Over the course of my leadership journey, especially the past four or five years, there are a few key principles I can pretty much hang my hat on. And I’ve written about them several times.
Providing students (and adults) a framework to start growing their leadership influence.
The Horizon of Possibility. Oh, and this one, and this one too.
Key traits for student leaders.
Today, I’d like to revisit yet another thought. But first, if you only have time to read one post today, read this one.
Are you ready? This is going to be mind-numbingly simple or incredibly challenging.
Leaders show up.
That’s it. Very few people can positively influence a room by not being in it. If a place is better because we are not there, one of two things are true:
- Our level of influence is so great that even in your absence, people have been empowered and equipped to step up, connect, and lead.
- Our leadership influence is negative.
Outside of these two instances, if we are not present, we cannot lead. And I’ll be perfectly honest with you, the first one is extremely rare.
If leadership is influence, we have to be present to exert influence: Present in the lives of the people we lead and physically present in the rooms they are in.
I’m watching this play out all around me. If I want to influence something, I have to be part of it. I cannot watch, critique, bemoan, and stay at arm’s length and create any kind of change. But by jumping in, serving, listening, contributing, and listening some more, I can slowly start to build the relational credibility that allows me to grow my leadership influence.
But it only works if I show up.
Where do you need to show up today? Make your presence a priority.