[January 2, 2017] Several years ago I wrote an introduction to a book on how women should act around men to ensure they establish a beneficial relationship. One key to successful women in their relationships, according to the author, was to have class in those things they do day-to-day. I selected actress Grace Kelly to use as the epitome of someone who was a classy lady.
Grace Kelly had class not because she was beautiful, or talented, or lucky in her life; although she was all these things. She had class because she was kind, charming, considerate, eloquent, and had the intelligence to be on the right side of things. Like her name, we can also had grace.
” Criticism of others is futile and if you indulge in it often, you should be warned that it can be fatal to your career.” – Dale Carnegie
Real leaders have class. They possess many of Grace Kelly’s qualities and the smarts not to overreact in difficult circumstances but to be attentive and understanding. They use criticism in measured doses and wrap it in positive comments. As Dale Carnegie noted, if you are prone to criticism often, you will not do well in your career or in your life.
When speaking of the leadership quality of class, I’m reminded of a chance meeting in Walt Disney World when on holiday with my children. We had a hectic day; it was hot and humid as Florida can be and our emotional tempers were running on high speed that day. But when we met a young lady playing the part of Lady, in Disney’s movie “Lady and the Tramp,” all that seemed to melt away.
This young woman had class and that put our minds at ease by the way she acted; kind, courteous, and charming. I could tell that she was something special; her ability to push the stresses of the day from our minds was downright remarkable. She seemed born with it but we all know that such qualities are learned behavior. She was an extraordinary human being and I’ve tried to emulate her approach during my time in the military.
Class is real. You can’t fake it. We’ve all known leaders who have it and many more who don’t. Class means having a sense of humor, never making excuses, good manners, and a person with class can walk with kings and keep their common touch. If you have class, you’ve got it made. If you don’t have class, no matter what else you have, it won’t make up for it.
[Don’t forget to “Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]