With conflict and problems of every type seemingly proliferating, the world seems in dire need to true leadership. But what is that, really? Author and regular columnist Colleen-Joy Page suggests another route to leadership: empower yourself to lead with grace.
A leader is simply someone who embodies a solution. If you authentically live and breathe a solution, you have the potential to lead others. In a world where solutions are needed, we need you to lead. Everyone has a contribution to make and everyone can make a difference. Find the solutions that you demonstrate with your life and be willing to be a voice for that solution for those who are seeking it out. Even simple solutions can make a massive difference. But you need to be willing to share. A leader is someone who lives and breathes the living reality of a solution. If you embody a solution, and are willing to be a voice for that solution, people will follow you. The people who will follow are the ones seeking that solution. 'Go to the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. But with the best leaders, when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, "We
have done this ourselves" (Lao Tzu).'
Power & leadership
There is a critical dimension to leadership – power. I have a coaching power formula which goes: power = responsibility plus choice. This formula is extremely helpful as a guide for leadership. You can use it to empower yourself and to empower others to lead. It works like this: solutions are possible when we claim our power. Power is a combination of responsibility and choice. Focusing on what we have no power to change, is not a solution. Finding a bright spot is finding what we do have a choice to do and therefore are responsible for. Do that. We do a strange thing as humans. We often take responsibility for what we have no choice about – which leads to suffering. And we ignore the choices we factually do have – which disempowers us. To lead, be clear on discerning the difference between
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