What Leadership Actually Is

– A Guide for Our Team

L – Listening 👂

True leadership begins with listening. Great leaders hear not only the words but the heart behind them. The sense what is said and sometimes what is not said. They listen with NLP and paying attention to the words, body language and tone. They hear the intent and purpose. When we actively listen—to clients, teammates, and partners—we build trust and uncover solutions. Listening is the foundation of respect and effective teamwork. Good listening is empathetic and sympathetic. Good leaders listen to understand not to merely reply. 

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” — Stephen R. Covey

“The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” — Woodrow Wilson

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” — Bryant H. McGill

“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” — Andy Stanley

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.” — Ralph G. Nichols

“A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit, and a lot more time to listen.” — Unknown

“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity.” — Roy T. Bennett

E – Encouragement 👏

Encouragement breathes life into people. A word of affirmation or recognition at the right time can inspire someone to rise above challenges. Leaders call out potential, celebrate wins big and small, and remind others they are valued. At OnGuard, we should be encouragers who fuel confidence in others. When people do well, we applaud them and when they’re bit off or down, we do our best to encourage and inspire them. And sometimes it’s best just to give them some space and time to reflect and rest a little.

“The task of the leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been.” — Henry Kissinger

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.” — Benjamin Disraeli

A – Adaptability 🦎

The world, like our projects, is always changing yet some things are immutable. Leadership means being flexible without losing focus. Adaptability allows us to face obstacles with creativity, to pivot when needed, and to thrive in uncertainty. Strong leaders don’t resist change—they learn from it and lead others through it. They seize change as opportunities to get ahead. Rock solid and never changing on principles – always requiring unity with essentials yet making room and appreciating preferences.

 “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” — Albert Einstein

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” — Benjamin Franklin

“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” — Okakura Kakuzō

“Adaptability is not imitation. It means power of resistance and assimilation.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” — John C. Maxwell

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher.” — Chinese Proverb

D – Dedication 🕯

Leadership is not a one-time act but a daily commitment. Dedication means showing up consistently, even when things are hard. It’s about modeling reliability and perseverance—doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. Dedicated leaders earn respect through consistency and effort. Reliable, responsible, responsive and determined leaders are dedicated to their people and process.

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” — Winston Churchill

The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” — Tommy Lasorda

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” — Steve Jobs

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” — John F. Kennedy

E – Ethical  ⚖️

Integrity is non-negotiable. Leadership without ethics is manipulation. With ethics, it becomes trust-building and sustainable. Leaders set the standard by making honest, fair, and value-driven decisions. Our mission of “Professional Protection of People and Property” only has meaning if it is built on ethical action. The Bible is the ultimate standard for discovering ethics as well as law, philosophy and life experience. Our character is based on what do when no one is looking. Our reputation what people’s opinions our of us. 

“Our reputation is our future.” – A sign Michael Bourdeau saw and brought to our attention

“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” — Ray Kroc

R – Respect 🤝

Respect is the currency of leadership. It’s not demanded—it’s given freely and earned in return. Leaders respect people’s time, ideas, and differences. Respect also means holding others accountable in ways that honor them as individuals. When respect is mutual, teamwork flourishes.

“Respect begets respect with respectful people”

“People may not always like you but they should always respect you”

“Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.” — Unknown

“Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.” — Unknown

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“You can demand courtesy but you must earn respect.” — Lawrence Goldstone

S – Support 🌳

Leadership means lifting others up. Support is equipping your team with tools, training, and resources required. It also means standing with them in tough times. Leaders remove roadblocks and create an environment where people can grow strong—like a tree with deep roots.

“People may not remember what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” Mayo A

“Strong people don’t put others down… they lift them up.” — Michael P. Watson

“We rise by lifting others.” — Robert Ingersoll

“Each of us can make a difference. Together we make change.” — Barbara Mikulski

H – Humility 🌼

Leadership is not about selfish pride but in service to others. Humility means putting others first, admitting mistakes, and giving credit where it’s due. It’s being authentic, not artificial fakeness nor flattery. Humble leaders don’t see themselves as above the team but as part of it. A humble heart draws people closer and fosters genuine teamwork.

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

I – Involved 🤲

Leadership isn’t done from a distance. Being involved means rolling up your sleeves, walking alongside your team, and staying engaged. Leaders don’t just give orders—they invest time, energy, and presence. Involvement shows people you care about both the mission and them personally. The best leaders lead where they’re needed, the most, whether it be in the front, middle or rear.

“Lead, follow or get out of the way!”

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

P – Patience ⏳

True leadership takes patience—with projects, with people, and with progress. Growth takes time, and leaders who remain steady and calm through challenges provide stability for the whole team. Patience allows us to build strong foundations instead of rushing into fragile success.

Persistence is a kin to patience. The two go hand in hand. They both take time. One is push and the other is pull.

Passion is another good P word with regard to leadership and people. Pure passion in pursuit of a high and noble Purpose takes patience and perseverance.

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait — it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.” — Joyce Meyer

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” — Leo Tolstoy

“To lose patience is to lose the battle.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“Patience is the companion of wisdom.” — St. Augustine

“All great achievements require time.” — Maya Angelou (Blessings and miracles are another story)

Summary

As we are able, let’s strive to lead from the pinnacle of Maxwell’s Levels of Leadership utilizing this acrostic and his 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.

“Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” — Peter Drucker

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams

Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a way of living and serving. By practicing Listening, Encouragement, Adaptability, Dedication, Ethics, Respect, Support, Humility, Involvement, and Patience, we embody the kind of leadership that inspires trust, strengthens our team, and fulfills our mission.

“Professional Protection of People and Property —.           No Worries, We Are OnGuard!”

– Kirk Booher