Thank you for joining the Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! Whether you have a title like Coach or Sales Director, or you are a parent or a friend, everyone has a circle of influence that requires them to know how to lead.
In this episode we explain why leadership is essential for everyone and discuss how to become a leader. You must put forth daily effort to become a leader because someone needs your expertise and your perspective. Whether you are a seasoned leader or you have never thought of yourself as a leader, this episode will help you better understand your circle of influence and how to leverage that influence to get results.
Why is leadership essential?
Leaders set the tone for their own circle of influence.
Leaders ensure everyone is on the same mission.
Leaders inspire their team to reach their fullest potential.
How to Become a Leader
Follow leaders you admire.
Everyone knows someone that they look up to as a great leader. These are the people who inspire you and catch your attention when they walk into a room. If you want to improve your leadership, you need to study the habits, mannerisms and attitudes of great leaders.
Q: What qualities do you admire in a leader? What makes those qualities attractive?
2. Get out of your comfort zone.
If you’re not facing rejection frequently, you are not putting yourself in a place for growth. Growth isn’t found in your comfort zone: Mediocrity is.
Q: What fears hold you back from taking risks? Why can it be good to fail?
3. Always be learning something new.
Leaders are readers. When you invest into yourself and the areas that you hold influence, you will be able to operate with confidence. When you have the confidence that you know what you’re talking about, you will become the kind of person other people want to follow.
Q: Has ignorance ever held you back from carrying influence? Describe a time when you felt confident leading. How did your education/background play into your confidence?
4. Foster great relationships.
No one can be a great leader on their own. You have to surround yourself with people who know more than you do and have more life experience. When you face a challenge in your organization or leadership, these are the people that will support you and propel you forward, even in the face of great obstacles.
Q: What qualities do you look for in your inner circle? Which of those qualities are missing from your current inner circle?
5. Have a positive attitude.
You can start having a positive attitude right now! When you make the choice to think positively about your situation, you are going to be able to change the atmosphere around you. Whether you are a parent leading a family or a business leader, your attitude will cause others to look to you and trust you to lead them through a difficult situation.
Q: How can you have a positive, optimistic attitude without denying the reality of a difficult situation?
Leadership is not about a title, it’s about influence. Everything will rise or fall on leadership. Leadership will either help an organization move forward, or it will hold them back. Whether you have a title or not, everyone has an area of influence and therefore, everyone is a leader. There are people relying on you to bring your unique gifts, talents, and perspectives to the table.
Application Activities
Identify a leader that you look up to and study their mannerisms, attitude, and character.
Pick one book to read over the next 30 days that will help you in your area of influence. If you have a mentor, see if they will read and discuss the book with you and help keep you accountable.
Take the next week and decide not to say anything negative. Come up with a list of things you are thankful for and read over the list whenever you feel tempted to speak negatively.
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