Demystifying Leadership

What's common sense isn't always common practice.

Demystifying Leadership is one of my most popular learning systems. It's also the one I enjoy speaking and teaching on the most. The principles I share are the foundation upon which leadership is built.

Anyone in a formal leadership position and those aspiring to be in a leadership position need to learn, apply, and internalize these foundational principles if they are truly going to move beyond managing and begin leading. I typically present this program in format ranging from two to eight hours, so I can only share a brief amount of what is actually covered.

I'll share a sneak peek of the outline and a little from each section of the program.

Part I:  The Impact of a Leader

1. Why is leadership important?

Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less. Everything rises and falls on leadership. ~ John C. Maxwell

People buy why we do before they buy what we do. To move beyond managing people that only follow the leader because they "have to," we have to build relationships with those we are leading in an effort to get them to follow because they "want to." Why is this important? It's the key to getting your team to do all of the things they're not doing that you wish they would do. The reason they're not doing them already is because they don't want to, and they don't have to. It's really that simple, and it's a direct result of your ability to lead them effectively.

2. Why should I grow as a leader?

Leadership is the ability to influence others to accomplish the mission. ~ Jim Noreault

A leader is always intentionally growing or accidentally slowing. The leader of the team, department, division, organization, etc. determines the effectiveness of the group. The team can't grow beyond the leader. Those that do, will leave the leader. They will go to another department or worse to another organization. Whether it's good or bad, known or unknown, the leader is either making it happen, allowing it to happen, or preventing it from happen. High impact leaders always accept responsibility.

3. How does influence work?

Responsibility and roles are not something that must be handed down; they are taken as one assumes more and more responsibility in the organization. ~ Jimmy Collins

Our influence begins with character. Generally speaking, our character will determine whether our influence is positive or negative. When I discuss leadership and influence, my focus is always on the positive. When we only manage people and they follow because they have to, we do not have a relationship with them. A leader's character determines if, when, and how they build relationships. A positive relationship results in people following because they want to. Our character will take us most of the way, and our competency will take us the rest of the way.

 Part II: The Development of a Leader

4. How can I grow as a leader?

The foundation of growth is sacrifice. There's a bridge that connects the gap between mediocrity and significance. It's called sacrifice. It has to be crossed daily. ~ Mack Story

If you want to grow as a leader, which means you have a desire to increase your influence in every situation, you must invest in developing yourself and postpone rewarding yourself. This will require a sacrifice of both your time and your money. Growth doesn't just happen. You're not going to become a better leader by accident, by writing a check for some great training, or by attending an awesome seminar. You have to be intentional about changing what you value. Our values determine why, how, where, who, and when we influence.

5. How can I become disciplined?

The greatest gap in life is the one between knowing and doing. ~ Dick Biggs

Discipline is giving ourselves a command and following through with it. The key is to begin with the end in mind. We must choose to do the right thing for the right reason at the right time if we want to get the right results. The more discipline we have the more growth we will achieve. Doing the right things allow us to convert our sacrifices into growth. Growth is about reaching and stretching. Hanging on to something familiar will often keep you from reaching something better. Challenge your excuses and focus on results.

6. How should I prioritize my life?

Leaders understand that activity is not necessarily accomplishment. ~ John C. Maxwell

Leadership is about vision. Vision is about knowing where you're going. If you don't know where you're going, how will you know what's a priority? You won't. When this happens, other people's priorities will become your priorities. High impact leaders focus on the important things allowing them to accomplish the mission. Lower level leaders focus on urgent things that may or may not be related to the mission. Once you know where you're going, there's one key question you need to always be asking yourself: Will what I'm about to do move me, or the team, in the right direction? If so, do it. If not, forget it.

Part III: The Traits of a Leader

7. How can I effectively cast vision?

We work to advance the vision of a leader who inspires us, and we work to undermine a dictator who means to control us. ~ Simon Sinek

Vision is the foundation of hope. A clearly defined and refined vision stirs people with similar aspirations to action. Vision begins with passion and ends with purpose. When it comes to vision, our passion provides the motivation that allows us to see more clearly short term. However, our purpose provides us with inspiration that allows us to see more clearly long term. How soon a leader sees, how much a leader sees, and how far a leader sees will significantly impact their ability to cast the vision.

 8. How do I develop trust?

Trust is like lubrication. It reduces friction and creates conditions much more conducive to performance. ~ Simon Sinek

With trust, everything is possible. Without trust, everything is questioned. Trust is the foundation of leadership. Intention is the foundation of trust. When our intent is to motivate others, we seek mutual benefit. When our intent is to manipulate others, we only seek personal benefit. Without trust, there is no relationship. Without a relationship there is no influence. Without influence, there is no leadership. To develop trust, we must continuously develop our character.

9. How can I extend my influence?

Moral leaders exercise power for good purposes. Essential to this is that they do not hoard power; they give it away. There is no leadership without power. However, a leader  will frequently want to distribute rather than to maintain power.  Leaders empower their followers." ~ Terry Smith

To truly empower, we must learn to facilitate decision-making instead of making the decisions. High impact leaders know that one of the simplest ways to extend their influence is to ask questions. When a leader asks a question, not only are they extending influence, but they are also transferring responsibility by empowering others to find the solution. Leaders realize they gain influence when they give it away. High impact leaders extend their reach by leveraging empowerment to unleash their team's potential.

10. How can I make my leadership last?

Greatness is achieved by using resources to help people; not using people as a resource. ~Captain L. David Marquet

Leaders make their leadership last by identifying and developing other leaders. They invest resources in the growth and development of the people that have helped make the financial resources available in the first place. High impact leaders move beyond their own success by helping others become successful. High impact leaders are always doing two things: 1) continuously developing themselves 2) continuously developing others. They know the only meaningful legacy they leave will not be left for others. It will be left in others.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek inside the Demystifying Leadership program.

Click here for a short 3 minute video from one of my Demystifying Leadership seminars.

Contact me for a free consultation to discuss onsite training at 334-728-4143 or [email protected]. My passion is growing and developing leaders at all levels, leaders that take more responsibility and lead with speed.

FREE downloads available:

Click here now for a FREE download of the entire leadership principle-packed Chapter 11, "Get Out of the Way and Lead" from the first book in my Demystifying Leadership Series: Defining Influence. In this nearly 20 page chapter, I share about:

• Managing vs Leading
• Scarcity vs Abundance
• Formal Authority vs Moral Authority
• The 5 Types of Leaders
• Compare/Contrast 17 Manager vs Leader Perspectives

Click here to access the first 5 chapters of “Blue-Collar Leadership: Leading from the Front Lines.”

• 1: I’m one of you.
• 2: I believe in you.
• 3: You’re in the perfect place.
• 4: Common sense is never enough.
• 5: There is an “I” in Team.

Note: I encourage you to be a river, not a reservoir. Please share my blogs with others if you find value in them. I believe in abundance and write them to help others become more effective, successful, and significant.

Make an impact!

Mack Story

My passion is to help you live with abundance, achieve success, choose significance, and leave a legacy. In other words, I want to help you make a High Impact !

Popular posts by Mack:

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Mack’s story is an amazing journey of personal and professional growth. He began his career in manufacturing on the front lines of a machine shop. He grew himself into upper management and found his niche in lean manufacturing and along with it, developed his passion for leadership. He understands that everything rises and falls on leadership.

Mack is the author of Blue-Collar Leadership Series, Defining Influence, & 10 Values of High Impact Leaders. He's an inspiration for people everywhere as an example of achievement, growth, and personal development. His passion inspires people all over the world! Order signed copies here.

Mack’s experience as a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Coach, Trainer, and Speaker includes an international training event in Guatemala with John as part of the Cultural Transformation in Guatemala where more than 20,000 Guatemalan leaders were trained.

Contact Mack at 334-728-4143 or [email protected] for Keynote Speaking, Corporate Training, Professional Leadership Development, Cultural Enhancement/Transformation, and Process Improvement.