"Leadership"

Mark Sanborn, author of "The Fred Factor" says in his book with the same title as well, "You don't need a Title to be a Leader" and within this book you find that people with the smallest intentions usually can make the largest impact on many a Leader's life. Doesn't that just show us that every single person on earth is worth much more than we give them credit for?


A few years ago I met up with an old friend who I knew at that time, 20 years ago. Being involved with a networking company with a fantastic leadership program for all that is truly interested I have already become convinced that every single person has some kind of leadership skill within him/herself although they most probably would never even think of admitting to the idea or think much of it.


Well, this friend of mine, let's call her "Jacky" for now, was and still at times are this kind of person, having these wonderful skills, applying them every single day of her life and yet never once truly admit whole-heartedly that she did change someone's life for good. In fact, at that time she actually as much as said that she never possess or ever will such a skill, "leadership" skill.


Jacky have been actively working in the newspaper world for many years. Jacky started as a "librarian" in her town at one of the local newspapers with no previous experience and became the editor's right-hand person for many years. Jacky has many a time almost seen the inside of a jail because of her loyalty towards the world of news and her editor. She did not stop there as Jacky decided to watch closer when her fellow colleagues were working in departments that she knew nothing about and decided that within her own time she would start teaching herself skills, new skills to eventually move into a position being a desktop publisher and as her life took on a new path into this world, she became known to be more than just a loyal servant to the newspaper world.


Now, getting back to when we refreshed our friendship, Jacky was in this position and also became involved after hours in the same networking company I represent. Once the leadership program started Jacky made known that she can't and never will be effective in a leadership roll. This is where the Author, Mark Sanborn is proving everyone having that mindset totally wrong which is by the way one of the reasons I would suggest anybody to read his book, "You don't need a Title to be a Leader".


Jacky took complete control of the responsibility within her department to such an extent that she was even first there and last to leave before her "Manager" on every occasion that I can think about. When any problem occurred during production, Jacky was the one to step to the plate, taking responsibility and teaching all other around her how it should be done. Jacky's Manager did not write reports as she made sure it was done even before anyone requested and made sure all relevant department Managers received the copy.


When Jacky's seniors left early, she attended to the workload until finished, always within the relevant time schedule. Jacky taught all new comers the programs with notes, patience and assisted until they had every detail pinned down correctly. She took the steps to advise everyone concerned about future problems that will arise and what the solutions can be taken at such times and still Jacky is not within the level of Leadership, or so she thinks.


Jacky's latest venture? An offer to become a full-fledged librarian under the watch-full eye of a Graduated librarian with a University degree who has already planned her first course as a librarian and this all within the same company Jacky already represents. With this decision taken by the company and accepted by Jacky the next ball started rolling. Jacky, being in training herself in the new department kept going back training new people in her old department and kept at it until late hours. Problems which occurred was again solved by Jacky while having to split her mind into a new direction already.


Why am I writing all this about Jacky when in fact my heading is "Leadership"? What you do not realize, and Jacky, is that with all her actions without having the title of being a Leader she has proved to be a leader to people being her piers and her followers without having to bear the title which makes Jacky someone most in her present company will look up to and by Jacky leading the way with her actions there will be others following her because they simply would want to be just like her. Don't you agree that through actions Jacky's leadership are far more worth to her company as well as her followers?