Leadership Lessons from the Life of Eleanor Roosevelt:
Great women take steps to alleviate the
sufferings of others. It is good to know the
sufferings of the people around us, but we
should not stop at knowing, great women do
something to ease the sufferings of others.
Great women are listeners. It was said about
Eleanor Roosevelt that she was had an ability to
listen to others, to draw them out, and extend
an invitation to them to talk about the things
that really mattered to them. Small women are
self-absorbed and focus on themselves and the
things that matter to them (as if anyone cares).
But great women encourage others to talk
about themselves and their interests.
Great women are genuinely interested in
the well-being of others. It takes a genuine
interest in another to invite them to talk about
themselves and the things that matter to them.
Great women are trailblazers. They are
pacesetters. They do not allow themselves to be
limited by outdated traditions. No one becomes
great by doing things the way they have always
been done; people become great by being bold
for change.
Great women are mentally strong. Eleanor lost
both parents before she was ten. Then she lost
her brother, and while her husband was at the
peak of his political career, he lost the use of
both legs because of polio. This woman did not
have an easy life but rather than moan about
the circumstances of her life; she reached out to
help others. It takes mental strength to do this.
Great women are not people without problems
of their own; rather they are people who reach
out to others despite their problems. Eleanor
Roosevelt had plenty problems of her own, but
she looked past them to the sufferings of those
around her. This is true greatness.
In conclusion; are you reaching out to help
others or are you too consumed with your own
situation to see the sufferings of others around
you? Remember, great women are not those
without problems, they are simply those who
set aside their problems and reach out to help
others.
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DOZ Magazine April 2018