What’s Your Super Power?

What’s your super power?  Are you using your powers for good?

My mentor and friend (he said I could call him that) John C Maxwell teaches that everything rises and falls on leadership.  Some of us are given opportunities to take positions of leadership. It’s a scary place to be. Leadership usually comes with a certain level of power. When used correctly, that power can create great opportunities. It can create unity, bring about positive change and it can literally turn the course of history. That’s what I call a super power!

I’m sure we all can think of someone in a leadership position who took their powers and behaved more like a dictator than a leader. For a true leader aims to serve others, not to be served. A true leader has followers because she/he is admired and worthy of following, not simply because of the position held.

Given the timing of this blog, I’m sure many of you think about politics, but I’m thinking more of people like you and me.

Consider the Opportunities You Have Had to Lead

Let’s just start with raising kids. I have 5 children ranging in age from 10 years to 14 months. Perhaps the hardest leadership lessons I have had to learn came from parenting. I sometimes want to be a dictator. Dictators often get what they want, but they don’t have a lot of respect from those who serve them.

As an example: I can force my 3 year old to eat his dinner.  We can drag meal time out for an hour and through tears and screaming maybe he will finally cave and eat his carrots.  To me, that’s not leadership.  Trust me, I have tried it all. I’m not judging you if you make your kids eat all of their dinner. I just think there is a better way. Allowing our kids some freedom to make choices and then experiencing the results of those choices is a beautiful way to lead.

My 3 year old may not eat, but he won’t get ice cream with his siblings either – not a single bite.

As a developing leader, I want my team and my family to follow me because they love and respect me.  I want the coaches on my team to feel loved and valued.

Leadership is never just given. It truly is earned.

So what is your super power? Perhaps you aren’t the President of a nation or a big corporation, but every day you are given opportunities to lead.  When you consider that leadership is all about serving others and adding values, you will find ways to make a dynamic impact on your world.

Use your super powers well this week.

xo, Rebekah