Definition of Leadership: Influence

​This upcoming weekend 100 leaders from this region are heading out for our annual Intercity Leadership Visit. This year we’re heading to Philadelphia. I look forward to visiting this beautiful city and learning – among other things - their take on what’s next for urban cores, and about public/private partnerships in economic development. Of course we’ll find time to visit the Museum of the American Revolution. By the way, if you have to miss this year, I hope you’ll consider joining us this time next year. These visits are powerful.  I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership lately: what it takes to be a good leader, the character challenges I seem to wrestle with every day. Sometimes I wish I were more “fully baked,” as they say… you know? Do you ever look yourself in the mirror and wonder if you’re fully ready to lead? I submit to you that mindset is everything. No one is perfectly ready to lead; that said, we all can strive for the highest order of leadership: influence.
 
John Maxwell, in his book with the same name, identifies 5 Levels of Leadership.  He goes on to say, “there always is the possibility to grow to the level above it.”  Where do you find yourself?

• Level 1: position (rights). People follow you because they have to.
• Level 2: permission (relationships). People follow you because they want to.
• Level 3: production (results). People follow you because of what you have done for the organization.
• Level 4: people development (reproduction). People follow you because of what you have done for them.
• Level 5: pinnacle (respect). People follow you because of what you represent.

 
Ultimately, leadership is on me. It’s on you. It’s less about “am I ready?” and more about accountability and character.  Which is harder. And you never feel quite “done,” do you?
 
To my mind, the greatest way to gain leadership is through problem solving. And crisis is an accelerator. You say, “What? I have to wrestle through hardship to get better?”  Yes. Problems introduce us to ourselves. Think about the Apollo missions… the vision vs the math, the odds. “Is this an opportunity, or do we back up? Who will this impact? Should we change our thinking…?” And problems introduce us to opportunities. “Is this the worst or best thing that’s ever happened?” They can galvanize us and harness our strength.  It’s all in the mindset.
 
And, of course, it’s easier to steer a moving car. Which means that, ready or not, moving is more productive than freezing. And growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow will get better.
 
I really needed to hear this….
 
See you in the trenches,
B