Everyday Leadership- Creating Lollipop Moments

Are you a leader? Perhaps in order to answer that question you first need to reflect on what the word "leader" means to you. So what DOES it mean to be a leader?

That is something that I have been spending a lot of time considering since I started in this program. I have recently come to realize that what this term means to people may have a lot to do with where they are on the leadership continuum.

As you read the following quotes, consider what the word leader or leadership means within the context of the quote, or perhaps what the quote may of meant to the person that said it. For example the the first quote is by Steve Jobs, in his business true leaders needed to be those that could think outside of the box:

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." Steve Jobs
 
"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." John F. Kennedy

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." John Quincy Adams

"As we look into the next century, leaders will be those that empower others." Bill Gates

"Leaders need to be close enough to relate to others,but far enough ahead to motivate them." John Maxwell

Does any one of these quotes resonate with you? Do leaders have to have a title or be in a position of power? If I have learned anything about leadership, it's this... the best leaders are those that reflect on their actions and then adjust their behaviors based on what they learn about themselves and about the situation.

So what does it mean to be a leader? In class a few weeks ago we watched a video on TED- if you haven't explored the TED site, you really should there are some great things there. Anyway, this video talked about the idea of "Everyday Leadership." Drew Dudley, the speaker in the video challenges us to think about leadership differently, the see the potential if we all act as leaders, and try to change others' perceptions of the world. He also shared a story in which he introduces the notion of the "Lollipop Moment." I actually loved the idea of being able to create Lollipop Moments for others- how empowering it would be to know that you can have such a huge impact on others.

Please take a few minutes to watch:

 

I hoped you enjoyed that video as much as I did. So my question to you again, are you a leader? You see what I have learned, like the sentiment that Drew Dudley shared in his video, is we ALL have the potential to be leaders. Sometimes we become leaders because of a title, sometimes we take on that role willingly, and sometimes someone else encourages us by believing in us more than we may believe in ourselves. Leadership doesn't have to be a grand act, leaders do not need to lead countries or businesses, leaders just need to inspire others to be more than they thought they could be. I am not sure where I fall on the leadership continuum but the quote that speaks to me the most is the one by John Quincy Adams: "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." It is my hope that my blog may inspire some of you to dream, to try something you didn't think was possible, to believe in yourself, and to live you life with passion and purpose... and to always strive to create "Lollipop Moments."