Businesses will be looking to hire and partner with those authentically engaged with the green movement. Those who are knowledgeable about eco-friendly alternatives, actively integrating green lifestyle changes, and demonstrating leadership in these areas, through speaking and writing, will be setting a positive and beneficial example for others, not to mention gaining a competitive advantage.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or careerist, you can increase your visi­bility and credibility by showcasing your talents and your understanding of what it means to incorporate a green-mindset into your area of expertise. Here are some easy ways to distinguish yourself:

1. Be authentic. To be a green leader in your niche, you need to “walk the talk.” How are you living a green life? Why is this important to you and the work you do? What contributions do you hope to make as a result?

2. Expand your knowledge. Actively educate yourself about green initia­tives, products, services, companies, and global issues by reading relevant periodicals and books, skimming blogs, attending seminars, and connecting with other thought leaders.

3. Express your expertise. Write articles and post them to your blog and to other online article sites. Join the conversation by actively com­menting and contributing to relevant green blogs and podcasts. Inter­view book authors, founders of green companies, and leaders of environmental causes. Consider writing a whitepaper, ebook, or even a short self-published book that ties your industry expertise to all things green.

Be green. Be authentic. Make a difference.

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.   Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

When we know what it takes to be successful, we can make plans, set goals, design strategies, and identify actions that will lead us closer to achieving what we desire. Defining the qualities of a leader will help us to evaluate to what degree they exist within us. And, at the same time, we can develop those qualities which might not be as strong as they could be.

Leaders are courageous. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, “courage implies firmness of mind and will.” Courage is about stepping out of your comfort zone. When you operate from a place of courage, whatever you do is coming from hour heart, from a place of inspiration. You are ready to face whatever opposition or hardship lay ahead. You’re focused, resolute and determined.

How do you think courage influences your ability to be a great leader?

“The systematic development of the deep down quality of unflinching courage is one of the fundamental requirements for leadership in any field. Fear, or the lack of courage is more responsible for failure in management, and in life, than any other factor. It is always fear that causes people to hold back, to sell themselves short, to settle for far less than they are capable of!” — Brian Tracy

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.   Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

If you want to really know who someone is, study his or her words and actions.  Our behavior is governed by our values. Our values are the principles around which we live our daily life. They might include integrity, freedom, persistence, learning, and compassion.  They are personal to us.  We each have our own set of values which influence who we are and what we do.

Leaders have solid values.  We can see them clearly manifested in everything they do.  Their strong inner core is fashioned of their values, from which their thoughts and actions flow.  Through good times and bad, they are unwavering.  No matter what, they never allow others to influence, sway, or derail them from their strong inner belief system.

When we live aligned to our values, we feel good about ourselves. Our self-esteem is healthy and robust, and no matter what challenges life presents to us, we always have our solid base of values from which to take action. When we’re not aligned with our values, we feel conflicted. Things don’t feel right. We do things not because they are right for us, but because we fall victim to “fast talkers,” people who make promises about things they don’t intend to do, and false prophets which are proliferating in today’s society.

What are your most important values?  How are your values reflected in your thoughts and actions?  Describe how they manifest in your daily life.  Where might your daily actions be conflicting with who you truly are?  And, most importantly, if you’re not living aligned to your values, why?

“I am personally convinced that one person can be a change catalyst, a “transformer” in any situation, any organization.  Such an individual is yeast that can leaven an entire loaf. It requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith to be a transforming leader.”  — Stephen R. Covey

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues. Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Only the ignorant believe that life is to be problem- and challenge-free. Unfortunately, ridiculous thoughts like these are promoted more and more through non-mainstream thought influencers who maintain that if anything bad happens to you, then you must be a bad person – you must be attracting it.   Life is filled with a variety of events.  Whether they are good or bad depends on how you choose to look at things.  The “good” or “bad” label comes from your interpretation and classification of something based on your beliefs, prior experiences, and attitude.

How many times have you heard someone say of a challenging life experience that it was the best thing that ever happened to them?  I’m willing to bet that you’ve said that yourself.  And, we’re not talking about small life issues, but rather about ones that have had life-altering consequences.

Your attitude is a choice and one that you make every day.  Think about the power that you have over your own happiness!  That’s the real secret of a wonderful life – you get to call the shots on how you’re going to interpret it.

A positive mental attitude is an essential quality of a leader as it sets the tone for everything that follows.  While a leader certainly experiences his or her share of disappointments, challenges, and hard times, it’s imperative that the right attitude be communicated regularly and consistently to everyone.

The right mental attitude makes everything flow more smoothly. It offers a sense of welcome, it makes people want to open up and share, and most important, it’s contagious!  Great leaders have great attitudes.

What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude?  How does having this attitude affect your success as a leader?

“Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.” — Harold Geneen

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Being open-minded is a mindset that rock solid leaders possess.  It’s one of invitation and collaboration where they are genuinely interested in hearing the opinions of others.  That’s what great societal leaders do. They’re so solid in who they are, and believe so strongly in what they do, that they don’t feel that they’ll be unduly influenced or “magically” changed against their will simply by listening, engaging, and discussing ideas.

And, don’t confuse listening to others with agreeing with them.  Listening is one thing; throwing your personal operating principles out the door to please or “go along” with someone whose ideas  and ideals are contrary to what you know is right for you is a completely different issue.

Coming from a place of being open-minded allows us to see possibilities where otherwise we might not. As a leader, having an open mind to differing points of view and to new ideas demonstrates to others that one is collaborative in nature, rather than competitive.  While it’s important to ensure focus by adhering to an organization’s overarching vision and mission, leaders who welcome the input of others and who genuinely listen to their constituency are typically the ones who are most respected.

No matter what the situation, we always learn something new. By being open-minded to listening to others, we might understand flaws in our own thinking, learn new ways of interpreting and handling issues, and most importantly, build bridges with others.  We all live in this world together; it’s imperative that everyone learn how to get along by respecting each other’s beliefs.  You don’t have to agree – everyone can be right – but you need to stay true to your own personal beliefs and values.

Are you open-minded?  Recall a time when you listened deeply to the ideas of others.  How can you be more open to new possibilities when it comes to being a leader?  What types of results do you think you might achieve?

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Have you noticed today’s leaders?  They’re connectors.  They network. They don’t sequester themselves in offices and make themselves inaccessible to their constituency. Instead, they are actively involved at events, in the media, and even guest on popular TV shows.  While some of that behavior is certainly distracting and detracting, and occasionally inappropriate for their leadership role, the main point is that they’re just being human – enjoying themselves like anyone else. They’re being a “part of” something.  They’re breaking free of the command and control model of yesteryear.

Nowadays, leadership calls for a new paradigm, one that comes from a more compassionate and collaborative perspective.  Today, business is all about connecting with others.  It’s about collaboration and being authentic without being narcissistic, egotistical, or arrogant.  If you want to be a successful leader, then you must lead from the trenches. Your experiences must be like those of your followers. If you don’t know what it’s like to work in the trenches of your organization, then you certainly can’t effectively lead it from some high, lofty, and disconnected corner office.

How do you connect with others?  How do you show others that you care about them and what they’re interested in?  What specifically do you do to make environments friendly, inviting, and collaborative?

“Good leaders make people feel that they’re at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organization. When that happens people feel centered and that gives their work meaning.”  — Warren Bennis

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

True leaders know that they must take responsibility for many things, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.   Many of today’s leaders are shirking their responsibilities by blaming those who came before them.  The “I didn’t create this mess, so it’s not my problem” mindset is just not acceptable to today’s modern leaders who want to stand up, lead, and create true change.

Our best and brightest leaders are the ones who understand the mistakes of the past. They are cognizant that no one man or woman is responsible for something happening.  They know that the creation of corporate, political, religious, and other organizational disasters required the ideas, input, and actions of many parties – a perfect storm if you will.  And, that’s where it ends. They understand the circumstances; they note them, they take from them valuable insights or lessons to be learned, and then move on to doing their job – being a leader.

They don’t endlessly blame, name call, or berate, but rather they focus, build teams of advisors and implementers, discuss, debate, and then from there, create the plans and strategies needed to fulfill their mission and vision.

The best leaders are actually the ones who take personal responsibility very seriously.  They have strength of mind and fortitude of heart to take full responsibility for what they think, say, and do while in a leadership capacity.  They’ll also stand strong against criticism and blame as well – things to be expected and accepted as part of being in a position of power.  Warranted or not, rock-solid leaders won’t allow naysayers and other negative influencers to derail them.

You can’t lead and create change unless you can step into taking full responsibility for your position as a leader.  How do you fare when it comes to taking responsibility?  Are you truly taking responsibility for your actions, or do you find yourself secretly or overtly blaming others for the decisions you have to make now that you’re in charge?  What could you be doing differently?  Seek input from others to garner a better view on how you’re perceived as a leader. Your personal insights, combined with valuable feedback from others, can help you to polish your skills for the benefit of everyone.

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

“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.”  — Max DePree

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.   Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Self-worth is not about narcissism, ego, or arrogance. In fact, these unfortunate qualities always catch up with a leader and lead to his or her downfall.  A known recipe for disaster, these characteristics are not only harmful to the individual, but usually have disastrous consequences for society — along the lines of Enron, the financial markets crisis and other societal disasters of the past, present, and in-the-making.

Self-worth is what we believe about our self.  It’s our inner signal about how we value who we are, what we think, believe, say and do.  It’s our personal, internal grounding center.  While we all care about what others think of us, even if we say we don’t, what we think about ourselves is vastly more important than what anyone else will ever think.  Remember, what other people think of you is their issue – not yours.  Your responsibility is to yourself and to being the best person you can be.
Those who aspire and achieve positions of leadership typically possess high self-worth which reflects in everything from how they get along with others, to their demonstrated confidence and level of personal responsibility.  They’re humble, yet strong.

Just like anything else, if you don’t possess the level of self-worth you desire, you can develop it.  Regularly reflect on your personal qualities –the good and the bad.  Accept that you’ve made mistakes and that you’ll continue to make them throughout life and that it’s okay.  Mature people will forgive you. The challenge is that you need to learn how to forgive yourself.

Feel good about the contributions that you’ve made and the lives that you’ve influenced or changed.  Reflect on the personal growth you’ve made and the positive, forwarding actions you’ve taken to become a better person.

Check your ego at the door because it will only serve to attract animosity, disdain, conflict and discord.  And, finally, don’t take responsibility for what others want to say about you or do to you.  Let others live their own life. You’re here to focus on your own so that you can be the best leader – whether as the head of company or family, or even as the CEO of your own life.

And, finally, surround yourself with others of high self-worth.  Birds of a feather flock together.  Learn from the best. Allow yourself to be mentored and pass it along by mentoring others.  When you value yourself, you can truly value others.  It all starts with you – your personal self-worth.

“It is the job of a leader to bring out the magnificence in people and to create an environment where they feel safe, supported, and ready to do the best job possible.”
– Ken Blanchard

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Strong leaders are flexible, too. Today’s society is complex.  Technology and social networking is blurring the line between our personal and professional lives.  Everyone is taking more interest in societal issues and in creating change, not only for society, but also for the larger global community as a whole.

Today’s problems are more complex and the consequences of our actions more influential.  We can barely predict what will happen in our lives a mere 24 hours from now.  The only thing we can be certain of is change – and a lot of it.  This is the normal, everyday operating environment of today’s leader.

He or she must be quick-thinking, open-minded, and most important, flexible to all that is happening around them.  Leaders must be able to understand and assess situations in minutes, not months. They must be able to modify plans, rally their teams, and change a course of action on a moment’s notice.  The ability to do this, and to do it well, depends on their ability to be flexible.

Equally important is the ability to be flexible when it comes to thinking or being open-minded to adopting new attitudes, ideas, or points of view.  Flexibility allows one to go with the flow, to keep stress levels manageable, and to maintain relationships with others that are critical for overall success.

If you want to be a leader, you need to learn how to be flexible. If you want to be a successful leader, it’s mandatory.

In what ways are you flexible when it comes to your leadership style?  Are there any areas where you could institute a more flexible approach?  What are the benefits of being more flexible for you and the organization you lead?  What’s one thing you can do this week to take you leadership to the next level?

“The very essence of all power to influence lies in getting the other person to participate.”
–Harry A. Overstreet

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.

Our ability to be a leader is inherent within us and is the sum total of our experiences and abilities.  It is also closely correlated to our ability to lead ourselves.  If we are competent in our self-discipline, in creating goals, actions and plans, and then following through on what we say we intend to do, this often translates into an ability to lead.  If we can’t do it for ourselves, we rarely can do it for others.

Are people born with the ability to lead?  Personally, I don’t believe that. I believe that we do have certain personality characteristics or traits which are naturally aligned with being a leader.  These, combined with validating experiences, that is, learning from life successes and failures, are what provide the foundation of a leader’s ability.  The influences and inputs are many and complex and intricately woven together.

Stepping up and taking responsibility for what we think, say and do, is the most fundamental of leadership qualities. Applying these to societal issues, whether at home, church, or in the corporation, is what really “trains” us for being a leader.  We learn in action – demonstrating what we’re made of each and every day.

What characteristics stand out when you evaluate your leadership abilities? What are your strongest qualities?  Which ones might need more work? Who do you know who might mentor you to develop these qualities further? What types of projects, causes, or actions can you take part in to develop your leadership skills in new areas?

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” — Kenneth Blanchard

Tara Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives, business professionals, and entrepreneurs on leadership, management, productivity, and marketing issues.  Tara is also the author of 21 Qualities of a Leader from which this article is excerpted.