Developing the Leader within you

In the recent weeks I have been thinking a lot about leadership. What does it mean to be a leader? Is it a skill set, position, something you are born with? How do I know if I am a good leader?
In my quest for knowledge in this area I have come across interesting bits of information that i would like to share. Being a leader is not a position. It is a quality that some people have a natural tendency towards but at the same time anyone who takes interest can develop their leadership abilities. There is a difference between a manager and a leader as we will read shortly.
People also naturally assume that leadership and position go hand in hand. This is also a myth.A person can be put in charge of a project and lack the leadership ability to propel it forward. So what is leadership?
Leaders are people who possess a passion to serve and improve lives. They are not driven by selfish ambition. A leader's mark is the ability to influence people to follow him/her. A leaders adds value to his/her team members and does not take away or influence them negatively. A leader is able to empower others without feeling that s/he is depleting their own resources/capabilities. A leader is a visionary. S/he is able to asses any business situation and provide a road map years into the future. A leader is genuinely interested in people. A leader understands that without people s/he can not exist. One of my favorite leadership mentors John C. Maxwell states that if you want to find out whether you truly posses leadership capabilities; start or work in a volunteer organization. If you can inspire people to follow you and connect to your vision then you are able to practice leadership in any situation or organization.
Do not confuse management and leadership. A manager is someone who can allocate resources and people towards accomplishing tasks effectively. A leader moves beyond that to build a strong organization or business with a vision beyond today and themselves. S/he is able to see opportunities that go along with that and how they will impact the world. S/he is able to attract the right people and retain them. S/he is able to rise above pettiness into greatness.They posses character, influence, vision,intuition, servitude,strength, courage and most importantly they are secure in themselves.
Please visit our facebook page or post comments and share your thoughts on leadership. We will continue to explore this topic. Please seek out mentors and world renown leaders and learn from them. read their books and life stories.