account the ideas and needs of those they lead, those following the leader are to be doing the same. In doing so, they along with the leader practice self restraint, develop character; integrate discipline and practice love and respect for other people.
This promotes a self-leadership environment where everyone is empowered to be working for the good of the whole because it is in the best of interest of all.
A leader is distinguished from others by his sense of focus. What the leader focuses on and what he makes his priorities in life lets you know the kind of a leader he is.
Focus is a special gift. It is the light that guides the leader towards answers for the good of his people.
By Ayesha Shafiq, eParisExtra
Ayesha Shafiq is the Director of Paris Cardiology Center, now in her eleventh year. She is the wife of Khalid Shafiq, M.D. and mother of their 2 children. She holds a Masters Degree in International Relations. Mrs. Shafiq runs management with the help of 22 employees.