Everyone Is A Leader

I would like to make it known that everyone has the potential to be a leader.

On my site, The Business of Relationships, I had been requesting for leaders of any industry to fill out my leadership questionnaire. When requesting a good friend of mine to fill this out, her response was something along the lines of "I'm not really in a leadership position, I'm a teacher." Initially I was shocked and wanted to shake her! Luckily this was over Google Chat, so no shaking took place (disclaimer: I wouldn't have shook my friend...that hard...). I went on to explain how influential teachers are in so many lives over the course of their careers.

This got me thinking: "How many people believe that due to their specific career or status in their profession that they are not leaders?”

The "business" aspects of TBoR are the relationships themselves. A business, in some ways, could be defined as a partnership which leads a social exchange of views. The partners in this community are here to make each other aware of the benefits and impacts that personal relationships have on our work life, which inevitably lead to a healthier home life. We are here to learn from each other and grow together. This plays into the so-called "Work-Life Balance" that so many desperately want to achieve.

- Let me set the record straight: Everyone is a leader or has the potential to become one. -

I am a firm believer that with the right mentorship and the right attitude towards wanting to develop oneself that the limits are sky high to the potential that a future leader can have. Thus, if you are in a position where you think you could lead or mentor another leader, the time is now to start taking action.

Dictionary.com defines "lead" as the following:

Now, sit there and try to tell me everyone doesn't have the potential to carry out that order. If you are in any way influential in another person's life you are, by definition, a leader. If anyone disagrees, send 'em my way. You have the power to lead others to great things. Leadership does not discriminate. There is no age, race, gender, or religious requirement in the business of relationships to develop great leaders.

There is one thing you absolutely must have, though, and that is influence. Without it you’re doomed as a leader. John Maxwell wrote “If you don’t have influence, you will never be able to lead others.” I couldn’t agree more.

Additionally, some have the idea that if your title isn't "manager, associate, executive, etc." that you are not able to make leadership decisions in your role. FALSE. We are all called to be leaders. Parents, don't even get me started about how amazing you are as leaders. You have the most influence in developing a future leader.

A true leader is someone who has great ideas and acts upon them. A leader is someone who cares about the growth of others. A leader is so much more than just a catchy quote from someone. A leader has so many layers and simply cannot be defined. You do not need a title to be a leader.

We are all leaders in our own right. Whether you're a volunteer at the local food kitchen, ensuring the people in your community get a hot meal, or the CEO of a major corporation, you both have the same power to make others want to follow you to make a difference.

What you do with your influential power is up to you. My advice: Use it to build real relationships and make a difference in at least one life. What an amazing reward it will be to raise up another great leader, knowing you were part of that.

How does this play into our core values at TBoR? The most important relationships you will build are the ones that are left behind as part of your legacy. This doesn't just mean the people that you mentor either. Believe me, from personal experience I can tell you that we can influence up just as much as we can influence down.

- The relationships you build with those you follow and those you lead are equally important. -

We've all got something to offer in this community of relationships. My hope is that this article has encouraged you to realize that, no matter where you are, no matter who you are, and no matter what type leadership role you've stepped into that you can, and will, make a difference. My hope is that at the end of this life I can stand tall with the big man upstairs and have Him point out to me the differences I've made that I didn't even know about. That is what drives me.

Questions to Think About:

- Am I in a leadership role and didn’t even realize it?

- Regardless of what situation I may be in, what could I do now to start influencing someone?

If you’ve got a story to share about this subject I’d love to hear it in the comments!

Original content published at The Business of Relationships

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