"THE TEST OF LEADERSHIP"

The real test of leadership always comes in crisis, and there will be crisis for everyone in leadership. The question is how do we properly handle these times.

The more successful you are as a business man- a leader- the more frequent such decisions will have to be made. The greater potential for success a decision has, the greater the potential for failure it will likewise carry- and there will be failure. I like what John Maxwell, a prominent teacher on leadership, says, that “we fail forward”. If we are going to swing for home runs, we are going to also strike out more.

The one who is at bat at the plate with the potential for being the hero can also be the dunce. Few remember all the home runs I made in leading our church or running my business; almost everyone remembers the strike outs, but I am still in the game and much better at it.

We must keep our patience and peace of mind in the midst of a crisis, or we will make rash, unintelligent decisions based on our emotions, not on rational, sane ones. One moment of weakness and poor judgment is able to undo many years of labor built upon good judgment and effective leadership.

"Leadership in Marketing"

It takes a unique person to do well in sales and promotions. There are certain general personality characteristics typical of those who are drawn to this profession. Some are strengths and some are weaknesses. Understanding these characteristics can help to accentuate our strengths and overcome our weaknesses.
Here is a listing of each of the strengths. These are generalizations and all of them may not necessarily apply to you:

1. They Enjoy Life- Marketing professionals usually have a good perspective on why they are doing this in the first place. A positive, joyful attitude determines their altitude. They tend to be friendly, have interest in pulling others out of their doldrums, and have optimistic attitudes on life. Being joyful can have a significant impact on productivity. Having Jesus Christ as your first love brings the real joy of life to penetrate all other areas.
   
2. Staying Focused- To be successful in business, you must remain focused and disciplined on the vision, the mission, and the goals. You must “buy into” the vision before you will be committed. Do you see opportunities or only problems? Be solution-oriented! With Christ as your leader, you will have wisdom beyond the natural realm. God has all wisdom.
   
3. They Will Have High Energy- They will be quick to volunteer of tackle a difficult task which will cause others to do the same.

These people can propel your enterprise to heights you would never otherwise attain. Your salesmen are the firms’ ambassadors. They are the impression (good or bad) that potential customers will have of you, the company. Everyone in the business is a salesman!
Learning to listen carefully is very important for a professional salesman. I will develop this important characteristic of “Leadership in Marketing” on the next web page in the near future.