Colleagues,
 
This week’s messages are short but cerebral. To get the most out of them, please consider pausing for 60 seconds after you finish reading and reflecting. I believe this week will lead you to a deeper understanding of your own leadership.
 
MVP: Leaders influence others, but strategic leaders are also influenced by those they serve.
 
We began the week by quoting John Maxwell, “leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
 
I think Maxwell is both right and wrong.
 
Thinking of leadership as influence is helpful in keeping us focused and for thinking about how we influence others.
 
However, if we put people before purpose, we may need to consider how our followers and colleagues influence us.
 
In other words, strategic leaders should be responsive to the needs of others.
 
Leadership is indeed about influence, about influencing, but also being influenced.
 
Today’s intention: Be aware of the needs of others. How do you learn what people need, and when you do, how do those needs influence your leadership?
 
Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
This week’s messages are short but cerebral. To get the most out of them, please consider pausing for 60 seconds after you finish reading and reflecting. I believe this week will lead you to a deeper understanding of your own leadership.

MVP: If you never turn your leadership off, does that mean you are always trying to influence people around you, including your friends and relatives?
 
Last week for my 60th birthday, my wife Pam arranged for a surprise party at a local brewery. About 20 people turned up and I received well-wishes from many others who couldn’t drive to Cullowhee, NC on a Tuesday evening.
 
All these people are wonderful, amazing, unique, and positive souls.
 
I remember looking at them and thinking, this is what life is: building relationships with good people and trying to be the kind of friend or colleague to them that they are to you.
 
I think most of the people in attendance would say I am a leader.
 
So, with my group of friends and colleagues, do I “do” leadership?
 
Am I trying to influence the people around me?
 
If so, what am I trying to influence them to do?
 
If not, is leadership more than simply exerting influence?
 
Today’s intention: Again, be aware of this idea of leadership as influence, even with people outside of your work life.
 
Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
MVP: Yes, it really is about relationships.

“We’ve got to meet people where they are, emotionally, mentally and psychologically. If we can do that, we will have a lot more success.”
​
That’s a quote from yesterday’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast with Dr. Kevin Mabie.
Kevin and I explore tow forms of relationships that all leaders should be attending to, so I hope you will give the episode a listen here.

Today’s intention: Think about what motivates your people as individuals. Where does each person want to be in five years? If you don’t know, should you?

Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
This week’s messages are short but cerebral. To get the most out of them, please consider pausing for 60 seconds after you finish reading and reflecting. I believe this week will lead you to a deeper understanding of your own leadership.
 
MVP: Think about how much of your time is focused on intentionally influencing others.
 
Yesterday I asked you to sit with the idea that leadership is simply influence. Reflect on all you did yesterday:

• How much time did you invest influencing people?
• What did that look like?
• How much time did you spend doing things that had nothing to do with influencing people?
• During those time, were you still being a leader?

 
Today’s intention: Invest a few minutes in considering the questions above.
 
Cheers!

Frederick

Colleagues,
 
This week’s messages are short but cerebral. To get the most out of them, please consider pausing for 60 seconds after you finish reading and reflecting. I believe this week will lead you to a deeper understanding of your own leadership.
 
MVP: Is leadership simply influence?
 
Famous leadership theorist and author John Maxwell said, “leadership s influence, nothing less, nothing more.”
 
If that is true, then a couple questions arise:

• What or who does a leader influence?
• Why do they influence?
• How do they influence

 
But is this it? Is this all you need to focus on – influencing people?
 
Today’s intention: Sit with this one today and think about it. 

Cheers!

Frederick