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Have you ever taken the time to consider
why you ever wanted to be a leader in the first place? It may have been
for the money, status, or power that you imagined could be realized
from some available leadership position. On the other hand, you may
have been pursued a leadership position because of the obvious lack
of leadership you were receiving. Of course, there is always the possibility
that you didn't pursue leadership at all. Rather it found you, and you
may still be scratching your head, wondering how.
Let me begin by offering a formal overview of what I believe leadership
to be. We must always remember that the act of leadership, personal
or professional, is only part of our individual journey. Leadership
should not be considered a destination in and of itself. Recognition
that leadership opportunities can be fleeting, should encourage us to
take full advantage of them while they exist. Yet, we should clearly
understand that the leadership positions entrusted to us provide temporarily
elevated vistas which, when used properly, allow us the potential to
realize significantly greater accomplishments with and through our followers.
In the midst of these accomplishments, leaders are able to experience
the synergistic benefits of team activity, by learning with and from
these same followers. As a result, both leader and followers walk away
from the shared experience better prepared to continue their respective
journeys.
In the event, that the previous paragraph proved to be a bit too cerebral
for your tastes, let me boil the concept of what leadership is down
to the following working definition:
Leadership is not position! Leadership is the ability to offer service
and the willingness to take action.
That's it. We are not a leader simply because of our title, rank, or
the proximity of our parking space to our work area We must constantly
strive to escape the traditional thought processes which assumed that
if an individual were a supervisor, manager, captain, president, etc.,
he or she must, therefore, be a leader.
No, true leadership is granted by the followers. Granted only when it
becomes evident to followers that the aspiring leader has the ability
to provide some service for them that they cannot realize alone. More
importantly though, aspiring leaders must take action. They must put
wings to their words. For followers, leadership proof is in the results.
So our challenge begins by getting to know what our followers need that
they cannot satisfy alone. Thus, when our focus shifts from ourselves
and our positions, to our followers and their needs, the leadership
journey has truly begun.
Thank you for requesting this article
written by Phillip Van Hooser, CSP.
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