For many, the assumption is that anyone in a position of authority is a leader. But, in fact, being a leader takes much more than simply holding a title. To be a leader a person must be able to do more than simply complete tasks, meet a timeline, or achieve the desired metrics. Leaders are first and foremost leaders of people, so to lead well a person must understand people.
When I began my leadership journey I saw leading as simply accomplishing the goal. It didn’t matter if I had to drag my followers along kicking and screaming, it was the result that mattered. In doing so I failed to lead. I may have managed well, hit my goals, and achieved success, but I was not a leader. In retrospect I thought I was leading, but I was missing many of the tools that make someone’s leadership skill great.
Leadership is just that, a skill, and just like any skill it can be learned, trained, and practiced to improve it. Also, like any skill, some aspects of it will come easier to one person over another. Personally, I was always very visionary and could develop grandiose ideas and plans, but I lacked the relational component to develop the partnerships to see them through to fruition. After years of learning, training, succeeding, and failing, I can now say that relationship building is a strong part of my repertoire.
This is the reason why I founded Logistics Leadership. To help others to become the leaders of people (and not just managers of tasks) that they want to be. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to come alongside you as we work together to develop and enhance your own leadership abilities.
