Leadership is NOT a position; rather leadership is a frame of mind, an attitude. Most think that leadership flows from positional power yet in an interconnected, highly mobile world where the best minds and the most skilled talent have a multitude of job opportunities at their fingertips, “Because I’m the Boss” doesn’t hack it anymore. Leadership based on raw exercise of power is not true leadership, is not motivational, and is not inspirational.

Anyone, anywhere has the ability to learn how to influence and persuade others. Everyone has the potential to be a 360 degree leader, to positively impact their peers, to lead up, to lead across, to lead down. We are all on stage 24/7, our values and belief systems being broadcast by our every word, gesture, and deed. You can’t not communicate. It has been said that we are the sum total of the five people we spend the most time with; the flip side is true as well: you are one of the five for others. What did you teach today? What did you reinforce? Encourage?

Positional power, external titles and possessions, can be swept away in a moment. Personal power, your EQ, your skills, knowledge, wisdom, equanimity: those are yours, no one can take them away.

Closing Quotes:

“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.” – Brian Tracy, b. 1944, author, Eat That Frog!, The Psychology of Achievement

“Every time you have to speak, you are auditioning for leadership.” – James Humes, b. 1934, author, A Lazy Man’s Guide to Public Speaking

“Control is not leadership. If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time in leading yourself – your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, conduct. Invest at least 20% leading those with authority over you and 15% leading your peers.” – Dee Hock, b. 1929, founder/former CEO of Visa

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier