Peer to Peer Magazine

12 I also once heard someone say that a leader is a dealer of hope – the hope of what can be. I'll include that in my definition! What a Leader Looks Like Noted leadership scholar James MacGregor Burns once wrote, "Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth." Our observations help develop our picture of what a leader "looks like." We think of leaders as: • The boss • The smartest person • Someone with a lot of responsibility • A public speaker • Those who make a lot of money • Most experienced • Someone who has perceived or real power Let's paint a new picture. Here are some attributes to look for to identify leadership potential. Quality Over Title: A natural leader might not have a fancy title, and they don't need one. They take pride in their work and produce high-quality results. Accountable: Trust is established when a person accepts responsibility for their actions and takes ownership over their work and the success of the organization. We naturally follow those we trust. Self-Aware: Someone who is authentic and knows their strengths, shortcomings and weaknesses is self-aware and can use their awareness to improve W arren Bennis summarized it best when he said, "Leadership is like beauty: It's hard to define, but you know it when you see it." I'm wired to be a leader. As a young woman, I earned the opportunity to lead others in a field where there weren't many other females at the table. I loved my job, but I saw an opportunity in the market, and I wanted to be able to provide opportunities for team members to grow personally and professionally. So, I took the plunge and started my business at 25 years old. (Some people thought I was crazy!) Although I still don't have it all figured out after 20 years in business, my journey has taught me about the importance of fostering the talents and abilities of others to engage their inner leader. Are you a leader? Do you need to find leaders within your team or your organization? You probably have untapped talent all around you! It's Hard to Define (But We'll Try) Let's start with old reliable: Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines leadership as "the power or ability to lead other people." True, but what's more important and at the core of being an influential leader is the idea of serving others. The principles of servant leadership encourage us to embrace values, take risks and empower people. John Alber, ILTA's first Futurist, wrote a great piece in last winter's Peer to Peer that discusses the servant-leader model. You can read it at: http://epubs.iltanet.org/i/938151-winter-2017/54. Wait…Am I a Leader? Yes, You Are! B E S T P R A C T I C E S B Y G I N A B U S E R Identifying the Inner Leader in Yourself and Others What's more important and at the core of being an influential leader is the idea of serving others.

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