One thing I have learnt and still learning over the last 20+ years in the workforce is that regardless of position or title, when is comes to being a leader that others will follow, it requires ‘influence’.
John C. Maxwell says it best that “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
But one thing I’ve also learnt the most about leadership is that starts with ‘self’.
The way we understand and do ‘leadership’ has evolved, and still evolving. Leadership is 360 degrees – leading and influencing those (stakeholders) around you be it at the top, alongside you or that report into you, with you being at the center (self-leadership).
When you’re able to get the “buy-in” at various levels of the organisation, you’re better positioned to overcome some of the challenges that come with leading change. Our ability to influence others to bring about the needed change or adoption, can make or break our projects and change initiatives. Change Leadership is Influence.
But easier said than done right, to lead without position? Because guess what, we’ve been conditioned to equate positional power with leadership. However, if you focus on ‘influence’, with or without ‘position’ you increase your chances of success.
Just one more reason I put a great deal of emphasis on raising one’s influence in our Change Leadership Accelerator Course.
Let me know your thoughts? What are some of the challenges that exist leading without ‘position’?
In our Free Masterclass on “How To Become A Successful Change Leader”, we touch on communication as a key change leadership competency, and tool for managing resistance to change. Save your spot here: https://bit.ly/becomeachangeleader
