The Gravity of Leadership - Becoming a Magnet That Attracts Followers

“Leadership isn't about doing better than others, it's about helping others do better.” ~ C.H.

Leadership.

There are thousands of books, talks, and courses on it.

There are endless definitions, ideas, and opinions of it.

There are many who ignorantly follow those they believe to be leaders.

There are many who even falsely believe themselves to be leaders.

But what does it really mean to be a leader?

If you are like many I've spoken with in the home business industry, you have heard the term “leader” loosely thrown around on training calls, at conventions, and in conversation, without any real regard to its true meaning. You may even be one who speaks it or assigns it freely.

With all the damage, destruction, and confusion so-called “leaders” in politics, education, entertainment, media, religion, business, medicine, humanitarian work, and the family are causing, it's no wonder most people are afraid of discovering and skeptical of its true meaning – not to mention becoming one.

LEADERSHIP DEFINED

One of the most INSPIRING speakers I've ever seen or heard, summed up his thoughts on leadership in this way: “Leadership equals service”.

The problem with many so-called leaders today, is not the absence of belief that leadership equals service, but the presence of belief that leadership equals service to THEM.

They believe that people should automatically follow them and do what they say. They have an attitude of deserving entitlement all because they have a title that denotes a position which is elevated over other people with “lower” titles. They believe the title they carry is evidence others should blindly respect their authority and obey, as well as model their beliefs and ideals.

Most who are in positions “above” other people like those we see in politics and the corporate world, where people are forced to follow, are not really leaders just because of their title or position.

Too many people in elevated positions equate leadership with having submissive followers, where they can egotistically exercise selfish and proud power over others.

And people who foolishly follow these impostors end up taking on the same mentality only to perpetuate the destructive confusion regarding leadership.

If leadership equals service, it must equal service to OTHERS.

If leadership equals service, then “leader equals servant”.

But this is not what is demonstrated by the majority who are in voted and promoted positions of leadership.

What about you?

Are you a servant to a leader?

Or are you a leader to a servant?

OR, are you a leader who is a servant?

If you're a leader, if you see yourself as a leader, then you MUST see yourself as a servant.

As a leader, we cannot expect others to be in service to us. We must expect ourselves to be in service to them.

Now I realize this takes a great amount of humility, but it takes humility to do ANYTHING that results in helping others before you help yourself.

Because humility of service is what is required to lead, those who sit at the heads of government should be the most humble among us all.

Here in America, the President is treated more like a feared king, and conducts himself more like a celebrity dictator than a humble servant to the people.

Observing similar behavior among C.E.O.'s, Presidents, Politicians, Policemen, Employers, etc., has totally and completely skewed our correct perception of what a leader really is.

EXCELLENT SERVICE TO OTHERS

If we look at any leader throughout history who was thought to be great, we find they were indeed in service to others, or we are at least under the impression they were.

And what do all great leaders, regardless of field or industry, race or religion, economic or social status have in common?

There is something identifiably specific they excel at which makes it possible to serve the ones that follow.

Excel is the root word of excellent, which dictionary.com defines as “possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.”

It's just like when people freely decide to buy a product, it's because they believe it excels at providing a service in some superior way to others in its field. They see it as a standard thats been set for other products in its field to follow. They see it as something that will serve THEM and THEIR needs. Not the other way around!

As with you.

When people freely decide to follow someone, its because they recognize a particular service the one they follow is providing or can provide them with in relation to their immediate wants or needs. They see them as someone who has set a standard for others in their field to follow. They see them as someone who is in service to THEM and THEIR needs. Again, NOT the other way around!

Any great leader you can think of is known for excelling at one particular thing, NOT for simply being good at many things or doing many things well.

Leaders themselves many times forget this.

And so do those following them.

For example, a leader will attract followers because of that one thing they excel at, and begin leading them.

Then they will try to diversify their energy into other things that they do or wish to do well in.

And although it in no way serves their followers in direct relation to their immediate wants and needs, they expect their people to continue following them.

All the while forgetting the reason people started following in the first place was because the specific thing they excelled at was what was serving the people.

Then many of those following will fail to realize they are not actually being served any longer, and that they are just simply following.

We see this at every level and in every environment where one needs to lead, and another needs to be lead.

MAGNETIC LEADERSHIP (Becoming That Leader)

One of my past clients in the music industry had a very simple philosophy for excelling:

“When I'm not practicing, I'm performing. When I'm not performing, I'm practicing.”

There are many who may excel at a particular thing, but not all are leaders. In order to be a leader, what you excel at must be in the interest of serving others.

Choose what you are going to excel at, or identify what you already excel at, and determine how you can use this to be of great service to as many people as possible.

There are those who will by default and convenient circumstance learn the service you excel at and become attracted to you because its one they are immediately seeking. But to really begin to “magnetize” yourself, you're gonna to have to share with as many people as possible whom you know are immediately seeking the service you excel at.

Personally, I know of no better method for quickly attracting followers to what we excel at then speaking in public.

People who speak in public are automatically seen as ones whose purpose is to serve others in some specific and measured way – They are automatically seen as leaders.

Having an unrelenting approach to what you excel at within your chosen field with a “my sole purpose is to be in service to others” point of view, will help you learn and develop yourself in proportion to what you excel at much faster.

It will also bring a strong sense of purpose to what you are doing, cause you to stand out among those who have the same service as you, and get noticed by those whom you ultimately wish to attract and be followed by.

But a word of caution: BE PREPARED TO DELIVER!

No where more apparent then in the field of politics do we see those with the *appearance* of true leadership and a promise of service to others. When the people are won over by their act, they are left feeling duped once again and their search for a leader continues. Not with renewed hope mind you, but with a heightened sense of doubt and skepticism.

This scam is also apparent on the web with people claiming to be “Internet marketing & social media” experts, and “Law Of Attraction” experts. Most don't have a clue as to what the basic principles of sales, marketing, or social influence are. Or even a basic understanding of Universal Law. Needless to say these people are not leaders regarding what they claim to excel at!

AN EXERCISE IN LEADERSHIP

The following 7 questions are a great exercise regarding true leadership.. (Take comfort, you are not being judged on your answers)

1. Prior to our talk, did you see yourself as a leader, a follower, or both?

2. What do you seek most from those who lead the people you love?

3. Who are 3 great leaders that stand out in your mind?

4. What makes them great from your observation?

5. Based on our discussion today, do you believe yourself to be a leader?

6. If so, why should anyone follow you?

7. If there were people following you, where would you be leading them?

When someone mentions Michael Jordan for example, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Exactly. Although he has played many sports well, basketball is what he excelled at and is ultimately what people follow him for.

What about Princess Diana?

Mahatma Ghandi?

Jesus Christ?

Or how about someone you may know on a more intimate level?...

Like, Mike Klingler?  Or Eben Pagan?  Or Louise Hay?

And what about these arguable examples of leaders who excel, but are NOT, or were not in service to others, but rather, in service to themselves?

Hitler?

Kim Kardashian?

Tony Montana (Scarface)? (LOL)

If I say “Barack Obama”, and you think “President” or “Leader” or “Commander & Chief”, there's a major problem.  Because as we have already discussed, leadership has nothing at all to do with title or position.  But everything to do with what you excel at, and whether or not it is in direct beneficial service to those who follow.

If someone's name is mentioned and you think of their title or position, then it isn't clear what that person excels at or the service they provide to those who follow. Hence, it isn't clear if they are a leader.

When I say “Gillette”, you most likely think of shaving products. This is what they excel at and the service they provide to those who follow.

When I say “Apple”, you most likely think of simple & practical design and computing devices. This is what they excel at and the service they provide to those who follow.

If someone claims to be a leader, or there is someone others refer to as a leader, ask yourself, “What does this person excel at? And is what they excel at directly serving the people who are supposedly following them? If so, how?”

Here are some idea-getting EXAMPLES of being identifiably specific in what to excel at in order to serve the ones that follow:

If you are an Entrepreneur...

Excel at developing systems of efficiency that produce predictable results.

If you are a Marketer...

Excel at writing ads that attract interested prospects to take immediate action.

If you are a Chef...

Excel at making desserts that cause people to forget about their troubles and see the beauty and enjoyment in every moment.

If you are in Non-profit or a Philanthropist...

Excel at gathering people together in cooperative effort for the benefit of people who need inspiration and support.

If you are a Parent...

Excel at maintaining an environment of love, expression, and encouragement within your household so those in your family won't go seek it elsewhere.

At the end of the day, the service you provide should undeniably be giving the ones who follow what it is they want.

BRINGING IT HOME...

How many people do you know believe they are getting what they want from those they look to for leadership in the political and corporate world?

I've come to abhor the culture that arrogant governments and heartless corporations have created and continue to promote, where people are at the mercy of them in stead of them being in service to the people.

Do not just be a mindless worker ant in our broken system. Excel and rise as a leader to promote a new one where we can all be in humble service to one another, and effortlessly achieve the things we want - Both as individuals and on the collective level.

Your purpose as well as mine, even though we live in a “me, me, me” world, is to be of specific service to as many people as possible with the intention of getting them what they want.

And guess what? You will automatically get what you want in the process!

If you find yourself stating your title or profession the next time someone asks you “So what do you do?”, then you haven't clearly defined what you excel at, or how you are going to lead and serve others. Your title or profession should be nothing more than a tool to reach people who need what you excel at. It should not define who you are. It definitely does not and will not define you as a leader.

Let me stress it again - YOU DO NOT WANT TO JUST BE A TITLE. That really doesn't show what you excel at.   And if this is something you have never thought about before, it's really something you need to consider now because...

There may not be anything that you excel at!

Actually, there may not be anything that you are choosing to excel at.

Maybe you are trying to do all these different things hoping for a result that you want, rather than purposely excelling at one particular thing that is going to get you what you want THROUGH getting others what it is they want.

Remember that taking initiative in a specific area, over and over, will eventually lead you to excel in that area.

So if YOU wish to become a “magnet that attracts followers”, the bottom line and most important thing I need to ask you is this...

“When your name is mentioned, what do people automatically think of?  Do they think of your title or profession, or do they think of what you excel at and whether or not you are using it to serve others in a great way?”

Charles

P.S. I enjoyed our talk and hope I have been of great service to YOU today. Now take a moment to vote, share, like, or leave a comment.  Then determine how YOU are going to ultimately be of great service to those who are so desperately seeking true leadership.