Over the last 2 weeks, we have filmed a video of the Leadership Series where we asked 5 different leaders within Khidmah questions about leadership.  Most of these leaders have been with us since Khidmah was founded and have heard at least 30 to 50 leadership sessions.  For many, the simple questions “What is Leadership?” was hard to answer.  Many people talked about attitude, charisma,  and leading followers to a vision.  When hearing these questions, I realized that I had done a poor job communicating the main thing.  And as my friends always say – “it is best to keep it simple.”

So, the correct definition of leadership is influence.  Leadership is all about influence.  You can not be a leader without influence and if you have influence on others you are a leader - good or bad. 

If you really think about it, the greatest leaders influence others long after they are gone (The Leadership Law of Legacy, as we learned last week).  When I first came to Abu Dhabi, I quickly learned the leadership of Sheikh Zayed still remains to this day.  The people he touched, the changes he made, the sons he raised, the vision he instilled, is still propelling this country today and will for generations to come. 

Something that Sheikh Zayed and other great leaders have always known is that true leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned.  It comes only from influence.   Most people think that because you have a high position or a title you are a leader.  NO, you just have a high position or a title – you don’t have influence. Influence is earned and based on many leadership principles. 

Dr. John Maxwell teaches that there are Five Myths About Leadership and I want us to discuss them. 

1.  The Management Myth
   • Management is focused around the running and maintainance of processes and systems.  
   •  Leadership is focused around influencing others to follow. 
   • Here is the TEST –  A manager can not create a positive change, only a leader can do that.   A manager is a maintainer and can “manage” a company going straight ahead without any challenges or changes.  But it takes a leader to lead a company with challenges and changes. 
2. The Entrepreneur Myth
   • Many successful entrepreneurs are first inventors or people that see something new that is not captured by the current market.  That does not mean they are a leader with influence.  Most entrepreneurs are solo workers that don’t have followers; they do it all themselves.
   • Many successful entrepreneurs will partner with a business leader who is able to influence followers to realize the opportunities the entrepreneur sees. 
3.  The Knowledge Myth
   • Many people fall into the myth that if a person is smart they are a leader.  After 3 Masters degrees, I can tell you that many really smart people are in colleges and universities, but they are not leaders.  If they were a leader, they would be out doing what they are teaching in these colleges and universities.  It does not mean that these professors are not great teachers, they just might not be a great leader or influencer of followers.   
   • I have personally heard many times in my career the statement, “Well, I can not be a leader because I just have a high school diploma.”  This is an excuse and has nothing to do with reality.
4. The Pioneer Myth
   •  Just because you were first to do something only means that you were the first to do something.  Nothing more. 
   • So being first is great, but you must have influence to have followers behind you – otherwise you are just first, not a leader. 
5. The Position Myth
   • Ok, HERE IS THE BIGGIE.  Most people believe that because you are of such and such title, you are a leader.  There is nothing more false about leadership than this.  
   • The title will bring you influence for about a week or maybe at the most a month.  But after that, people will see through the title and realize if you have what it takes to be their leader or not.  Titles buy you a little time, nothing else. 
   • “It’s not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position” – Stanley Huffty

Now hopefully I have unveiled the myths of leadership, let’s discuss influence. 

Influence according to Dictionary.com is

The capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others: He used family influence to get the contract.

The action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others: Her mother's influence made her stay.

A person or thing that exerts influence: He is an influence for the good.

 So as Dr. Maxwell says “the proof of leadership is found in the followers,” and leadership is influence, then what important things matter to have influence?

1. Character – Who They are Matters.
   • As we have discussed before, leadership is built on Trust and Respect. However, a leader must have the character in order for people to respect him/her. 
2. Relationships – Who they Know Matters.
   • Are you a bridge builder when it comes to people of differences?  Or do you divide and hurt people?  Do you bring out the best or the worst in people? 
3. Knowledge – What they Know Matters. 
   • Knowledge alone will not make you a leader, but no one will follow you unless you know how to do the job or understand the business and market.
4. Intuition – What they Feel Matters. 
   • Leaders seek to recognize and influence the intangibles such as energy, morale, timing, and momentum.  They are able to sense it or feel it. Example of Khidmah at the last 60 to 90 days of 2009. 
5. Experience – Where they’ve Been Matters.
   • You are more likely to get a chance as a leader if you have the experience.  Being a followers allows you to gain experience to be ready to lead.  
6. Past Success – What They’ve done Matters.
   • Example of Saima and “We are the Service.”  Example of Adel setting up the network, email systems, etc.  Example of Kamilia with the Expo. 
7. Ability – What they Can Do Matters. 
   • Do the followers think the leader can lead them to victory or accomplishment of the vision?  A moment of truth. 

The two extremes – Leadership in the Military and Leadership of Volunteers

If you ever want a tough leadership job, then try to lead volunteers.  Leading volunteers means that the followers have set aside their own personal time to dedicate to the vision, mission or cause.  This takes a leader to inspire and influence these followers to accomplish the goals at hand.  If at anytime the volunteers do not believe in the leader or do not believe in the mission, they will just quit and allocate their personal time to something else. 

Leadership of Volunteers is 100% opposite than leadership in the military.  Literally, in the military if you do not listen to the leader and do not follow his orders you can be put in jail or court marshaled. Even though leadership is critical in the military, especially when it is life and death situations, it can be contrasted with leadership of volunteers by the amount of influence you must carry with the followers.  In the military, you can force people by rank to do something, however in volunteer leadership you must rely 100% on influence. 

In Business, the leadership level is somewhere in between the military and volunteer.  You can for a short-term rely on rank or position, however it will not last.

So you might ask, “How do you gain, increase or grow you level of influence to be a better leader?”  Well, that is where we will pick up next week. 

Lead On,
Sutton