By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.
When it comes to leadership, it's important to remember that people follow people. Leaders have the ability to influence followers, and followers usually follow leaders who make them feel special in some way.
Keep in mind that many factors influence people. And many types of people are influenced very differently. Good leaders are aware of who they're surrounded by and what their needs are. A good leader helps the people around them develop their skills while feeling that they are part of something greater.
Leadership has been written about in millions of books and talked about throughout history. But at the end of the day, leadership is about people: People following people!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Being a Resource
By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.
One of the many roles of a leader is to be a resource to others. But I think that leaders often confuse the difference between being a resource and telling others what to do. Leaders frequently learn from mistakes they've made and want to give advice on how to avoid these pitfalls.
Raising children seems to be where this advice trap shows up the most. Most parents want to teach their teenager how to act like a 40-year-old. I hate to tell you this, but if you're giving advice to your kids--rather than being a resource--you're doing the same thing at work and with your friends.
You'll know when you're on your way to great leadership when you're helping your teenager (or your friend or your co-worker) with what's important to them--not with what's important to you.
They say it costs $250,000 to raise a child, so if you have four kids, that's a million-dollar leadership program. I sure hope that you're learning your part!
One of the many roles of a leader is to be a resource to others. But I think that leaders often confuse the difference between being a resource and telling others what to do. Leaders frequently learn from mistakes they've made and want to give advice on how to avoid these pitfalls.
Raising children seems to be where this advice trap shows up the most. Most parents want to teach their teenager how to act like a 40-year-old. I hate to tell you this, but if you're giving advice to your kids--rather than being a resource--you're doing the same thing at work and with your friends.
You'll know when you're on your way to great leadership when you're helping your teenager (or your friend or your co-worker) with what's important to them--not with what's important to you.
They say it costs $250,000 to raise a child, so if you have four kids, that's a million-dollar leadership program. I sure hope that you're learning your part!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Leader Ship
By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director
Imagine for a moment that leadership was about developing, not following. Imagine the role of a leader was to develop as many other people as possible to become leaders themselves.
If you're leading people, they will follow you. Then what you'll be doing is signing them up for a cruise! Everyone will board your ship, and you will be the captain. You'll also end up being the activity director. They will love you as long as you entertain them with new ports. You're responsible for them.
If you decide that you want to develop people, then you will need a "leader ship." Your job will be different on this ship. You will be signing on crew members--not passengers. Each crew member will develop their skills as they contribute to the journey. You will be responsible to them, not for them.
No passengers... Just true leadership!
Imagine for a moment that leadership was about developing, not following. Imagine the role of a leader was to develop as many other people as possible to become leaders themselves.
If you're leading people, they will follow you. Then what you'll be doing is signing them up for a cruise! Everyone will board your ship, and you will be the captain. You'll also end up being the activity director. They will love you as long as you entertain them with new ports. You're responsible for them.
If you decide that you want to develop people, then you will need a "leader ship." Your job will be different on this ship. You will be signing on crew members--not passengers. Each crew member will develop their skills as they contribute to the journey. You will be responsible to them, not for them.
No passengers... Just true leadership!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Who's Leading?
By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.
I don't know about you, but I have a lot of questions about leadership. And the more I learn about leadership, the more questions I have! I am surrounded by some unbelievable leaders, and they all seem to have one thing in common.
Every leader I meet is looking for some other leader to teach them something new. The really smart leaders are surrounded by a good circle of influence or circle of leaders.
Nothing will wear out a leader more than trying to stay in the lead everywhere, all the time. In order to become better leaders, great leaders learn to follow. They have a terrific circle of influence.
So who's leading? Everyone is in some way--and that includes the wrong way! Make good leadership your influence and you will live an amazing legacy!
I don't know about you, but I have a lot of questions about leadership. And the more I learn about leadership, the more questions I have! I am surrounded by some unbelievable leaders, and they all seem to have one thing in common.
Every leader I meet is looking for some other leader to teach them something new. The really smart leaders are surrounded by a good circle of influence or circle of leaders.
Nothing will wear out a leader more than trying to stay in the lead everywhere, all the time. In order to become better leaders, great leaders learn to follow. They have a terrific circle of influence.
So who's leading? Everyone is in some way--and that includes the wrong way! Make good leadership your influence and you will live an amazing legacy!
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