Leadership and influence

By: Denzel Pedro Smit
(Leadership and Personal Development Coach, Trainer and Speaker)
Sadly, it is often still believed that leadership is about positions, titles and status. I think it is so because of the lifelong challenge we had in defining the term leadership in a simple way that is easy to understand, implement and live. We therefore started looking at signs and symptoms of what we understood to be good leadership or success. Therefore these titles and positions have become crutches we use to make us appear to be good or effective leaders. This was exactly where I found myself a few years ago when I also thought that because of occupation, titles, academic qualifications, people will automatically, stop and turn to "follow" me. I soon found out that this was not the case as people did not automatically, stop, listen, do, go or behaved in the manner I desired them to. It was only when I came to learn from the author and leadership teacher, Dr. John C Maxwell, that "leadership is influence" and nothing more or nothing less, that I got it.
The ability to influence people to behave in a desired manner is as simple as a seven year old child inviting her friends to come and play, some will come and some will not. Those who honour the invitation, were clearly impressed by how the seven year old BEHAVED prior to extending the invitation. Based on that behavior they then decided to come or not. From this example it is clear that a seven year old without title, an office or position, has influence. Furthermore, it shows that anybody, at any place at any time has influence. Hence, I believe that when we realize and accept this simple yet powerful principle, you can then "lead from where you are."
In light of the above and with the understanding that leadership is influence, the remaining question then is: "How do we then influence effectively to the extent that others want to follow?” This is where I highly recommend not only this piece of great literature by Frank Julie, (i.e. The Art of Leadership and Management on the Ground) but also the man himself in the manner that he influences. It is often found that academics speak to and are easier understood by academics and therefore those "birds of a feather, flock together". Not so with Frank and this book. Notwithstanding the fact that he is highly qualified and considered by many as an "expert" in this field, Frank has chosen to break down the complicated "art of leadership" into a form that even the "man in the street" can understand. He does not teach and live leadership from a level where only the "experts" get it but gladly breaks it down and brings it to "the ground". This in itself shows two great leadership characteristics. The kind of behavior that influences. One, the ability to take complex issues and make it simple. To me this proves Einsteins' theory that "when someone lacks the ability to explain a concept so that even a child can understand it, chances are the he himself does not understand it". I have watched Frank over the years living out this principle among not just members of the non-profit communities but more important, it's beneficiaries.
This brings me to the second great characteristic that influences. "Leading on the ground". As a leader this is of the utmost importance to me. No leader can lead from a distance. As much as it is required of leaders to go ahead and pave the way, they should be close enough to their followers to know and understand the ways they are required to be paved. This Frank, does excellently. The fact that one will always find him "on the ground" leading from there, is very encouraging. It is from being among his people that a leader can hear their voices and feel their heartbeats.
A further way in which leaders influences effectively is through Servanthood. I am greatly encouraged by how that Frank, in this work speak to the roles and responsibilities of the leadership and nothing about the rights and perks that apparently comes with the positions. In my opinion, as one moves higher into these leadership positions, the responsibilities become more and the so called rights, less. All the roles and responsibilities pointed out and explained in this work enables those in leadership positions, to serve their people and their cause more effectively. The ability to serve, knowing that you are in a (senior) leadership position, can only be done from a place of security. One that says and understand that it is not the office or position that makes the leader but instead, it is the leader that makes the office. Frank is a fine example of taking "leadership" from the shelf, introducing it to the people on the ground, not just through this book but his example, and then leading them to greater heights, from where they are.
(Leadership and Personal Development Coach, Trainer and Speaker)
Sadly, it is often still believed that leadership is about positions, titles and status. I think it is so because of the lifelong challenge we had in defining the term leadership in a simple way that is easy to understand, implement and live. We therefore started looking at signs and symptoms of what we understood to be good leadership or success. Therefore these titles and positions have become crutches we use to make us appear to be good or effective leaders. This was exactly where I found myself a few years ago when I also thought that because of occupation, titles, academic qualifications, people will automatically, stop and turn to "follow" me. I soon found out that this was not the case as people did not automatically, stop, listen, do, go or behaved in the manner I desired them to. It was only when I came to learn from the author and leadership teacher, Dr. John C Maxwell, that "leadership is influence" and nothing more or nothing less, that I got it.
The ability to influence people to behave in a desired manner is as simple as a seven year old child inviting her friends to come and play, some will come and some will not. Those who honour the invitation, were clearly impressed by how the seven year old BEHAVED prior to extending the invitation. Based on that behavior they then decided to come or not. From this example it is clear that a seven year old without title, an office or position, has influence. Furthermore, it shows that anybody, at any place at any time has influence. Hence, I believe that when we realize and accept this simple yet powerful principle, you can then "lead from where you are."
In light of the above and with the understanding that leadership is influence, the remaining question then is: "How do we then influence effectively to the extent that others want to follow?” This is where I highly recommend not only this piece of great literature by Frank Julie, (i.e. The Art of Leadership and Management on the Ground) but also the man himself in the manner that he influences. It is often found that academics speak to and are easier understood by academics and therefore those "birds of a feather, flock together". Not so with Frank and this book. Notwithstanding the fact that he is highly qualified and considered by many as an "expert" in this field, Frank has chosen to break down the complicated "art of leadership" into a form that even the "man in the street" can understand. He does not teach and live leadership from a level where only the "experts" get it but gladly breaks it down and brings it to "the ground". This in itself shows two great leadership characteristics. The kind of behavior that influences. One, the ability to take complex issues and make it simple. To me this proves Einsteins' theory that "when someone lacks the ability to explain a concept so that even a child can understand it, chances are the he himself does not understand it". I have watched Frank over the years living out this principle among not just members of the non-profit communities but more important, it's beneficiaries.
This brings me to the second great characteristic that influences. "Leading on the ground". As a leader this is of the utmost importance to me. No leader can lead from a distance. As much as it is required of leaders to go ahead and pave the way, they should be close enough to their followers to know and understand the ways they are required to be paved. This Frank, does excellently. The fact that one will always find him "on the ground" leading from there, is very encouraging. It is from being among his people that a leader can hear their voices and feel their heartbeats.
A further way in which leaders influences effectively is through Servanthood. I am greatly encouraged by how that Frank, in this work speak to the roles and responsibilities of the leadership and nothing about the rights and perks that apparently comes with the positions. In my opinion, as one moves higher into these leadership positions, the responsibilities become more and the so called rights, less. All the roles and responsibilities pointed out and explained in this work enables those in leadership positions, to serve their people and their cause more effectively. The ability to serve, knowing that you are in a (senior) leadership position, can only be done from a place of security. One that says and understand that it is not the office or position that makes the leader but instead, it is the leader that makes the office. Frank is a fine example of taking "leadership" from the shelf, introducing it to the people on the ground, not just through this book but his example, and then leading them to greater heights, from where they are.