“Leadership is Influence”

This weekend I attended a banquet that honored & celebrated my son’s lacrosse team (Lehigh University) winning the Patriot League Championship last spring. It was so much fun to watch the highlight tapes and to see the boys’ smiling faces.

Near the end of the wonderful event, the coach, Kevin Cassese, talked about preparing for the 2013 season. He encouraged the members of the team to take on leadership roles and said something that resonated with me.

”Leadership is influence, and you can either positively influence or negatively influence through your leadership.”

I know that the same holds true at work. We all lead from various roles in our organizations. And you are leading others whether you do it on purpose or not. Whether you are a senior leader with a formal leadership role or a front-line team member delivering service to clients, you influence others.

Today you have the opportunity to positively influence others.

 Will you make that choice or will you join the folks in the “Chain Gang” (those who have sentenced themselves to Professional Prison) and negatively lead? Sure, it’s easy to gossip, complain, and dig your heels in to prove you’re “right”. But will that make you happy? Will that make you proud? Will it help you create the world you want to live in?

I don’t think so. So either step up and make things better at work or get out of there. I realize I’m being tough, but complaining doesn’t serve anyone – especially not you.

Imagine a world with positively influencing leaders. Too big to picture? Then just imagine yourself being a positive influence and do it. That’s a great start for today.