May 1, 2023

“Leadership is influence." - John C. Maxwell

Leadership is something that we see in every area of our life. Whether we have a title of leadership or not, when we do lead, we influence others. Think about CEOs, supervisors, managers, etc., at work. They set the tone, and how they do things is the expectation for how everything gets done. Think about it at home if you are a parent. Have you ever had your child do something and then realize that you do the same thing? I know I have, and that is because of the influence we have over our children. Leadership is not about controlling others; authentic leadership is about inspiring and guiding others to reach a common goal. A title does not measure leadership but our influence on others to bring about a positive change in those we lead does. My mentor, Brian Cain, once told me that a leader's job is not to motivate others but teach them how to motivate themselves. That is the type of influence we all should be striving for. We must create an environment where people can grow and reach their full potential. When we are in a leadership position, realizing our influence's power is essential. We can help our team members grow, or we can hinder any development that they should have. Being a leader is not about wielding that power and influence; it is about using that power and influence to help our entire team (or family) reach their potential and be successful!