Free eBook Free Time Management Course

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Email Address Menu

First Name

Last Name

I am Interested in
Leadership Courses
Business Startup
Running a Successful Business
Job Search and Interviewing
Finding and Fulfilling Your True Purpose

7 characteristics of an independent leader

by Jack Dunigan

His was a politically unpopular act. The tension between the American
colonies, particularly Massachusetts, and Great Britain had heightened. The
resentment against the crown had grown and the mere presence of British
troops only made feelings more bitter.
A small platoon of British soldiers stood sentry on King Street in Boston.
Their job? To protect representatives of the crown as those representatives
enforced legislation passed in Parliament. On March 5, 1770, a mob formed
around one of the sentries and began to harass him with threats. Eight more
soldiers soon joined him. Someone threw more than an insult and in the
ensuing tumult the soldiers fired into the crowd killing three citizens
instantly. Two more would die soon after from their wounds.

The Governor promised an inquiry and the crowd dispersed but re-formed
the next day. To avoid further conflict the troops withdrew to Castle Island.
Eight soldiers, one officer, and four civilians were arrested and charged with
murder. In the trials that followed, the soldiers were represented by an
American lawyer who secured acquittal for 6 of the soldiers.

The lawyer took an unpopular stand not for the fee he would earn. He
certainly had little to gain politically. He was a colonist who chose to
represent the hated crown. He did so because he was an independent man,
a man of principle who did what is right because it is right. His name? John
Adams. Son of a farmer, shoemaker, local government leader, and church
deacon, his reputation for being strong on personal opinion and an
independent thinker soon earned him the nickname “Atlas of
Independence.”

But the label came about long before John Adam’s role as a key player in the
rebellion of the colonies from England. A Harvard graduate, he began his
career as a teacher but then moved into the practice of law where he
became an icon for honesty, outspokenness, and independence. His life and
accomplishments validate his role as a superlative leader.

Independence is not easy to find. The pressures to conform, to comply, to go

along are usually easy and harmless. But there are times when one must
decide whether to compromise principle for the sake of expedience.
Independent leaders won’t.
I am not suggesting that compromise is to be avoided. Indeed, the ability to
keep one’s eye on the prize and elicit the cooperation of others even while
cooperating with them is a critical leadership behavior. There is an inevitable
and necessary give and take in our transactions with others that can mark us
as reasonable. A hard-nosed approach soon earns us the reputation for
being difficult to get along with.

No, independence in this context means to be sufficiently self-contained so

that one can do what is right when the pressures are there to do what is
wrong.

Adams wouldn’t. Superlative leaders won’t either.

So, what are some of the characteristics of an independent person?

1. Doesn’t work for the money alone, but for the match with values
and a mutually attractive objective. I worked once for a company
led by a man who is a sociopath. Under his persuasive words and
charm he would say and do anything to get what he wanted and knew
very well how to abuse the gullibility of good people. When I confided
in a colleague that I was going to end my contract with that company,
my friend asked couldn’t I just do the job for the money. Doing things
you feel to be morally wrong for the money is prostitution. You do lots
of things for love and relationship you would never do for anything so
base as financial reward or self-promotion. Independent people just
don’t, even at personal expense.
2. Able to detect and neutralize the manipulative devices of bosses
and subordinates. Dependent people need adulation and approval
from others which necessarily affects everything they do. If one is
playing to the crowd, one will do what gets the applause. Independent
people do not thumb their noses at the crowd but they do what they
do because they do what they do, not because of strokes.
3. Not subject to the seductive power of flattery, either receiving or
giving. This goes along with #2. Flattery is insincere praise designed to
 impress or manipulate. Manipulative people know how to use flattery.
Many more are used by flatterers. Independent people have a radar
system that sounds the alarm when flattery approaches. But they
won’t use it either. They may be generous with their comments of
approval and acknowledge another’s abilities or achievements without
flattery.
4. Always has a reserve of “go to hell” money. On the practical side, an
independent person never spends everything s/he earns. They build
and maintain a reserve so that they are never caught in a squeeze
forcing them to do things or compromise integrity because they need
the money.
5. Thinks for themselves. Independence goes hand in hand with
emotional security. An independent person can think for him/herself,
does not crave validation from others, but does not reject advice,
suggestions, ideas, or comments from others either. To do so indicates
arrogance or insecurity, not independence.
6. Has a strong sense of personal capability, significance, power, and
influence. Personal assurance of their own self-worth and the value of
their contribution to the advancement of their company, organization,
or department facilitates an ability to function without being propped
up. An independent leader is not a diva, not a prima donna. Neither
the workplace nor the workflow revolves around them.
7. Can work, well…, independently. They can take a job, resource the
pieces and people needed, and get something done without needing
to be attended to. They extend our reach, multiply our effectiveness,
and divide our work.

Uncategorized
Deference
9 traits of eloquence in the superlative leader
Leave a Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Post Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

First Name

First Name

Last Name

Last Name

Email Address

Email
 Sign up

Search …

Categories

Achievement (15)
Adaptability (3)
Administration (22)
Associates (25)
Authority (20)
Benevolence (1)
Calling (3)
Change (2)
Coherence (1)
Communication (24)
Competence (15)
Competencies (8)
Confidence (8)
Conscience (1)
Consistence (1)
Control (12)
Customer Service (6)
Decision (5)
Decision-Making (12)
Deference (1)
Delegation (38)
Developing Capable People (12)
Diligence (2)
Drive (2)
Effective Leadership (145)
Efficiency (25)
Eloquence (1)
Emotional Security (6)
Employees (67)
Experience (2)
Influence (1)
Instruction (6)
Integrity (5)
Intelligence (3)
Leader Qualities (16)
Leadership (115)
Leadership Development (43)
Learning (8)
Management (95)
Meetings (1)
Mentoring (1)
Mentors (1)
Motivation (62)
Organization (22)
Organizing (7)
Patience (1)
Persistence (2)
Personal Growth (5)
Planning (21)
Podcast (2)
Power (13)
Prescience (1)
Presence (1)
Problem-Solving (6)
Productivity (23)
Prudence (6)
Purpose (10)
Respect (2)
Responsibility (32)
Seminar (1)
Soft Skills (2)
Stewardship (3)
Strategy (13)
Student (4)
Success (8)
Tactics (5)
Teaching (8)
Training (14)
Uncategorized (66)
Values (1)
Vision (35)

More Links

Home
Blog
Publications
University
How to get the job you want
Business Startup
Be An Instructor
About Us
Contact Us
Hire Us
Donate
BOGO
Legal

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

The Practical Leader newsletter lets you know every time a new article is
posted and once a month a special edition brings tips, ideas, and content you
won’t find here on this blog.

First Name

First Name

Last Name

Last Name

Email Address

Email

Sign up

Free Mini-Course
Do what’s important not just what’s urgent.
My free Mastering Your Time Mini-Course will teach you how. Sign up today.

The Practical Leader is the official website of Leadership Ministries, Inc. a nonprofit 501(c)3
organization. Copyright 2012-2019 All Rights Reserved