#285: How Did You Become a Leader and What Is Your Story?

Introduction

Some time ago, I was invited by Jonno White of Clarity Group Global to join a feature on his site called "7 Questions on Leadership" in which selected people, - mainly senior executives of large companies, - were invited to answer 7 questions about themselves and their leadership journeys.

For one reason or another, my submitted answers didn't make the final cut, but I have shared them on a number of social media sites with people who found them also worth sharing.

So, at last, and in a spirit of humility, I am reproducing each question-and-answer on "The People Skills" newsletter with the genuine wish that they will now inspire you on your own leadership journey.

So, here is the second question along with my answer...

02. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I don't believe that anyone ever "becomes" a leader in the sense that you change from someone who isn't a leader into a leader overnight because of some insight on your part or the act of someone giving you the status of leader.

The truth of the matter is that we are all able to be leaders because we all have the potential to influence others into sharing the values, ambitions, hopes, and dreams that we have.

How this happens is truly mysterious and the subject of countless studies, books, and debates.

In my case, I "became" a leader because, for the first 10 years of my working life, I saw at first hand some atrocious behaviour by people in the role of "leader".

Some of them were immediate supervisors who, without proper leadership from their superiors, saw the role of leader as a license to bully, cheat, and destroy the spirit of those below them.

Others, sad to say, were senior figures in the same organisations who did the same to those below them.

At the age of 30, I'd had enough and simply walked out of my job. I then spent around 3 years reading, thinking, writing, and learning about what leadership really was.

Those 3 years produced first my consulting company, KSA Training Ltd, then my online company, Manage Train Learn and, most recently, my 6 e-learning websites...

...where I still practice being as good a leader as I can be.

What Next?

If you regard yourself as a leader, (and, remember, you don't need to be in a leadership role or wear the stripes to be a leader), why don't you now pause your day, and think about how you would answer the above question.

If you're like me, this exercise alone will shed light on who you are, what is important to you, and where you see yourself going.

I'll be adding all the other questions-and-answers in the next few newsletters, so look out for them - they're just as interesting.

Meanwhile, I wish you well on your journey.

Thanks for reading this edition of the "People Skills" newsletter and good luck with your ongoing learning.

Oh, and one last thing.

In the spirit of making the world a freer, happier and more enlightened place...

...please pass this newsletter on.

Thankyou!

Manage Train Learn Is Now Selling it's Business - Find Out More Below

Are You Interested in Acquiring a Highly Profitable and Successful E-Learning Business As a Going Concern?

Due to Eric's forthcoming retirement, we have now decided to put KSA Training Ltd, (parent company of Manage Train Learn), up for sale.

This sale comprises all 6 websites, over 22,000 soft skills learning items, and sale of all 37 e-books which have earned over ￡1 million in global sales through our publishing partners.

We have been leaders in Soft Skills e-learning since the late 1990's and, today, there is unprecedented demand globally for "People Skills" learning and training.

Uniquely, we currently offer our materials for free use and download but a new owner can easily commercialise our offering through a wide range of options.

There is a time limit on this offer when we will sell to the highest bidder.

So, if you're interested in owning a successful e-learning business with huge potential in a huge market, email us in the first instance at [email protected] for further information.

You can also view us on LinkedIn where we have over 1500 followers and over 200 editions of the "People Skills" newsletter. Click here for our channel: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/eric-garner-100a1b128/

For more about Manage Train Learn, view "About MTL" here: https://www.managetrainlearn.com/#/category-listing/147.

Eric Garner

Managing Director

KSA Training Ltd