Leadership Value: Leadership is not a position

Leadership Value: Leadership is not a position

Do you remember when you were in grade school and the teacher would make you do a group assignment. If your class was anything like some of mine, there was always that one kid that volunteered for the position of the leader of the group. Most of the time this person wasn’t really interested in the welfare of the group; he or she wanted the position to make them look better. Let’s be honest, we all want to look good, to be appealing to positions of authority, because they are the gatekeepers of success. They have the authority to; in this case pass or fail you, but more so in life these people are the ones that hold your raise or evaluation for that new position at their discretion. Back in grade school we had not learned that the way a leader really looks most attractive is when the whole group succeeds. So here is where being the leader actually comes into play. Leadership is not just a position; it is in fact the ability to take action, to pull the trigger on a decision. This does not only apply to the calm times but when everyone around them is in a panic, the leader must remain calm and focused. Leadership is the ability to act when everyone and everything around you is in chaos, that is what defines a leader. Often times a true leader is the most reluctant to take on the task of being the leader, because they understand what it means, and what a responsibility they have to the people whom have chosen to follow them. A true leader understands that there is more to leadership than the title of a position.

Leadership value: success and failure is perception

Leadership Value: The difference between success and failure is perception

It’s hard for people to believe that their success is not their own. It’s even harder for them to believe that their failures are not someone else’s. Some people think that if they are ever going to be successful it will be at someone else cost, that there is not enough room for them to be successful and someone else. This is a problem with perception. There are two main factors that will determine how successful you are. The first is not viewing the work as a whole but as each individual task. When small tasks are done with a simple discipline of doing each task the best we can we learn to see success for what it really is. The second thing to know is no matter what you are doing; no matter if it is art, or engineering you are not alone. The road to success is not a journey that is taken alone, although everyone will not make it with you to the end of the journey you must give in order to receive. The opportunity to help someone else is an opportunity to elevate you as well. I do not mean for wealth or taking advantage of another person, but by aiding someone else you have not only changed your perspective but theirs as well.  With the right perspective things become less daunting, because when we succeed it is because we are together, and when we fail it is only because we feel we are alone.

There is always a time to party

Many times in the pursuit of our larger goals we forget to celebrate the smaller goals that pave the way to that ultimate level of success we are striving for. None of us is promised anything as far as success goes. There is a lot of hard work and dedication that must be done long before we ever see and hold the fruit of our labors. As leaders we must not forget to celebrate the moments with those that believe in us and work towards the goals with us. In those moments we all taste a small measure of the future success that we will share if we continue to work together as a team and learn from each other. As leaders we must encourage the celebration of these moments, it is not only validation for all that we have worked for until that moment, but it is also fuel to keep the fire burning even brighter than we could have imagined. As leaders we must foster the celebration of our milestones rather it is a party or just a night out with pizza and a firm hand shake we must take the time out to enjoy the fruits of our endeavors before we press on. Let us not get so caught up in the race to the finish that we forget to enjoy each and every moment, every relationship, and every obstacle overcome that inches us closer together as a group, and to the end of a journey; where we will start anew. Life is often seen as a series of obstacles it is only when we take time to celebrate and reflect that we can see the journey for what it really is and apply that perspective to our future.