How to be a leader

如何做一个成功的领导者

Being considered a leader in our society is the ultimate『最高的;极至的』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『大剂量』."

被人认为是一个领导者在我们社会里是一种非常高的赞誉。科罗拉多州的科罗拉多斯普林斯“创造性领导研究中心”的心理学家戴维·坎贝尔说：“领导能力已成为普遍适用的维他命C.药片，看起来人们想要成千上万片的剂量。”

No wonder. Leadership bestows 『把…赠予;把…给予』 power, commands 『赢得;博得』 respect and, most important, fosters 『促进;培养』 achievement. Unlike vitamins, though, leadership skills can’t be easily gulped 『吞食;吞服』 down. They must be carefully cultivated 『培养;磨炼』 .

这毫不奇怪。领导能力带来权力，赢得尊重，而最重要的是，它带来成就。但与维他命不同的是，领导能力并不是轻易可吞下去的，它们需要仔细培养。

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

和一般的观念相反，绝大多数出色的领导者是后天选就而不是先天生成的。他们在日常的生活中炼就了他们的技能。

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.

经常赞扬别人。很多领导人物指出，让别人出色工作的最有效的办法是象对待英雄似地对待他们。世界上最好的领导技巧是当有人取得成就时就当众赞扬他们。这也是一种人们永远不会忘记的慷慨行为。

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 『产生;导致』 is arguably the most important currency a leader has.

给予赞扬比即使是最有建设性的批评更有效。这种批评常常会伤害人，而不是帮助人。《一分钟经理》一书的作者之一肯尼思·布兰查德也这样认为：“注意人们做得对的时候，然后把这告诉大家。这样你所引发的忠诚很可能是一个领导者所能拥有的最重要的成功保证。

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 『降落伞』 beforehand."

冒预料中的风险。“最好的领导者都知道冒风险并不是一种鲁莽的行为。”管理顾问玛里琳·马克洛维茨这样说，“跳伞者在没有检查降落伞是否好用之前是不会上飞机的。”

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.

由于冒风险也包含了失败的可能性，我们中很多人就倾向于让人们带头去冒险。但是，如果你想成为一个领导者，你就必须学会失败--但不是一受挫折就躺倒不干，而是跌倒了再爬起来，一切从零开始。

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.

以身作则。李·杜坎特是费城的一个家庭妇女，1965年，她的一个孩子被确诊为得了糖尿病。杜坎特想和其他有糖尿病孩子的母亲交往。但一开始没有人愿意和她深入交谈。