Leadership For Everyday Life

"Leadership is influence - nothing more and nothing less." ~ Dr. John C. Maxwell. 

Being an influential leader is not about power, title or position, it is about being able to influence people and decisions.  Although you may not be in a visible leadership position, we are all people of influence and as Christians should seek to be the best leaders we can be.

The key factor to people allowing you to influence them is to develop trust, because if they do not trust you, you will be limited in your ability to influence them. Therefore, you will not be able to effectively lead them,  if people cannot trust you they will not follow you

The word "trust" by definition means:  "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, of a person or thing; confidence". That also sounds like some key ingredients to any relationship. You see as a leader, trust will establish a relationship between you and your team. One way to develop that trust, and maintain it, is to focus on personally and emotionally connecting with the individuals on your team. These actions will enable you to implement a very important leadership law - The Law of Connection, which states  - "leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand"

(Dr. John C. Maxwell "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership").

When you are focused on a person's heart and not just their talent it is then that the true connection begins. It tells them that you value them. That relationship should be of as much value to them as it is to you, the team, or the organization.

Here are four proven ways to connect, develop trust and add value to your team members:

1. Listen to them.

2.Respect them.

3.Grow them.

4.Reward them.

If you consistently follow these simple proven principles of influential leadership you will continue to expand your influence and lead your team to even greater success.