We could get a rope around the neck of the Bull and pull him into the barn. Are we strong enough to do this? How long is the rope? I did say the Bull was mean! So if we went with this plan we would need a long rope, large strong muscles, and maybe a little short in the brains department.

We could get behind the Bull and try to push him into the barn. This time we would require the same things as above except for the long rope. Let me know how it goes for you!

I don't know how much you know about Bulls but standing right behind them is not a good idea!

We could try to scare the Bull into the barn by yelling and screaming at him! If you do this, please make sure you have a strong barrier between you and the Bull!

We could find something the Bull likes and motivate the Bull into the barn. Maybe the Bull would like oats, hay, or some other type of incentive for him!

My vote goes to finding something the Bull likes, so that we can motivate him into the barn.

This would also be the method I would use in the work place.

You see Good Leadership Skills requires being able to motivate individuals into accomplishing a goal. That goal can be anything!

It could be winning a baseball game.

You see anyone that knows about baseball can most likely show someone how to play the game. But a leader can motivate a player into wanting to do their best. Sometimes this can be done by answering the why question that most people have when we are doing something.

So lets use an example that is pretty basic. Let's say you are the manager of a housekeeper in a hospital that cleans patient beds after they are discharged. Your job is to make sure that the housekeeper cleans the beds thoroughly.

Two ways you can do this.

First way - Tell your housekeeper to make sure they clean the bed thoroughly and you will be back to check it in a few minutes. In this example you have provided them with specific instructions on what you want. Should be clear right. If you managed the process correctly they will accomplish the task.

Second way - Ask your housekeeper to make sure they clean the bed thoroughly to protect the next patient that will be using the bed. Let them know that if the bed is not cleaned properly, and completely disinfected, the next patient may acquire an infection and could possibly get very ill or even die. Now there is motivation! Now you not only have managed the housekeeper through the process, you are using good leadership skills by creating a reason to do the job right.

Guess what - patients enter hospitals every day and receive hospital acquired infections and do sometimes die.

You could even make it personal and ask them to assume that their loved one was going to be using that bed next!

The point of this is to motivate them!

Motivation can be positive or negative.

If you want your staff to continue working toward the goal whether you are there or not, positive motivation works better.

If you like being around holding the hammer over their heads all the time, go with the negative motivation approach. Remember the Bull? Let me know how it works out for you!

Now being able to motivate employees is not the only sign of good leadership skills, but one of the most important.

See your staff as people, not objects or tools only to get a job done. Lead them! Don't push or pull them! Remember the Bull!

So to sum up the answer to what are leadership skills - It is the ability to create a drive in someone to accomplish something.

Thank you!

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