Everyone Can Be A Leader

By: LISA RADIST, theAudience

The best leaders inspire others. I learned that the hard way. Early on in my career, I was moved into a management role. Previous managers I had had micro managed me, so I assumed that was what I was supposed to do. It was a disaster. You manage things, not people. I soon realized that you are only as good as the people who are on your team. If they don’t respect you, you won’t succeed. It’s your job to motivate them, teach them everything you know and elevate them to “greater heights.”

This quote says it all: "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." --Jack Welch

That experience stayed with me. Now when I hire or work with an individual, I always ask him or her about their goals. I am eager to share my skills and learn from them in return. Whether you are in a management role or not, you can still be a leader. It’s all about the role you play with others. Your influence can make all the difference in their lives and yours.