Most people think that leadership is about business, but did you know your leadership is about your ship?
If you ask 100 different people what leadership is, you could get over 200 different answers, because the concept of leadership is forever changing. However, I believe there is a lost art to leadership that many of us seek and only a few of us find.
So, what is leadership? What is this lost art that so many of us seek?
Leadership Is A Journey
Early in my career, I was given a leadership role to lead a staff of qualified professionals. This was very exciting, because I got a new office, a new title and a big raise. Then it happened. There was conflict on the team, and, as the leader, I did not know what to do.
It was then that I realized that with the new office, new title and big raise, there came new big responsibilities. As the leader, this team was my responsibility. I needed to act and lead. But how?
Lead Together
I pulled my team together and shared how each one of them had key strengths that made the team better together than any one of us alone.
I coached each team member and helped them find common ground. It was uncomfortable at times, but worth it.
My team grew stronger, together and I learned the hard way that it was not about me being the leader – it was about the ships that I led. It was about the ship called “my team”. There is a lost art to leadership, my friends, and it’s all about the SHIPs we lead.
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Leadership Requires Service:
Leadership shows up when the leaders can motivate their ships to action, whatever that ship may be. The ship of life, the ship of family, the ship of business, the ship of staff and others. Leadership is both simple and very complex. It’s about how the leader navigates the ship. Because leadership is about your ship, and you have many ships to lead.
I propose that leadership is much more than actions. It’s more than making decisions or setting a vision. It’s even bigger than the leaders themselves.
I believe that the lost art of leadership is about: Serving with Heart and Influencing with Purpose.
Your SHIP For Serving
SERVING is the S in the leader’s ship. It’s “what” leaders do every day. We serve others with a focus on discovering and achieving what is best for them. The leader is the servant. Jim Rohn says:
“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”
Your SHIP for Caring
HEART is the H in the leader’s ship. It’s the “how” leaders genuinely care for those they lead. I have come to believe that people really don’t care how much you know until they know how much you truly care. When you have a sincere heart that desires what is best for those, you are leading, that when you learn how to lead.
Your SHIP for Influencing
INFLUENCING is the I in the leader’s ship. It is “who” the leader is. It is the essence of leadership. John Maxwell says that, “Leadership is influence, nothing more nothing less.”
You are a great leader when you are influencing your ship. Whatever ship you direct, leadership is totally about influencing.
Your SHIP for Reasoning
PURPOSE is the P in the leader’s ship. It is “why” you lead.
As a leader, you lead because you have a purpose you want to accomplish. You have a ship that can help you fulfill your purposes. Knowing your why is what gives your leadership purpose.
People will jump on your ship when they know and believe in your why, and your why is your purpose for existing. Watch this short video about the best-selling book: Living Beyond Purpose.
It is my sincere hope that you will join me in bringing back the lost art of leadership: Serving with Heart and Influence with Purpose!
Remember your leadership is about your SHIP: Serve with Heart, and Influence with Purpose
