What is a leader?

Peter Drucker asserts that a leader is someone who has followers. John Maxwell states that a leader is someone who has influence. I believe that both of these definitions are correct.

Then why would anyone choose to follow a leader?

The answer isn't about coercion or force. The answer has nothing to do with formal authority. If either of these answers were correct, no teenager would disobey their parents.

Yet most adults today can look back at their teenage years and recall at least one person who had a significant impact on their life. In my leadership development sessions, the two qualities people say about the leaders who affected them are 1) the person often lacked formal authority; and 2) the person had qualities that inspired aspirations.

Inspired Aspirations

By inspired aspirations, I mean that the person held up a powerful mirror for the young adult that reflected back not their current state but their potential state: all that they could be. In order for a person to hold up that mirror for someone else, I believe they have to go through a process of deep personal development in which they build the strength, the courage and the integrity to reflect for others the possibilities they have.

Forging Character

This is similar to what Stephen Covey calls voice, which he describes as our "unique personal significance." Covey asserts that we develop our voice "as we face our greatest challenges." The challenge forges our character. Covey further asserts that "Once you've found your own voice, the choice to expand your influence, to increase your contribution, is the choice to inspire others to find their voice."

The Sequence Is Important
You have to work on yourself first. I believe it is this process, this work, that draws other people to follow. Robert Quinn perhaps states it best when he writes, "One key to successful leadership is continuous personal change. Personal change is a reflection of our inner growth and empowerment. Empowered leaders are the only ones who can induce real change."

The Leader's Power

Once you have gone through this process, there is an authentic power that emanates from you that others can sense. Quinn asserts that this power is based on an integrity that everyone senses and understands. Part of what contributes to this power is that a true internally-driven leader never derives their power at the expense of someone else. This quality builds trust. Personal change involves risk. As we lead others, they have to trust us if they are to take these risks. No trust equals no risk, and therefore, no change or growth.

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