Leadership is About Recognizing that You Are a Leader

Leadership is about recognizing that you are a leader.

I work with people who have deep passion to be leaders. They value leadership and helping people work together well. Some of them are desperately seeking leadership; many of them want to become better leaders.

The people with the deepest desire for leadership in their lives often tell me that they are not leaders themselves. “I do not really see myself as a leader.” “I am too young, or too old, to be a leader.” “I am more comfortable working by myself to get things done than talking in front of other people.”

They are leaders, but they do not yet recognize that they are leaders.

There are as many different kinds of leadership as there are different people.

Some leaders inspire us with their words, some inspire us with their actions. Some leaders are charismatic, some lead by continuing to take each next step. Some leaders are know for their tenacity and perseverance, some for their creativity and flexibility, some for their ability to bring people together to work toward common goals.

The leaders I remember, and try to emulate, are people who bring out the best in the people around them.

They may not be the most dynamic speakers or the most empathetic people. They recognize and appreciate their own truest selves, and their true selves inspire the true selves of the people around them.

They connect with people at the level of their core values. They share their vision with other people. They work with people to clarify tangible steps to take forward, and they help people take the next step.

They recognize that they, and the people around them, are leaders.

What kind of leader are you?

What kind of leader would you like to become?

[Image by Dene’ Miles]