Walk the Talk

It is always so easy to talk about Walking the Talk. But how many of us can really do it?

Well, I have been a long standing member of the Lions movement for more than 30 years, and have observed many leaders who have done well, as well as, many who have not. Some have even been outright non-committed. Many, especially the newer ones, tend to feel that fellowship is more important than service. Fortunately, the majority still subscribe to the We Serve philosophy on which our organization was built and have grown into what it is today.

When entrusted with the responsibility of leadership which we seek for, we must remember that what we do is more important than what we ask others to do as leaders. This bring me to Dr. john Maxwell's philosophy that "it is good to lead people to do good, but better to do good and than lead people to do the same." This is walking the talk.

I am always amused when I noted that leaders keep on asking members under their leadership to recruit new members but they themselves do not recruit any. We have much to learn from the multi-level marketing companies when leaders always recruit new members and then ask their downlines to do what they have done if they want to be successful like them. Thus, I have confided to many of our leaders that to have good membership growth, the secret is to have the leaders do it first. The members will follow automatically. I speak from experience as I have fantastic growth during my term as District Governor. I have, if my memory doesn't fail me, 12% nett growth and charterd 8 new Lions Clubs and 1 new Lioness Clubs during the year. My home club, the Lions Club of KL North, has also experienced healthy growth over the last five years. thus, walking the talk is a good phylosophy to practice, not talked about.

Apart from growth, leading in other areas are equally important. The practice of fairplay and integrity are what people look for in their leaders.

Imagine, practicing nepotism and bias in selection of members for leadership training where qualifying criterias are set. Applying such criterias to certain applicants and waiving them for another group of applicants would bring unhappiness to those who have not been selected. Worse still, the integrity and good will of the leaders would be compromised and lost! This can be a lose-lose situation instead of a win-win. thus, where criterias are set, they must be applied to all concerned without fear or favour. Leaders must maintain their integrity as once lost can be very, very difficult to rebuild. Again walking the talk is so crucial for leaders at all levels.

thus, in wahtever we do as leaders, it is important to go back to the priciple of walking the talk. Leadership by example is still, in my humble opinion, the most effective leadership model to adopt.

Thus, to lead, serve first.