Date: 10/11/2017

Title: LEADING BY LEARNING – Part 1

By Jennifer Erickson

Leadership is influence. How is it that you can influence? Some people think it is because of their title, or the letters denoting diplomas after their name. Others think it is based on the size of their office, or the number of people reporting to them.

Yet we’ve all been in groups or teams of people and watched most everyone following a certain person….but not one who was the “designated” leader. This is the person who has influence. This is the person who has earned the trust of the others in the room.

Notice the use of the word “earned”. When leaders earn the trust of their team members, loyal and engaged employees are created. Production increases. Goals are met. Retention increases. Better candidates appear for job interviews, because current staff have spread the word that “this is a great company and leader to work for”.

How would this affect your company/agency? How would your leadership skills be demonstrated? How do you get there?

We lead, not through our words, but by our actions. There is a Native American saying: “I can’t hear what you are saying. Your behavior is drowning out your words.” What kind of a leader are you? Do you say something, perhaps the latest ‘catch phrase’, and just expect others to follow it. Do you have inspirational posters all over the walls of your building (maybe you even had them matted and framed, so they look very pleasing to the eye), yet behave in the opposite manner? Do you expect others to follow you, just because of your title?

To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.