Leadership & the Law of Respect

John Maxwell is known for saying "everything raises and falls on leadership." I similarly say everything revolves around leadership. I think I love the topic of leadership so much because it really does control all aspects of our lives.

Now when I talk about leadership, you may be thinking I am talking about a person with a glorified position, someone like the President, a CEO of a company or maybe a ruler of a nation. But I need you to broaden your perspective on who is a leader. In its simplest definition, a leader is anyone with influence. With this definition in mind, the playing field just got a little wider. I say everyone is a leader.

So if a leader is anyone with influence, that means mothers and fathers, big brothers and sisters, teachers, lawyers, doctors and so on are leaders. Many people don’t think of themselves as leaders, because they don’t think they have influence. But as a parent, how many times have you told an older sibling not to do something because their younger sibling was watching them. You were really saying, you are a leader and I need you to set a good example.

When we understand that we are all leaders, it is then imperative that we realize that no matter the size of influence we have, we have influence. We must guard that influence and use it wisely.

I understand that for my nine year old daughter I have a great degree of influence, and that influence is multiplied beyond just her. Let me give you an example. If I tell my daughter something, or speak about someone to my daughter, she will repeat it to others, and who every she has influence over will repeat what was said and so on.

Since moving back to the United States, I have noticed that there is a great deal of disrespect for leadership in America. Whether it is disrespect for parents, police, or just those in positions of authority. From how elected officials talk about each other, to how the media speaks against the President.

There is always a penalty when leadership at any level is disrespected; the solution I believe is to return to a healthy respect for leadership. To do this, it takes everyone realizing they are leaders and they have influence.

No family, organization, community or nation will survive without a healthy respect for leadership…………………LEADERSHIP IS A NECESSITY, NOT AN OPTION !!!


Think Better, Live Better

Dr. Will
Author, Genius Potential
America's #1 Leadership Life Trainer