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President's Perspective
by Gleniece Robinson
While I recognize the impor-tance of competencies in the area of leadership, I wish to focus on the qualities necessary for successful leadership. Being an accomplished fundraiser, demonstrating sound budgeting skills, being politically astute or correct, and having achieved great success in the areas of planning, forecasting, organizing and communicating are all great. But, I submit to you that the leader who has great skills and competencies coupled with equally great qualities will ultimately succeed in this arena.
Qualities determine the character of an individual, qualities which help us maintain focus, to stay on track, to work from sun up to sun down; qualities which give us that lift and joy, that spiritthat sense of complete gratification. I have chosen only three qualities to highlight in this column, and they are not necessarily in priority orderthey are conviction, strength, and courage.
Conviction originates from purpose. First, know your purpose in life because it is sometimes the same as your purpose at work. Know what it is you are trying to accomplish and never lose sight of that purpose. Keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart, always focused on your purpose. Assure that every effort is goal oriented, but show a willingness to compromise when necessary, as long as the goal is attained. In your determination to accomplish the goal, be inclusive ? involve staff, friends, boards, foundations, community volunteers, and other departments within your institution. Don't allow barriers to get in your waykeep at your purpose with a steady and consistent pace.
Strength is a quiet inner qualitystrength guides and directs, strength speaks of wisdom, integrity, honesty, and decency. Strength has part of its origin in confidence, ability, skill, competency, and knowledge. When you have a knowledge base and you really know your business, you have the confidence and a certain kind of strength to believe that you can do almost anythingand you can. A portion of my personal strength and confidence comes from my knowledge base, but another portion comes from knowing to whom I belong and what my assignment in life is. When you know your assignment in life, you will discover that you also have the strength to carry it out. And, no one has your assignment except you; no one can do what you are destined to do.
Courage is that state of the mind or spirit which enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and resolution. Courage to be, courage to do, courage to make the tough decisions in spite of the consequences. Courage to operate against the grain, courage to take uncalculated and calculated risk, to be outspoken for just causes and to make unpopular decision. But, also have the courage to say "yes"yes, we will change every policy if it means improved customer services; yes, we will open on Sundays when it meets community needs; yes, we are here, primarily, for the public; and yes, we will balance user and staff needs because both are necessary.
The job of a leader is sometimes similar to a building under construction, so we wear "hard hats" to both prepare us and protect us from worlds falling apart. Worlds falling apart because of volatile situations, budget constraints, personnel issues, user concerns, and inadequate resources of varied typesstaffs, materials, time, etc. Perhaps a more appropriate title would be, "When Worlds Fall Apart." But, in spite of these circumstances, we continue to forge ahead because we have convictions, strength, and courage. We are knowledgeable, therefore we have purpose and focus. We are confident, therefore we have strength and determination. We have strength, therefore we wrap ourselves in courage and walk out on the pulse of a new day knowing that we are fully and wholly prepared to LEADand LEAD we must and will.