In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Jay R. Galbraith asserts that leadership is not something you can be given from on high, it's something that you must take for yourself and embrace. He articulates the idea that leadership is defined by actions and actions speak louder than words. You can have all the titles and positions in the world but if no one follows your lead then there's nothing you can do to make a difference. This post will explore what exactly constitutes leadership through action as opposed to position and how you can leverage this principle to make an impact in your organization or on society as a whole.
As I have said in the past, my greatest desire is to inspire others to pursue their passions and be leaders in their own right. To grow and learn and live in a way that allows me to contribute something positive to the people around me. I would go so far as to say that this is my highest aspiration as an individual, one that I look forward to fulfilling.
I'm currently working with a group of young people who are looking for ways to make a change in the world. One of the things on our agenda is making positive changes at home through increasing their capacity to lead within their social groups (i.e., "they" versus "us"). They are currently in various stages of becoming personally motivated to lead and this is a step they must take on their own. They cannot be given the motivation to lead, they must do it themselves. The only reason I am involved with them is because I have been able to inspire them through my actions and hopefully they will take the inspiration that I provide and create a positive impact within their social circles.
This principle of leadership being tied to action applies in our personal lives as well as in groups. No one has ever been inspired or empowered by someone who just had something to offer but never did anything about it or didn't show how it was relevant or useful to others. I have seen too many people at the various jobs I have had over the years that take a leadership position in their titles but never do anything to advance the organization or themselves. I've seen people get hired who were supposed to be leaders, but would never get involved when issues came up and as a result they were quickly abandoned by those who were looking for guidance. The only thing that works is someone willing to stand up and really be a leader - not just talk about it or sit back and let others do it.
I believe that everyone has something important to offer in their lives. In other words, we have our own unique talents and gifts. We are only limited by the limitations of our own thinking. The problem is that a lot of people don't know what their unique talents and gifts are or even better yet, they don't know what to do with them once they have discovered them. Fortunately, you don't need to discover all the amazing things you can do in life, you just have to identify them.
One thing I've noticed about productive people is that they never feel like they really do anything useful or worthwhile in life. They are always focused on what others can take from them and use it for themselves. After looking at it from another perspective, I realized that this is not just a "productivity problem", but rather it is a leadership problem. They have placed themselves in a position where others can't help but follow their example. It provides them with (as Galbraith says) "the strength to stand up for what they believe and the courage to go with their gut"
Regardless of what your aspirations are, you should be focusing on taking action - leading by example. Not just doing your job or following the direction of others, but being willing to lead in whatever you do. If you can create the right environment then people will naturally be drawn to your vision and become inspired/empowered by you.
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