Business Fit Magazine March 2019 Issue 1 | Page 48

Business
Unlike many people might think, leadership has
nothing to do with position or title. Leadership
is influence. No matter if you are a stay-home
mother, an entrepreneur, an employee or CEO
– you might not be aware of it but you influence
and lead people around you everyday. Some
people are natural leaders, but we all have the
potential to lead, and unique gifts that are not
ours to keep.
What is your sphere of influence? Is it your
home and family, your own business or an
organisation you work for? No matter what
sphere of influence you are in right now, we
are all given the same 24 hours in the day and
365 days in the year to make a difference.
So how do you become a successful leader
that people want to follow and emulate?
The answer might surprise you. In order to
successfully lead and make an impact you
need to lead yourself first. Ask any successful
leader of great influence and they will tell you
that the biggest challenge they face everyday is
to be able to lead themselves.
You are
Born to Lead
Christine Wendl
What comes to mind for you when you think
about leadership? Dark suits, boardrooms and
strategic meetings? People in top positions leading
big organisations or politicians addressing large
crowds?
When I think of leadership, I think of each and
every one of you.
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As a leadership expert with years of global
experience I believe that we are all born to
lead in our sphere of influence. In fact, we are
obliged to develop our leadership potential in
order to make an impact, only we can make
in the world. Serving others with our gift is the
key to have a life of purpose, significance and
fulfilment.
Practicing self-leadership is an internal work
which needs to happen daily in order to
embody authentic leadership on the outside.
It is about growing your character through the
decisions you make when no one is watching,
knowing yourself and keeping integrity for your
values, vision and beliefs. That’s why I like to
say true leadership happens behind closed
doors: when nobody is watching.

Here are five key points which will help you
lead yourself to become an authentic purpose
driven leader, because no matter what your
sphere of influence is: you simply cannot lead
others without leading yourself first.
1. Have a vision for your
mission
Do you know why you are doing what you are
doing?
Vision driven leaders outrun those who are
duty-driven. Vision is indispensable for any
leader as vision fuels the fire within, leads the
leader and draws him forward.
Leadership has nothing
to do with position or
title.
To be able to lead, influence and serve people
you need to first know who you are and where
you are going. We each have a specific call
in life however, we live in a time where a lot
of noise is often distracting us from getting
a hold of it. In a world driven by comparison
and strife, having strong values, a mission and
vision of your own, are anchors which keep
you grounded and on track with your calling.
If you don’t have a vision for your life, look
within. What do you dream about that stirs
your heart? Look at your natural gifts and
desires. Is your dream really your own or are
you living someone else’s dream, maybe your
parents' or wanting to be somebody else? If
what you are pursuing does not come from the
depths of who you are, you will not be able to
accomplish it. Without a vision, people perish.
2. Align with your core values
Do you have a set of core values you live by?
Your vision, mission and values are your
compass through life –they give you direction
and a framework to live by. Unless you have
clarity about them, you will follow other
people’s ideas for your life, lose energy for the
things you do and ultimately miss your calling.
Personally, I aspire to build my life on faith, love,
excellence and integrity. As I am constantly
learning, I have made it a goal to grow more of
these values in my daily life.
Living in alignment and integrity with your
values is the foundation of building character.
Character and competence are the core
characteristic of a good leader, but when
having to choose between them, character is
priority.
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