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Would you follow you?

Most of us are really good at pointing out the inadequacies and failures of leaders in our lives. Like armchair quarterbacks, we are convinced of our qualification to critique the weaknesses of those in leadership. We succumb to the voice in our head screaming, “I could do it better. I wouldn’t do that. If I was in charge, I would never handle it that way.” Statements we have the luxury of never actually delivering on. And even worse, we gossip with others about the incompetence of our leaders. But if we honestly ask ourselves, what would I actually do to be a leader worth following, we may not be so quick to retort.

Can I ask you question? That’s rhetorical, by the way.
What are you doing to become the kind of leader you would follow?

John Maxwell defines leadership as influence. In his book, The 5 Levels of Leadership, John outlines the progression of a leader who has true influence. An influential leader moves from position to permission to productivity to people development and, ultimately, to the pinnacle which is where you have a radical impact on the personhood of an individual. This is true influence. True leadership worth following.

If you were asked to identify the best leader you’ve ever experienced, who would you name? What were the attributes of that person? My experience leads me to believe you would eventually identify the fact that this person was intentional about developing you. They viewed their role as an opportunity to make you better at something. And, because you knew their intent was good, you willingly followed. Therefore, their influence changed you!

What could you do now to influence the development of another individual? What could you do to become a leader you would follow?

What are you reading? Who are you meeting with? Who are you listening to? What kind of people are you surrounded by? What leaders are you emulating? How are you treating people? How are you growing in emotional intelligence? How are you caring for people around you?

In, The Leadership Challenge, by Kouzes and Posner, they highlight a survey they have been conducting for years. Their survey, Characteristics of Admired Leaders, has been completed by over 100,000 people around the globe. They ask individuals to select 7 qualities out of a list of 20 that they “most look for and admire in a leader, someone whose direction they would willingly follow”. For over three decades, there are only four qualities that have always received more than 60 percent of the votes. The four qualities in a leader people are willing to follow are honesty, competence, forward-looking and inspiring. Accordingly, improving these four qualities in your own life helps create a leader worth following.

How can you be intentional about developing yourself to be the leader you would follow? Focus on the four and develop others.

It’s always about people!

#leadership #follow #leadershipdevelopment #people #culture #learning #development

Categories:
leadership, learning
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