Do you identify as a leader?

What I mean is, do you believe there will be times in your life when you being the leader is required?

When many of us think about leadership, we make it a simple either/or thing.  I’m either a leader or I’m not.  We think some of us are meant to lead and some of us are meant to follow.  We decide which of those we are and go from there.

I don’t believe that, in fact, it’s not just a belief, I have experience that tells me that it isn’t the case.

I tell you all the time, I’m not mechanical.  If a machine is broken, I don’t know how to fix it.   If you need training on how to use a tool better, I’m not your guy.  So, while I have the title of CEO, I’m absolutely not the one to lead in those situations.

You encounter situations the same way.  Every situation you encounter, you have an ability to contribute to impact it.  The higher your ability, the more you are called to lead.  Leadership isn’t about pecking order, privilege or title.  It’s about the opportunity to make things better.

Our goal as a team is to create ways in which everybody is confident to lead when it’s his time to lead.  People with the titles and authority must be willing to listen and to trust.  People who say what they feel is the best way to approach a matter and they need to feel confident to speak up.

When that kind of environment exists, more is learned.  More is understood.  Our capability in an ever-changing world to function continually at a higher level grows.

The more people we have on a team who are willing to lead when its right to lead, the better we will be.

Identify as a leader.