Leading So Others Will Follow-Part Two

Leadership is influence.  It is the ability to guide people to where you want them to go….your vision.  It is the ability to motivate them to take risks and go to that vision with you.  And, as Stephen R. Covey said, “it is the ability to communicate people’s worth and potential so clearly, that they are inspired to see it in themselves”.  These all make up a leader who has followers.  A leader who is doing more than just taking a walk!  A leader who has empowered followers.

To empower people, a leader should teach them, develop them, give them responsibility, and trust them.  This will help move you to level four and level five leadership, as defined by Maxwell.  You will have committed followers.


As a leader, what better way to show your commitment to people than by developing them?  Determine their motivations.  Learn their skills and attributes.  Then, structure their environment so it allows people to be successful based on these things.  Give a person responsibility.  This does not mean just extra work.  It means providing situations that gently require someone to stretch, to grow beyond their own perceived limitations.  And extend trust to them.  If people believe they are trusted, they will take calculated risks.  They will be creative.  In a trusting environment, all things are possible.

Great leaders with committed followers ooze a positive belief in people.  The followers never have to question their leader’s attitude about people or his/her caring for doing what is just.  Leadership is influence.  How are you choosing to influence today?  What have you done for your people?  What type of person are you?  What are your values and your intent?  A hard look at these questions can help you be the leader with committed followers.  Then, the vision becomes reality.


To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.

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