While scanning through some of my earliest blog entries I came across one that had me reflect on the fundamental purpose of this blog: to inspire everyday leadership through everyday actions.
We may have an idea of what leadership is, but what does it look like in everyday action? In the post titled The Red Car Theory of Leadership I discuss the power of creating a context for observing leadership. The point is summed up in this paragraph:
“If our context for leading is limited to grand gestures like Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech we will miss leadership in its simplest, most elemental form. If we want to be able to seize an opportunity to act as a leader in any given moment we must be able to perceive the moments of opportunities or they will pass by unnoticed like all the cars you drive by every day, but don’t really see. And if we cannot see leadership in the actions of others, how will we be able to recognize it in ourselves?”
Often I work with people who do not see themselves as leaders, but say they want to become one. Yet it does not take long to observe them leading in the everyday things they do and say in service of their commitments.
One of the most effective ways I have found to help people expand their own leadership capability, as well as to cultivate leadership in others is to develop their ability to observe leadership in the simple everyday actions of the people around them.
What does leadership in action look like to you?
On a personal note…you may have noticed there is a new badge on the site. Thank you so much for voting for this blog as one of the Top HR Blogs for 2010. I am truly grateful for and honored by all of your support. — Susan
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