Lessons from Past Presidents on Leadership Skills

Yes, President’s Day is here! While you could simply use this day to whip out coupons and buy yourself that espresso machine you’ve been eyeing for weeks, today is also a great opportunity to reflect on the leadership skills that many of our nation’s Presidents came to inherit. So, what characteristics or skills does it take to become a successful U.S. President? Let’s take a look!

Develop A Bold and Resilient Attitude

“People high in boldness don’t have a lot of apprehension about either physical or social things that would scare the rest of us.” – Scott Lilienfeld, Psychology Professor at Emory University.

Tech. Sgt. Keith Berry scans the flooded streets of New Orleans searching for survivors on Sept. 4, 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

In times of crises, persons with a high tolerance for stress, anxiety, and frustration are less likely to make impulsive or emotional decisions. It’s this sort of resilience that will allow President’s to cope with natural disasters, nuclear threats, and everyday life challenges. Strengthen your resilience by accepting that change and disorder is a part of life. Rather than detach yourself from stressful situations, embrace the opportunity and take decisive action towards improving the situation, one step at a time.

Establish a Strategy, Not Goals

Goals are easy to create and even easier to toss out the window. In addition, goals can be too broad or big to tackle at first glance. Rather than set yourself up for failure, create a strategy that will help you reach your destination. Take a look at the examples below. Learn to see strategies as steps towards your final destination, not just an abstract dream.

Take Risks and Take Ownership of the Consequences

“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” – Thomas Jefferson

Progress in life can only manifest out of action. It’s not enough to hope or dream of taking actions; a leader must also be ready to act. To do this, confidence in one self is key. Develop confidence in yourself by doing your homework and trusting your instincts. Secondly, a leader must also take ownership to the results of his or her actions.Whether it’s working on a team or striving to lead the free world, a leader cannot pass blame to other members on the team. Maintain an optimistic outlook and support team members to get the job done.

Happy President’s Day from VPLS!

We hope this article inspired you to celebrate President’s Day by toning and developing essential leadership skills! Don’t forget to visit our blog to stay current on the latest tech news and events.