DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
IMPACT360
HTML https://impact360.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: LEADERSHIP
*****************************************************
#Post#: 37--------------------------------------------------
HOW CAN YOU BE A LEADER RIGHT WHERE YOUARE, EVEN IF YOU’RE AT TH
E BOTTOM?BY JOHN C. MAXWELL.
By: IMPACT360 Date: November 28, 2014, 5:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
from Good Leaders Ask Great Questions
I often hear this question from younger aspiring
leaders. They want to apply my teaching to their
current situation, but they don’t know how.
The good news is that you can be a leader no
matter where you are. You don’t need a title. You
don’t need a position. You don’t need a formal
education. All you need to begin is the desire to
lead and the willingness to learn. The key is
influence.
Leadership Is Influence
You might have heard me say this before. But it’s
still true: Your ability to influence others will be
the single greatest factor in your success as a
leader. Author and professor Harry Allen Overstreet
asserted, “The very essence of all power to
influence lies in getting the other person to
participate.” Influence is an invitation anyone can
make to another person.
Influencing Others Is a Choice
The reality is that if we want to lead, we must
choose to positively influence others. We can be
indifferent to people, pursue our own agendas,
have bad attitudes, and refuse to work with a team.
Or we can care about people, be inclusive, work to
be positive, cooperate with others, and try to
positively influence them. Every day it is our
choice. If we choose to try to influence people, we
can lead from anywhere.
Our Influence Is Not Equal in All Areas
Just because you have influence with someone
doesn’t mean you have influence with everyone.
Influence must develop with each individual. If you
don’t believe me, try ordering around someone
else’s dog!
I discuss the process of developing influence with
others in The 5 Levels of Leadership . In summary,
it starts with Position where you receive a title,
grows to Permission as you develop a relationship,
builds upon Production as you help others get
things done, strengthens as you engage in People
Development, and culminates at the Pinnacle when
you raise up other leaders who develop people.
The most effective leaders are intentional about
trying to positively influence others. And they
understand that they have to work to increase their
influence with individual people. And by the way,
these things can be done even if you don’t have
the position.
With Influence Comes Responsibility
People who desire to lead often seek leadership
positions because of the perks and privileges.
However, as leaders we should always be aware
that leadership carries responsibility, that what we
do affects the people whose feelings and well-
being are within our influence. The influence we
have with others will be positive or negative. We
choose which one it will be.
People of Positive Influence Add Value to Others
Groundbreaking Major League Baseball player
Jackie Robinson observed, “A life isn’t significant
except for its impact upon other lives.” If you
choose to influence others and become a better
leader, I hope you will do so to add value to
others.
The above question and answer are excerpted from
my new book, Good Leaders Ask Great Questions ,
which is available in English and Spanish starting
this week. The first third contains my thoughts and
teaching on the value of questions, with what I
consider the most important questions we can ask
ourselves and others. The remaining two thirds of
the book are filled with questions like the one
above, followed by my answers based on over 40
years of learning in the area of leadership. It’s like
sitting in on a Q&A session with me and a room
full of smart, inquisitive leaders.
I believe Good Leaders Ask Great Questions will be
of value to you as a leadership development
resource, whether you read it through in one sitting
or consult the material as you need it. You can
find it at a variety of booksellers or right here on
JohnMaxwell.com .
*****************************************************