Who's the Leader?

The loudest voice, or even the one with the title, isn't always the leader in the room. But look around. The one around whom everyone else is gathered IS!!!

See, leaders are influencers. REAL ones!!! Some SAY they are an influencer, but unless there are those who have been influenced by them, they are disillusioned. John Maxwell says, "Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less."

People are drawn to influencers. They are magnetic in some way. Most of them make you feel better about yourself. They have a way of motivating you to do better, be better, perform better.

People are drawn to them because morale is raised when the influencer walks in the room. There is a sense of "everything is going to be ok now that he/she is here." Situations seem more in control. And when things seem to be spinning out of control, the influencer is the one that others go to for advice.

Now that we have a picture of an influencer, what do teams look to their leaders to provide? Vision? Solutions? Control? Motivation? Instruction? Encouragement? What if the one with the leadership title isn't the influencer? Who do you think the team will turn to for guidance? The "leader," or the influencer?

There's an old proverb that says, "He who thinks he is leading when nobody is following is but taking a long walk!" If the "leader" and the influencer are not the same person, the "leader" falls into the category of this proverb! They are merely fooling themselves. Just as water seeks it's own level, your team will seek the influencer. And if you have the title, but not the influence, you've just lost your job whether or not you admit it. You will need other influencers on your team, but YOU had better be the influencer that your influencers seek. If this is true about you, you are the leader.