The greatest of leaders understand how profoundly powerful words can be. They serve to motivate, inspire, and capture the hearts and minds of people. Every leader, regardless of what kind of a company or industry they serve in, should leverage some type of mantra. Some of my personal favorites I used were… “What do we do? The right thing. When do we do it? All the time.” and “Mission First, my Marines Always”. Develop your own and make it stick!

There need not be any greater reward for the leader, than to observe the manifestation of the leaders’ vision through those he or she leads.

Your ability (read “opportunity”) to lead is PROVIDED to you by those who CHOOSE to follow you. Your reach is a direct reflection of your position. Position yourself wisely around those who require leadership, not only the subordinates in your charge. Who you are, and how many leaders you DEVELOP, determines your leadership. Leadership has less to do with how many followers you have, and everything to do with how many leaders you DEVELOP. Strive to be the kind of leader that YOU would follow.

Being an effective leader requires a combination of skills that make you a valuable asset to your team and organization. These skills can be remembered with the acronym L-E-A-D-E-R, which stands for Listening, Empathy, Adaptability, Decisiveness, Enthusiasm, and Resilience. Don’t look for the leadership in the room, become the leadership in the room.

In conclusion, leadership means far more than merely occupying a leadership position. It necessitates much more than objectively measurable skills. At their very core, natural leaders evoke followership. Leaders are born from leaders; they are never simply “made”. Being a leader doesn’t require a title, and having a title most certainly doesn’t make you one.

~ An Excerpt from “Cast Your Light”