"Leadership is more a journey where in the best case one is always trying to improve." John R O'Neil

Words to live by or just trying to cope?

In volunteer organizations, one of the greatest challenges is finding new leaders. Each one of us tends to diminish our abilities to become leaders. (I'll help, but don't ask me to lead).

In this monthly column, we will define leadership not only as it pertains to volunteer organizations but in ourselves. We will explore the everyday experiences that continue to validate our personal leadership. F or example, how many times have you had to make a decision in your life which resulted in a good or bad outcome? In each instance, you have grown from the experience. This experience lays the foundation of future decisions that will benefit not only yourselves, but the people around you. In most cases, these decision are not solitary, but often include the people connected to you in some way of another. These may not be an "I want" or "I need to " situations, but "WE want to" or "WE need to" choices.

By including as many people as necessary in the decision making, leaders then become the followers and by taking that one step back, encourage others to take the lead as well. The outcome is mutual consensus wherein everyone feels part of the decision making process and the leader (you) have encouraged participation of nearly everyone involved.

Next month, how to "make" people do things they don't want to do.