Become a kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no position or title.
-Brian Tracy
One of the biggest leadership insights I gained from my recent NLP intensive with Sue Knight in Kerala is that best way to influence others is to be the model in the area of influence.
Leadership is often equated with titles and positions of authority, such as CEO, president, or manager. We are conditioned to believe that only those who hold these titles can be leaders, and that leadership is only about directing and controlling others. But the truth is, leadership is not about titles or positions. It’s a mindset, a set of skills, and a way of life. In today’s world it is an aspirational value.
Since leadership is a visual thing, people follow what they see leaders doing. When a leader leads by example, it creates a picture of what’s possible. It also resonates with the one of NLP beliefs of excellence that “if someone can do it – anybody can do it”. So, we should think and clarify what we are expecting from our team. Look in the mirror and see if we are delivering those things personally. Understand the process of translating what we want into the behaviours that produce it. By doing so, we can establish a culture of excellence and inspire our team to achieve their full potential.
Mahatma Gandhi’s life and actions exemplify the idea that true leadership is not determined by one’s position or title, but rather by the ability to inspire and motivate others towards a common goal. He led by setting an example of integrity, perseverance, and non-violence, which inspired millions of people to follow in his footsteps and fight for justice and freedom. He walked the talk. He put his thought into words and words into action. It is noteworthy that Gandhi achieved the perspectives of a leader without a title, which are now part of modern management education, – through the ABCD model of Able-Believable-Connected-Dependable.
Leadership is about adding value, no matter how small or big, in the lives of those around you. But the journey of leadership starts with oneself; how one leads oneself determines how effectively they will lead others. By being an exemplary and an aspirational leader, one creates a desire in others to follow them, which holding any position cannot achieve.