As we approach the “season of giving,” I thought I would share several gifts that I have received from mentors who have inspired and enlightened me during my career as a leader and follower.

Gift number one is the gift of attitude. So much of what we accomplish or fail to accomplish begins and ends with our attitude. What kind of attitude do you possess? How do you approach the tough and the easy challenges you encounter? Do you look at each day as an opportunity waiting to be seized or a wall just about ready to tumble down upon you? Is your glass half empty or half full? Your attitude will carry you and those who follow you to new heights or perhaps deeper depths.

Optimism is the second gift of effective leadership. Winston Churchill, when asked if he was an optimist or a pessimist, responded, “What a silly question, I am an optimist of course. Why would I be anything else? To be a pessimist is a waste of time and a waste of space!” Need I say more?

Gift three is the gift of direction. Do you know where you are going and what your goals are? Any effective leader I have ever encountered or read about has clarity of vision and mission. His values are clear and lived. Her path is unencumbered with doubts of where she is going. Before you start your journey, know where you are going so those who follow might know where to find you if they get lost.

Fourth is the gift of followership. The effective leader knows how to follow. Especially she knows when to empower others who have a better idea on how to get done what needs to be done. Effective leaders delegate then follow when the time is right.

The gift of humility is the fifth gift. To lead and be humble is often hard for some leaders. To know you’ve made a mistake and then be able to publicly declare it is too great a risk in the minds of some leaders. To admit you have erred and are wrong is most often the first step to learning new and important lessons.

Action is the next gift. My dad used to say, “Talk is cheap.” He was right, there are too many leaders who are bankrupt when it comes to taking action. When you put your attitude, mission and vision together and you know your direction - your action is the final imperative. Take the gift of action and go for it!

Finally, perhaps the most important gift of all, effective leaders understand that their greatest gift is to value the people around them. The human resource of colleagues, friends, employees, and yes, even our adversaries and the competition all draw out the best in each of us if we allow them too. If we value people, we incrementally increase our own value and our potential for success.

Well there they are, my holiday gifts to you. Some wonderful people have given them to me throughout my professional career, and they have served me well. May you gain strength and improve your leadership skills by thinking about them and using them as well. If you find out that they work and make sense to you please pass them on. Thank You.