This is the first post in a series of write ups I will be doing on leadership. In fact I consider this post an introduction to leadership. I really don’t know how many part series it will be but I believe once I start the dots will begin to connect and I believe at the end the purpose which is to show us how to become a leader will be fulfilled. If you’re ready, please join me on this wonderful journey of discovering the secrets of how we can all become an outstanding leader in our respective fields.
Am sure you’re not new to the word “leader” or the concept of “leadership”. When you hear the word leader, what comes to your mind? For 95% of us, it is the picture of someone who occupies a position, especially in government or the CEO of a fortune 500 company. I want to tell you that you’re wrong because when we consider the world’s population or that of our country, it becomes obvious that only few people will be presidents, governors, mayors, senators or prime ministers in their lifetime. Does it then mean that the rest of us cannot lead? How do we describe the impact of parents, teachers, coaches and colleagues who help people to discover and to realize their potentials everyday around the world?
What is Leadership?
The word to watch out for in leadership is influence, and I’m happy to inform you that all of us have the ability and potential to influence. Leadership is the ability to influence people to achieve great and worthwhile goals. When you think very well about it, you have done it before, whether for good or bad. For the guys among us, you’ve asked a lady out for date before or persuaded your friend to follow you somewhere. If you’ve asked someone to do something for you before and they did, then I’m happy to tell you that you have leadership abilities. This series of post on leadership will deliver to you the essential ingredients that go into developing the ability to influence people. There are two dimensions to it; character and competence. As you develop them, your perspective to life will begin to change. You will begin to see opportunities where others see problems. As you acquire skills and solve relevant problems, you will increase in influence.
The journey to solving bigger problems begins when we start dealing with our own individual challenges. As we overcome them, we realize we do not have special problems. There are many in similar predicaments wanting solutions to the problems you have just solved. As we deploy our skills and gifts to help them, greater opportunities for leadership come our way. You progress and grow faster when you are able to show, demonstrate, and guide others to do what you do. That is another level of success on its own. Service to many leads to greatness. Leadership is all about service but that service starts with being able to identify people’s need.
I welcome you all into a new world of endless possibilities as we explore this series on leadership together.
What Next?
In your own simple definition what is leadership or who is a leader? Happy to hear your answers in the comment box below