Who Leads Your House?

Today the country will elect the 44th President of the United States. This has to be the most exciting Presidential race in history with a woman, a black man and the oldest man ever to have run for President. I hear many older people say, they never thought they would see something like this in their lifetime, yet they did.

No matter your political choice, please go out and vote today. However, you may have already voted, since polls are showing record numbers for early voters. It’s exciting to see people take a stand to support a leader they feel confident will lead this country best. People have listened to the candidates on their plans to end the war, solutions to the financial crisis and the level of importance placed on healthcare and education.

A question I hear come up frequently is, “Would you want a President that thinks like you?” Most people reply, “No, I would want him to be smarter than me.” That’s fine. I understand that most people would rather have someone that they perceive to be more qualified in terms of education, knowledge, experience and skills for the job. Yet most people are going to elect a candidate that they feel most represents them and their interest. So is that kind of like selecting someone that is like you? Just better, huh?

In any case, my question is, while the next President of the United States is working to resolve all the issues that interest or benefit you, what are you doing? Are you sitting around waiting for someone else to resolve all the problems of the world, including the ones that personally affect you? Or while you are taking time to select the nation’s leader, do you place that same amount of energy in being the leader of your own house?

Like your potential President-elect, do you surround yourself with good people (personal or industry experts) to offer good opinions or suggestions on advice to improve your financial strategies of homeownership, funding college for your children or saving for your retirement? On the other hand, are you simply waiting for your government to rescue you? Do you have a plan for wealth building?

Just as much as you want to have an effective leader for the country, you have to be an effective leader for your house. You need to take time out daily to tackle issues that surround your household. If you don’t make enough money, put an action plan together to prepare yourself for a position that will cover your expenses. If you have a business, create a plan for its growth or a succession plan for your retirement or in the event of death. Planning on retiring one day or sending your children to higher learning institutions, save for it.

When Presidents lead, they don’t just lead with their four-year term in mind, they lead with the countries future in mind. They look at the long-term plan, as well as the short-term fixing. They create a plan of action, stick to it, tweak, and adjust the plan along the way. This is how you need to lead your household in its issues.

It’s true, great business minds should be leading the country’s affairs. However, your great mind should be leading your personal affairs. Therefore, even if you don’t want to pick a President that is like you, maybe you need to start leading your personal affairs like the President you want to lead the country.

Lead by Example

Whether you realize it or not, everyone is a role model, leader or service provider at some point in time. What may be even more amazing is that you may play these different roles simultaneously through out the day. So while you are critiquing someone else’s performance or trying to lead them in a certain direction, you may need to spend time on perfecting your own performance level.

Lead by example, not just through words.

Have you ever taken a real look at how much time you spend trying to change someone else, as opposed to the time you spend trying to change yourself? Sometimes you think that only if someone else did their job better, if only someone else contributed to the project then everything else would be fine. Will it?

If other people just did what they were supposed to do, where would that leave you? Are you doing everything that you are supposed to do? Or are you lacking in your efforts as well?

Family, friends, colleagues and clients watch your performance. They watch how you life your life, how you run your business or how you perform your job. The example you show, either positive or negative, determines the type of role model in which they perceive you to be.

The example you display has a huge affect on your ability to lead. If you are reflecting a positive example, to family, friends, colleagues and clients, they will be more receptive when you are critiquing their actions or steering them in a certain way. In turn, a negative example reaps negative results.

In your dual role as leader/role model, you also play role as follower or servant. A good leader doesn’t just dictate commands, he/she observes the needs of the people they are leading and try their best to meet them. As a leader, you look for the ways to properly service or address the needs of you family, friends, colleagues and clients. You give them what they need, to bring the best out of them to meet your needs.

As a co-worker, manager or employer, before your next breath in suggesting an improvement for someone else, spend that energy in making sure the high expectation you are looking for in someone else, you are upholding. When you see things out of order, fix it. Don’t wait for someone else because it’s not your job. When you say you are going to do something, keep your word, don’t let other obligation distract you.

As a leader, your job in life is not to change someone. Your role is to change the only person you have control over – you! If you sincerely do your best, family, friends, colleagues and clients will serve you with their best.