How to be a leader

如何做一個成功的領導者

Being considered a leader in our society is the ultimate『最高的;極至的』compliment. "Leadership has become the universal vitamin C pill," says psychologist David Campbell of the Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colo. "People seem to want megadoses『大劑量』."

被人認為是一個領導者在我們社會里是一種非常高的贊譽。科羅拉多州的科羅拉多斯普林斯“創造性領導研究中心”的心理學家戴維·坎貝爾說：“領導能力已成為普遍適用的維他命C.藥片，看起來人們想要成千上萬片的劑量。”

No wonder. Leadership bestows 『把…贈予;把…給予』 power, commands 『贏得;博得』 respect and, most important, fosters 『促進;培養』 achievement. Unlike vitamins, though, leadership skills can’t be easily gulped 『吞食;吞服』 down. They must be carefully cultivated 『培養;磨煉』 .

這毫不奇怪。領導能力帶來權力，贏得尊重，而最重要的是，它帶來成就。但與維他命不同的是，領導能力并不是輕易可吞下去的，它們需要仔細培養。

Contrary to popular belief, most good leaders are made, not born. They hone 『磨練』 their skills in their everyday lives. But which do they cultivate? How do they (and how can you) get others to follow?

和一般的觀念相反，絕大多數出色的領導者是后天選就而不是先天生成的。他們在日常的生活中煉就了他們的技能。

Always give credit. Many leaders note that the most efficient way to get a good performance from others is to treat them like heroes. Giving public credit to someone who has earned it is the best leadership technique in the world. It is also an act of generosity that’s never forgotten.

經常贊揚別人。很多領導人物指出，讓別人出色工作的最有效的辦法是象對待英雄似地對待他們。世界上最好的領導技巧是當有人取得成就時就當眾贊揚他們。這也是一種人們永遠不會忘記的慷慨行為。

Giving credit is more effective than even the most constructive criticism, which often hurts rather than helps. Kenneth Blanchard, co-author of The One-Minute Manager, agrees. "Catch people doing something right!" he says. Then tell everyone about it. The loyalty you will generate 『產生;導致』 is arguably the most important currency a leader has.

給予贊揚比即使是最有建設性的批評更有效。這種批評常常會傷害人，而不是幫助人。《一分鐘經理》一書的作者之一肯尼思·布蘭查德也這樣認為：“注意人們做得對的時候，然后把這告訴大家。這樣你所引發的忠誠很可能是一個領導者所能擁有的最重要的成功保證。

Take informed risks. "The best leaders know that taking a risk is not a thoughtless exercise," says management consultant Marilyn Machlowitz. "Sky divers don’t go up in an airplane without checking the parachutes 『降落傘』 beforehand."

冒預料中的風險。“最好的領導者都知道冒風險并不是一種魯莽的行為。”管理顧問瑪里琳·馬克洛維茨這樣說，“跳傘者在沒有檢查降落傘是否好用之前是不會上飛機的。”

Because the idea of risk also carries with it the possibility of failure, many of us tend to wait for others to take charge. But if you want to be a leader, you must learn to fail-and not die a thousand deaths. Pick yourself up and start all over again.

由于冒風險也包含了失敗的可能性，我們中很多人就傾向于讓人們帶頭去冒險。但是，如果你想成為一個領導者，你就必須學會失敗--但不是一受挫折就躺倒不干，而是跌倒了再爬起來，一切從零開始。

Show the way. In 1965, Lee Ducat was a Philadelphia homemaker with a child who had just been found to have diabetes 『糖尿病』 . Ducat tried to reach out to other mothers of diabetic kids, but at first no one wanted to talk.

以身作則。李·杜坎特是費城的一個家庭婦女，1965年，她的一個孩子被確診為得了糖尿病。杜坎特想和其他有糖尿病孩子的母親交往。但一開始沒有人愿意和她深入交談。