Hotel Management — March 2012
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On Leadership
Taking charge is an attribute we all share
Recently I was interviewed on the topic of leadership and why I believe it is everyone’s personal responsibility to lead, which is my official position on leadership.
The interviewer opened our conversation by saying, “The first problem with your perspective, Renie, is that leaders are born.” I said, “Exactly, and as I understand it, aren’t we all born?”
Leadership is a behavior, not a position. This myth that people can only be leaders if they received some “special gene” is rubbish! We need everyone who works for our organization to lead. Leaders know when they need to take the reins and also when to step aside and allow others to take charge.
The truth is, we all are in a position to lead, all the time. Today’s leadership is about the ability to engage others into what is possible so they become committed to the actions and purpose you define. How we engage others in our world is at the heart of sustainable success and leadership. The good news is this can be done easily and daily. It is as simple as how we speak with someone or how we acknowledge someone’s contributions. Do you make them feel valued? If the answer is yes, you are leading; if the answer is no, you are not.
Make no mistake—leadership is a choice. We demonstrate that choice every day in how we participate, connect and communicate with others. Leadership is within all of us, not just a few of us. We lead in our homes, with our children, with our spouses and partners as well as in our traditional roles in business. The gift of leadership is in how we inspire others to reach their potential.
Great leaders see what others cannot yet see. If you have children, you know this to be true. Frequently, they cannot see their potential, but as parents, we can awaken their potential and their confidence in it. This is leadership. The same is true in business. Leaders understand that leading others is about setting them up for success, building their confidence and acknowledging their contributions.
Leaders see the potential in situations and people, and they know that to achieve anything requires effort and the choice to move toward it regardless of the roadblocks. Some people can see the potential and don’t bother to act. This is the difference between the leader and the “wanna-be leader.”
It is easy in today’s world to focus on all that is wrong, yet a leader looks to create momentum toward what needs to be improved. Without challenges and obstacles, there is no progress.
Recently I was interviewed on the topic of leadership and why I believe it is everyone’s personal responsibility to lead, which is my official position on leadership.
The interviewer opened our conversation by saying, “The first problem with your perspective, Renie, is that leaders are born.” I said, “Exactly, and as I understand it, aren’t we all born?”
Leadership is a behavior, not a position. This myth that people can only be leaders if they received some “special gene” is rubbish! We need everyone who works for our organization to lead. Leaders know when they need to take the reins and also when to step aside and allow others to take charge.
The truth is, we all are in a position to lead, all the time. Today’s leadership is about the ability to engage others into what is possible so they become committed to the actions and purpose you define. How we engage others in our world is at the heart of sustainable success and leadership. The good news is this can be done easily and daily. It is as simple as how we speak with someone or how we acknowledge someone’s contributions. Do you make them feel valued? If the answer is yes, you are leading; if the answer is no, you are not.
Make no mistake—leadership is a choice. We demonstrate that choice every day in how we participate, connect and communicate with others. Leadership is within all of us, not just a few of us. We lead in our homes, with our children, with our spouses and partners as well as in our traditional roles in business. The gift of leadership is in how we inspire others to reach their potential.
Great leaders see what others cannot yet see. If you have children, you know this to be true. Frequently, they cannot see their potential, but as parents, we can awaken their potential and their confidence in it. This is leadership. The same is true in business. Leaders understand that leading others is about setting them up for success, building their confidence and acknowledging their contributions.
Leaders see the potential in situations and people, and they know that to achieve anything requires effort and the choice to move toward it regardless of the roadblocks. Some people can see the potential and don’t bother to act. This is the difference between the leader and the “wanna-be leader.”
It is easy in today’s world to focus on all that is wrong, yet a leader looks to create momentum toward what needs to be improved. Without challenges and obstacles, there is no progress.
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