LEADERSHIP BLOG #14: “under the influence”
When you look up to someone you tend to be influenced by the things they do- whether it is the way you communicate, your work ethic, your attitude toward others or the way you handle a problem.
You may or may not be aware of what or who affects you, but your influence comes from somewhere. I have known this to be true: if you are being led, you are being influenced; and if you are leading, you are influencing your followers.
In his book, Axiom, Bill Hybels states, “When they [followers] wonder how much credit they should give to others when good ideas get implemented, when they wonder how gracious they should be to their peers, when they wonder how quick they should be to admit their mistakes, when they wonder how much faith they should have, all they should have to do is look to their leader, and those followers will have their answers.”
In other words, if you are leading someone, they are watching what you do and often imitating you. So how will you lead and what will you require from your followers? Hybels goes on to explain, “Leaders must never expect from others anything more than they’re willing to deliver themselves.” If you insist that someone act a certain way, you must first set the example- just like Jesus did. Jesus didn’t say, “follow me” then sit back and watch what His disciples could do, He showed them how by His actions.
You’re the leader, you set the standard.
