Everything rises and falls with leadership.
Position Myth – Having a title and a position makes me a leader.
So you have been given a position and a title. Now what?
I want to take a minute and congratulate you on your accomplishment. You have been given a leadership position in your organization; you have been trusted with responsibility. That is a great honor because it means that someone believes in you. It means that your organizations leadership recognizes potential in you and believes you have the capacity to fulfill this new position. So now what?
Now, your job is to prove them right. This is a stewardship opportunity. Fulfill your opportunity, maximize the moment, and step into leadership. I say step into leadership not because the position makes you a leader but because it affords you the opportunity to become a leader. It affords you an opportunity to serve.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. Real influence is notsomething that can be handed to you. Influence is won, one person at a time. You build this through relationship. By showing people that you care about them, that you can be trusted and that you can help them. Authority is often given or lent to others when a position is awarded but relying heavily on this borrowed authority can stunt your leadership growth. Because as soon as the position is gone so is your entire leadership model. Jesus said that we should not seek to be great by exercising authority over men, but by our ability to serve others.
"No man is a leader until his appointment is ratified within the hearts and minds of his men."
So now that you have been given a “leadership” position in your organization, prove to your leadership that they made the correct decision in choosing you. Take the posture of a leader and begin serving others in your organization and community. Make yourself someone of value by finding ways to add to those around you.
Remember, Leadership is not a matter of position but of disposition. Now that you have been given a position choose the right posture, grow your influence and be the leader that others sincerely want to follow.
Jamil W. Glenn
jamilglenn.com
Jamil Glenn is a John Maxwell Certified coach and trainer who specializes in leadership development. He has a passion for promoting true manhood, developing boys to men and breaking the fatherless cycle in America. You can contact him by following on twitter @jwglenn or visit his website www.jamilglenn.com for more information.