Leadership does not begin when you’re promoted to a leadership position. It doesn’t begin when you’re given a fancy title, even if you’ve earned it.
Leadership begins when you make the decision that you will LeadToday! It begins when you make the decision to earn the right to lead. When you understand that authentic leadership is earned and that it must be earned anew everyday. Then and only then do you have a chance to truly lead.
Leadership begins when you begin to care. Your title or position may cause your people to comply with what you say but if you want to earn their commitment you will need to lead. You’re not a leader if no one is following and no one follows someone who doesn’t care about them. If you can’t care about people then you simply cannot lead people.
Lots of people in leadership positions say they care; authentic leaders don’t need to say they care because they show it everyday. They are intentional in showing it.
So how about you…. what did you do today to show someone that you cared? Too busy today… so then how about yesterday? Too busy then too…so just how long has it been since you weren’t too busy?
Time sure flys when we get busy doesn’t it? Here’s the thing, when you and your people are at your busiest is exactly when they need to know that they matter to you as a person. It’s when it’s most important that you show you care.
It doesn’t make you a bad person that you get too busy to show that you care. It does however make you less then a great leader. If you don’t have time to show you care then you don’t have time to lead.
So let me ask you this… what will you do tomorrow to show your people that you care?
Boom! Says it all right here:
‘Lots of people in leadership positions say they care; authentic leaders don’t need to say they care because they show it everyday. They are intentional in showing it.’
That said, as OBVIOUS as this is to me now….it didn’t become REAL to me…until I lost my husband. Simply one of those things that becomes a lesson learned and lived. I now try to live my life NOW so that those I care about the most have no doubts about it every day. Because I know none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.
There’s a ‘catch’ to this lesson though. As much of a seemingly no-brainer common sense issue that it is, in reality, most of us won’t truly UNDERSTAND this lesson until we come face to face with some sort of loss that impacts our lives in such a way that we will not be able to take human life for granted….ever…..again..
Thanks for sharing.
You’re 1000% Samantha, it’s so sad that until we lose someone close we’ll always feel as if tomorrow is soon enough.
That’s why I always tell people, TODAY is the perfect day to show that you care!
Thanks for your comment my friend.
one leads by example and attempts to leave the people better off than they were before they met you. give a hand today!
Indeed, and we lead by example whether we think we do or not. Thanks for your comment!
The operative phrase in your essay is, “make the decision to earn the right to lead.”
Leader wannabe’s are inconsistent.
One day they decide to be “leaderlike” so they turn on the leadership spigot. After several days, they go back to their old ways.
Stop, start, stop, etc.
Followers are smart. They know what’s real and what isn’t. Authentic vs. fake.
So, making the decision to earn the right to lead is a commitment. It’s long term. It’s meaningful. It says, every day, you’re going to earn your followers respect.
How will you know you’ve earned the leadership role? Don’t worry. You’ll know by your followers actions.
Great Point Steve! I always say if you want to know how the leader is doing look at the followers, not the leader.
Reblogged this on Gr8fullsoul.