Everyone is a Leader to Someone

Do You Have These Five Characteristics of A Leader?

Living A Life of Focus – Part 4

Everyone is a leader to someone.  When you take a year to place your attention on any topic such as leadership, growth is inevitable and what you find may shock you.  We discovered that everyone is a leader (including you) and we now understand why.

To help our team members display their leadership characteristics, we instituted a practice called “brown-bag” meeting.  These “brown-bag” meetings were lunch-and-learn sessions where we all brought our lunches, hence “brown-bag.” At these lunch-and-learn sessions a member of the team was pre-selected to give a presentation on something they knew that no other person on the team had such knowledge.  It’s amazing what came out of this and how team members would acknowledge that person’s leadership skills in their subject matter. In the same way, you are a leader to someone.

The Thought or Concept:
Get it out of your mind that a leader is someone born into leadership.  That’s just not how leadership works. You, whoever you are, are a leader.  Now it’s time for you to lead. Ordinary people don’t think of themselves as leaders.  But you’re not ordinary, you’re a next-level person. This, in and of itself, says that you desire to lead using your own skills, gifts, and talents.  Next, let me tell you why you have this desire and if not, why you should.

The Practice:
Let’s talk about what makes one a leader.  Let’s talk about what makes you a leader, a person who adds value to others.

1. You know something someone else doesn’t.
   How does it feel to know something someone else doesn’t?  Pretty good, right? But how much better would you feel if you share what you know with those who don’t?  Wouldn’t your value increase? Sure it would. With that said the obvious next step or move would be to make a list, document what you know that others don’t.  When I say others, I mean others in your sphere your world that you can touch. Let your knowledge lead others.
2. You have a gift to do what others are unable to do.
   This could come in the form of singing, playing an instrument, writing, programming, playing a sport, etc.  What gift do you have that people with a similar gift would be interested in? If you’re gifted to sing, others who sing would be interested in how you enhance and improve your gift.  This applies to any gift a person has. There are people who are interested in your gift, if you’d only talk about it. Interested in your workout. Interested in your schedule. Interested in your preparation activities.  Interested in your gift. Let your gifts lead others.
3. You have experiences no one has had like you.
   You might not see the value in your experiences.  Your hurts and pains are experiences that should not go waste.  You have a story to tell that has the potential to help others who are in similar situations.  Your experience getting fired (losing a job) wasn’t only happening to you. There are others who want to know how you were able to get back on your feet.  They want to know what went through your mind and how you dealt with the voices in your head. Let your experiences lead others.
4. You have a way of being unlike anyone else.
   While we spend a lot of effort trying to fit in, it’s what makes us stand out that others are interested in knowing.  What makes you different? How are your thoughts and ideas different? What behaviors and habits do you maintain that are different?  When you’re alone, what are those thoughts you have that you’ve not shared with others because they were different? You are unlike others for a reason.  So that you can share your uniqueness, who you are with others. The biggest mistake I ever made was hiding who I was and trying to give the world more of someone I admired.  Don’t make this mistake too. Let the uncommon you lead others.
5. You don’t think like others around you.
   I often find my opinions are quite different than those I end up in conversation with.  What does this mean? It means I see things differently. I often say if one person has an opinion, I too have a right to have an opinion even if it’s not like the majority.  This doesn’t mean that you have a bad or wrong opinion or thought. It simply means you have a different way of thinking. Embrace it. Let your “next-level” thinking lead others.

Today is Friday!
A leader isn’t born.  He/she is developed. This quality of leadership you possess depends on how well you’ve developed it.  If you’re not proactively developing your leadership, that makes you a weak leader. But a leader nonetheless.  If you develop your leadership characteristics intentionally that will make you a strong leader. But a leader nonetheless.  What’s your plan for using your gift? How will you use your gifts, skills, and talents to be the best leader you can be?

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading, “Everyone is a Leader to Someone.”  Take a quick moment and share it with one of your friends.

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