chief hinter +Founder & CEO+Keynote speaker
Leadership is the art of persuasion. It means to influence others to be their best and to do more than they ever thought was possible in pursuit of a greater good. It has nothing to do with your title, nor anything to do with your authority or seniority.
You’re not a leader just because you have people reporting to you. And you don’t become a leader based on your annual salary. A true leader influences others around him or her to be their best possible self.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
Of course, the real question is—are you a leader or a follower?
Do you go above and beyond?
Followers do what their job description says. That’s it. No matter how good they may be at those jobs, it rarely occurs to them to go beyond their everyday tasks.
Leaders, on the other hand, see their job descriptions as the bare minimum. To them, it’s the cost of entry. The description becomes just the foundation upon which they build greatness. It’s never about the description, it’s about the impact they can have.
Are you confident?
Followers see the talents and accomplishments of other people as a threat. They’ll even put others down or make constant excuses for themselves.
Leaders see those same talents and accomplishments as an asset and a resource. They want to make things better, and they’ll take help anywhere they can find it to move the whole team forward. They’re team players and aren’t afraid to admit when they need other people to be strong if they’re weak.
Are you optimistic?
Followers live in a walled garden. There’s a box they’re put in, and they think and act solely within that box.
On the other hand, leaders see the possibilities of what all can be done. When things go wrong, leaders don’t dwell on the past or how bad things are. They’re too busy trying to make things better. They act swiftly to solve the problem and move forward. No grudges and no issues.
Are you open to change?
Followers are content to stick with the safety of the status quo. They see change as frightening and troublesome. Most even oppose any thought of change.
Leaders, however, are maximizers who see opportunity in change. Because leaders want constant improvement, they’re never afraid to ask, “What’s next?” or “How can this be better?”
Are you decisive?
Followers often hesitate to act, out of fear that they’ll do the wrong thing.
Leaders aren’t afraid to make a call, even when they’re not sure if it’s the right one. They’d rather make a decision and be wrong than suffer from the paralysis of indecision and being stagnant.
“Leaders would rather make a decision and be wrong than suffer from the paralysis of indecision.”
Are you accountable?
When mistakes are made, followers are quick to blame circumstances and other people or create excuses as to why it happened.
Leaders, on the other hand, are quick to accept accountability for their actions. They don’t worry that admitting fault might make them look bad, because they know that shifting the blame would just make them look worse. They also own up to their truths and move on with it.
Are you humble?
Followers are always chasing glory. Always wanting the credit. Always making sure their work gets noticed.
Leaders are humble. They don’t allow their wins to make them big-headed or think they are better than any of their colleagues. As such, they don’t hesitate to jump in and do the dirty work when needed, and they won’t ask anyone to do anything they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves.
Are you passionate?
Followers are trapped in the daily grind. They go to work and complete their tasks so that they can go home at the end of the day and resume their real lives.
Leaders love what they do and see their work as an important part of their life, not simply a way to pay the bills. Their job isn’t just what they do; it’s an important part of who they are.
Are you motivated from within?
Followers are only motivated by external factors: the next title, the next raise, the next gain in status.
Leaders are internally motivated. They don’t work for status or possessions. They are motivated to excel because it’s who they are. True leaders keep pushing forward even when there’s no carrot dangling in front of them.
“True leaders keep pushing forward even when there’s no carrot dangling in front of them."
Do you focus on titles?
Followers care a lot about titles, both their own and those of the people they work with. They’re very conscious of who outranks whom because they lack the skill and motivation to create leadership from within.
Leaders, on the other hand, focus on what each individual brings to the table, regardless of what’s printed on a business card. They understand the holistic value of the team.
Bringing It All Together
Leadership and followership are mindsets. They’re completely different ways of looking at the world. One is reactive, and the other is proactive. One is pessimistic; the other is optimistic. Where one sees a to-do list, the other sees possibilities.
So don’t wait for the title. Leadership isn’t something that anyone can give you—you have to earn it and claim it for yourself.
If you enjoyed this post, give it a like! If you REALLY liked it, then please share it with your followers, too!
You’re not a leader just because you have people reporting to you. And you don’t become a leader based on your annual salary. A true leader influences others around him or her to be their best possible self.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
Of course, the real question is—are you a leader or a follower?
Do you go above and beyond?
Followers do what their job description says. That’s it. No matter how good they may be at those jobs, it rarely occurs to them to go beyond their everyday tasks.
Leaders, on the other hand, see their job descriptions as the bare minimum. To them, it’s the cost of entry. The description becomes just the foundation upon which they build greatness. It’s never about the description, it’s about the impact they can have.
Are you confident?
Followers see the talents and accomplishments of other people as a threat. They’ll even put others down or make constant excuses for themselves.
Leaders see those same talents and accomplishments as an asset and a resource. They want to make things better, and they’ll take help anywhere they can find it to move the whole team forward. They’re team players and aren’t afraid to admit when they need other people to be strong if they’re weak.
Are you optimistic?
Followers live in a walled garden. There’s a box they’re put in, and they think and act solely within that box.
On the other hand, leaders see the possibilities of what all can be done. When things go wrong, leaders don’t dwell on the past or how bad things are. They’re too busy trying to make things better. They act swiftly to solve the problem and move forward. No grudges and no issues.
Are you open to change?
Followers are content to stick with the safety of the status quo. They see change as frightening and troublesome. Most even oppose any thought of change.
Leaders, however, are maximizers who see opportunity in change. Because leaders want constant improvement, they’re never afraid to ask, “What’s next?” or “How can this be better?”
Are you decisive?
Followers often hesitate to act, out of fear that they’ll do the wrong thing.
Leaders aren’t afraid to make a call, even when they’re not sure if it’s the right one. They’d rather make a decision and be wrong than suffer from the paralysis of indecision and being stagnant.
“Leaders would rather make a decision and be wrong than suffer from the paralysis of indecision.”
Are you accountable?
When mistakes are made, followers are quick to blame circumstances and other people or create excuses as to why it happened.
Leaders, on the other hand, are quick to accept accountability for their actions. They don’t worry that admitting fault might make them look bad, because they know that shifting the blame would just make them look worse. They also own up to their truths and move on with it.
Are you humble?
Followers are always chasing glory. Always wanting the credit. Always making sure their work gets noticed.
Leaders are humble. They don’t allow their wins to make them big-headed or think they are better than any of their colleagues. As such, they don’t hesitate to jump in and do the dirty work when needed, and they won’t ask anyone to do anything they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves.
Are you passionate?
Followers are trapped in the daily grind. They go to work and complete their tasks so that they can go home at the end of the day and resume their real lives.
Leaders love what they do and see their work as an important part of their life, not simply a way to pay the bills. Their job isn’t just what they do; it’s an important part of who they are.
Are you motivated from within?
Followers are only motivated by external factors: the next title, the next raise, the next gain in status.
Leaders are internally motivated. They don’t work for status or possessions. They are motivated to excel because it’s who they are. True leaders keep pushing forward even when there’s no carrot dangling in front of them.
“True leaders keep pushing forward even when there’s no carrot dangling in front of them."
Do you focus on titles?
Followers care a lot about titles, both their own and those of the people they work with. They’re very conscious of who outranks whom because they lack the skill and motivation to create leadership from within.
Leaders, on the other hand, focus on what each individual brings to the table, regardless of what’s printed on a business card. They understand the holistic value of the team.
Bringing It All Together
Leadership and followership are mindsets. They’re completely different ways of looking at the world. One is reactive, and the other is proactive. One is pessimistic; the other is optimistic. Where one sees a to-do list, the other sees possibilities.
So don’t wait for the title. Leadership isn’t something that anyone can give you—you have to earn it and claim it for yourself.
If you enjoyed this post, give it a like! If you REALLY liked it, then please share it with your followers, too!
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