Zodiac Masterclass Series – The Leo Guide to Leadership

Leo New Moon Mandala painted by Sarah Berry
Line Mandala from Mandala Colouring Book by Barry Stevens
available at http://www.mandalas.freeserve.co.uk/colouringinbook.html

This is the ninth piece in an occasional series written about the expertise of each Sun Sign. I am still looking for the Capricorn who can write a guide to Ambition, but at this point in time I am no longer looking for a Libran who can write a guide to Relationships. I think I have found just the right person, but I haven’t asked her yet! If you think you are the Capricorn I am looking for, please get in touch. Or alternatively if you should know the ideal person. The articles will be found under the category “Zodiac Masterclass” so that eventually there will be 12 such articles, e.g. “The Libran Guide to Relationships”, “The Capricorn Guide to Ambition”,”The Pisces Guide to Compassion” etc. Each article will be written by someone who has the Sun Sign in question.

Here guest blogger Neil writes through Daph about Leo as Leader. Daph is a family member, and also happens to have Leo rising. The blog will replace your copy of “Il Principe” by Niccolo Machiavelli, being a new guide to modern leadership! Please note the bullet points, a modern feature which Niccolo had not thought of. Enjoy this blog, as there won’t be another one in this series until at least September, for Libra. In the meantime, when it comes to the new academic season, and you feel like an Autumn spring-clean, you might want to review the Virgo Guide to De-cluttering…

A word about the mandala: It is painted in yellow and gold (its higher vibrational counterpart, and a symbol for royalty among other things), traditional colours for Leo. Colours that the lion feels at home with. The colours were represented in Sarah’s work with no knowledge of astrological correspondences, just the experience of painting them on the New Moon of the particular sign.

The Leo Guide to Leadership

By Neil, channelled through Daph

The first and most important aspect of Leadership is knowing how and when to delegate, and this blog post is very much a case in point. The author, a Leo, has completely delegated the writing of it to a Sun Sign Taurean (always happy to play second fiddle), albeit with Ascendant in Leo.

Delegation is important for two reasons. Firstly, you need to focus your energies where they are really needed in directing overall strategy – you have to be aware of the big picture as well as the detail; the wood as well as the trees. Secondly, it is good to give other people plenty of opportunity to express their own creativity in positions of trust. New leaders have to be nurtured and brought on and everyone deserves their moment in the sun (Leo ruler!), so part of the responsibility of leadership lies in recognising, encouraging and developing talent. Rather like being a parent and watching your children become independent, you should be pleased and proud whenever your protégées acquire the skills and confidence to move on to new challenges without you.

People may think that being a leader is simply a matter of issuing orders and expecting others to obey them without question. That is not leadership – it is dictatorship. Properly exercised, true leadership is about consensus and timing. There is an element of serendipity about being in the right place at the right time.

You need to recognise where people want to go almost before they know it themselves. It is no good being slightly behind the curve, as you would have no natural authority. You cannot afford to be too visionary either – that would be Piscean, and no matter how brilliant your ideas, if they are too far ahead of everyone else’s you would be judged, (however unfairly) as a revolutionary at best or a crackpot at worst, rather than a leader; I feel that path represents more of an Aquarian vibe.

Understand people’s individual strengths and weaknesses and what roles they can best perform in any given project – to use a military analogy you need cavalry and artillery as well as foot soldiers. Choose your team wisely as they will need to work well together in the heat of battle as well as in camp.

Lead by example. To demonstrate this principle, the author (taking on the persona of the creative director) has inserted plenty of paragraph breaks and a handy summary in bullet points below. For regular readers of this blog, that may or may not give you a clue as to the identity of someone who frequently adds comments. You will not inspire your troops to have courage if you cannot project a mask of bravery yourself, even if like the cowardly lion in The Wizard of Oz you are quaking in your boots. It is very bad for morale to burden your team with your own concerns.

An old family saying has it that a good general turns a defeat into a victory. This is a particularly tricky feat to pull off, but very rewarding if you can manage it. When things don’t go your way it may be because that wasn’t right after all, and if you can focus on the positives of your position rather than on your own feelings of resentment, you are more likely to see the way forward.

If all this sounds rather daunting, remember to be authentic and stay true to yourself. If you pretend to be better than you are, then the hypocrisy of your position will be obvious to the world. Some of the most inspiring and charismatic leaders in history (as illustrated), have nonetheless been deeply flawed human beings. However, they are still held in great affection.

Leadership in bullets

• Delegation
• Timing
• Choose your team
• Lead by example
• Stay true to yourself