As I start this new series of articles on leadership, I'm sitting at my desk and going over what has brought me to this place.
Our lives often take us on pathways we never thought possible or that we never dreamed would not only have tremendous impact our own lives, but also the lives of those around us.
As I reflect on recent events, I ask myself, "Who is this person I have become? Do I like the 'new me'?" I have come to a point of no return.
I cannot turn back time or take away the knowledge given me.
There is something inside beckoning to be unleashed.
I cannot ignore the responsibilities before me.
I will meet the unknown and change my world.
So where will this take me? That is yet to be seen.
But this I know - it will be a place of challenge, of change, of commitment and courage.
I am humbled by it all.
It is taking me out of my comfort-zone and I am now on unbroken ground.
I'm not an authority, just a learner, in process, just like everyone else.
So, if I stumble, I ask your indulgence and if we succeed, we find success together.
In the book Launching the Leadership Revolution, by: Brady and Woodward, the authors tell the story of a man named Ira Yates.
It's a great story that embodies what this series is all about.
It tells how Ira yearned to return to his roots and decided to sell his very profitable business and go back to the life of a rancher.
He bought 1000 acres of land in Texas just before the Great Depression hit.
He was barely able to hold on to the land during the years that ensued.
About that time, rumors were being spread about the discovery of oil in the great state of Texas.
Ira decided to drill on his land.
He was not able to convince the oil companies to take a chance on him.
So Ira, in true leadership fashion, got enough investors together to set up a test rig on his land.
He discovered he was living on one of the largest oil fields in the states.
He was a rich man.
The authors go on to say, "Leadership ability is a lot like the drilling equipment used by Yates and his partners to discover the richness of oil that already existed beneath him.
Each of us has a natural wellspring of talent and ability buried within.
The drill of leadership is required to tap into the geyser of our potential.
" All of us are called upon to lead in some capacity in life.
Some of us are called to big issues, some of us to small.
They may last a life time or only moments.
We never know when our leadership will be needed.
It could be a matter of pulling someone out of harm's way in a moment needing quick thinking and action, to the long, slow, calculated business plan for building an empire.
Whether at the corporate level, a bottom floor business enterprise, at church, volunteering for a non-profit organization, or at home, developing our leadership skills and abilities is the key to unleashing the potential lying dormant within us.
So, here we are - Embarking on the task of finding, unleashing and developing the leader buried below the surface.
Let's go...
Many things have to take place in order for leadership to materialize within us as individuals.
We will deal with more (and in much more detail) as we make our way through this series, but some of the basics include: 1.
Change- we must be willing to change.
Vital to tapping into this inner potential is the willingness and ability to grow personally and organizationally.
We must be teachable.
There is a saying I have adopted as a personal motto, "We don't know what we don't know.
" None of us has all the answers or make all the right decisions.
But we can learn how to tap into the resources available to us to change our thinking, our attitude, responses and our future.
2.
Responsibility- we must learn to take responsibility for leadership.
There are many who want authority, but are not willing to take responsibility for authority.
That is leadership.
"The buck stops here.
" One person taking responsibility for leadership can be revolutionary.
It can bring radical positive change to a stagnant environment.
Those we are responsible for will respect a leader who stands up for them and behind them.
When we fail, it is the leaders fault - when we achieve success it is shared by all.
3.
A sense of unrest- leaders are never satisfied with the status quo.
They are ever seeking, searching, striving for excellence.
Have you ever wondered why every time you go somewhere, you want to change the way it is done, make it better? That is normal for the true leader.
We can always see ways to "do it better" because that's the way we were made.
It is a sense of unrest.
We just want to "fix" it.
4.
A heart for people- people will not willingly follow someone they don't believe truly cares about them as a person.
People are important.
It is the responsibility of the leader to provide genuine encouragement, a learning environment, materials for the task and empowerment to do the job.
If those we lead do not think we want them to succeed, and provide them with what they need to do so, together we will fail.
My goal in this series is to help us all - See the Potential (within) Learn the Principles (of leadership) Make a Difference (in your world) Join me on the journey.