A Different Facet of Leadership

Leadership is much more than an employed position or title. Leadership is setting the tone and becoming the standard in which others follow. More often than you think, you’re obliviously followed because of your leadership qualities. This article exposes the leader that you are, addresses the purpose of your leadership and how to maximize its effects.

I’m a hustler – so I’m driven to position myself in line with the best circumstances possible. There are a handful of details that go into my personal formula; one being the effort in which I approach things. I apply myself to create my best work every time. Sure, I run into brief defeats and moments filled with inadequacy…but more importantly, I obtain education and achieve goals.

As I maneuver my way from brief defeats to goal achievement – I tend to raise heads because of my effort. While I don’t deliberately attempt to gain attention, I do deliberately apply myself beyond what is known as ‘average’, which automatically get’s people’s attention.

If You Act ‘Beyond Average’, then You become a Leader

When heads rise because of your effort, you become a leader. People develop respect for your initiative and look to you for advice and motivation for their own agenda, directly or indirectly. The facet of leadership I’m speaking about isn’t necessarily based on you achieving your goals – it’s based on the way you operate: the energy you display, your courage, your willingness to not cut corners or cheat, nor sacrifice your integrity… or whatever it is that you do that’s beyond average.

Whenever your actions are beyond average you set yourself up for a leadership role. PLEASE BE WARNED – this goes for both good and bad dealings. It’s important to know that even shady intentions will attract followers – albeit shady followers. My suggestion is to always act on the side that benefits all parties, for the alliances you build will be of trustworthy nature.

You’d be surprised how many people secretly look up to you…how many people mimic your style, or develop a dependency on your actions as a blueprint to their own actions.

When I Discovered that I was a Leader

I’m an older sibling, so naturally I’ve always had a touch of leadership in me. But it wasn’t until later in life that I realized that there were instances when others viewed me as a leader.

I was once told that I was a leader of my peers. My first impression after hearing this was “WHAT, me”? My manager proceeded “of course you are I hear it all the time”.  I replied: “from WHO”. He continued that many of my peers had often shared with him that I was the ‘quasi’ leader of our team. Naturally, I asked why? He explained that I always worked hard, had a winner’s attitude and I said good morning and good bye to each of my peers, everyday.

I didn’t get why working hard and having good manners made me a leader. At the time, I thought of leadership as a management or supervisory position. Internally, I battled with the fact that my peers (and manager) were crazy for calling me a leader because of my manners and hard work – things I was supposed to do. But one day I heard a story on television that changed my perception of leadership altogether…

In short:
The story was about a friendly man who gave a lady $5 to help cover the cost of her grocery bill. Without the $5, she would have had to put something back, making her bill $5 less. What the friendly man didn’t know is that the lady had young children at home who hadn’t eaten for two days, and his contribution helped change their situation. Without his help, the kids would have been able to eat; the mom wouldn’t have.

How did this change my perception of leadership? Well, it was at this moment when I realized that I looked at the friendly man as a leader. I wanted to make someone’s day as he did. It was his kind gesture – based on nothing more than the willingness to help someone in need that attracted me. His actions lead me to want to do the same for others.

After seeing this story -I got it! Leadership is far greater than an employed position; it’s a social phenomenon that exists even when we don’t know it. It arises when we go beyond what is classified as normal or average.

The Responsibility of Leadership

At this point you should be able to classify yourself as a leader. Remember, whenever you act beyond average – you position yourself into a leadership role. You may never know who is following you or why, so always upholding your leadership responsibly is key.

Yes, leadership comes with responsibility. Of course you can opt out of the responsibility, but wouldn’t that be average? If you’ve read this far, then I think you’d opt in.

The responsibility is so simple > GIVE YOUR BEST!

Here’s a simple scenario of why this is important:

Let’s say a co-worker views you as a leader because of your ability to give presentations. The co-worker values, respects and appreciates your abilities and looks to your actions of preparation and execution to shape their own action. As they see the results in following your lead, your leadership status expands beyond presentations to other realms.

Giving your best doesn’t mean you’ll always be on your A-game…and – it’s okay to be human. It means that you will always give your best effort. The responsibility presents a win/win outcome. Giving your best by acting as the leader that you are will increase your ability to achieve and subsequently give the same to a fellow follower. You serve both yourself and your followers.

Closing: the Reason Why This is So Important

People look to you to base their most difficult decisions. For this reason, you should own the responsibility that comes with the territory of being a leader, even if you didn’t ask for it. By the nature of your character you were blessed to be beyond mediocre – so give value by owning this responsibility and ensuring that those who look up to you get the best out of you.

A great [living] philosopher taught me: “in order to get value, you must give value”. I grew up hearing the same message in a different way: “you reap what you sow”. However you slice it…it is real!

YOU ARE A LEADER. Honor the responsibility of leadership by giving your best. This ensures that you’re leading in the most powerful way…which is by example.

Q: Have you ever thought of leadership in this manner? Do you own the responsibility of being the leader that you are? - I’d love to hear your thoughts … please share below.