Introduction to Leadership

Today’s blog is an introduction to a full-blown course I offer my employees. It is designed to pique your
interest in the subject matter. Because, believe it or not, you are all leaders in one way or another: as a
parent, a friend, a colleague or coworker.
Leadership can be defined many ways. For our purposes, leadership is a process of social influence
which maximizes the efforts of others towards the achievement of a goal. It’s simply “one who has
followers.”
So the question becomes “are leaders born or made?” The answer is not so simple, because some
people are born with or develop natural skills that can be mistaken for those of leaders. Things like
charisma, influence, integrity, and inspiration. But in reality, a great leader is made through training,
practice, experience and perception.
Charisma relies on the charm and persuasiveness of the individual. But there are “pro’s and con’s” to
charismatic people. Integrity is honesty, good morals, consistent actions and strong values, which builds
credibility and inspiration. But integrity requires a person to be vulnerable to criticism and have the
ability to adjust. Inspiration unlocks peoples hidden talents and causes people to follow their passion
and move toward ambitious goals.
So why train leaders in the first place? Because trained leaders are better decision makers, and help
improve the organizational structure. They help the company to be better equipped to handle the
unexpected. And leadership training attracts top talent.
Leaders are not infallible, they make mistakes just like anyone else. They can succumb to “knee-jerk” or
emotional responses. Sometimes they take things personally, or make assumptions by failing to ask
more questions. Sometimes they can even be caught gossiping.
As we move forward into the full-blown leadership class, we will discuss training habits, how practicing
these skills will help us to improve. We will discuss our personal experiences and the power of
“perception” by others.
As a gift for spending time reading this blog, I have EIGHT tips for success in your personal life (whether
you consider yourself a leader or not):

1. Get high quality sleep on a regular basis.
2. Start your day with 15 minutes of quiet reflection.
3. Set small, attainable goals.
4. Start your work day by completing the task that is the HIGHEST priority.
5. Stop making excuses.
6. Journal every day.
7. Practice gratitude and kindness.
8. Exercise often.

When practicing your leadership skills, always be open to alternative ways of accomplishing goals.
Remember, you are never alone, so rely on your co-workers. Then roll up your sleeves and enjoy the
process.