How to be a high performance leader

The subject of leadership is the quintessential conversation of our generation, particularly at this time of great social change, commercial and political unrest.

I believe leadership, [being a leader] is a character trait, not simply a title you bestow upon a person or entity, without significant reason or evidence over an extended period of time. True 'leadership' is the ability to inspire action through ones own actions. This feat is not as easy to achieve as the definition suggests. Easy in theory - but ever challenging in practice.

Leaders grace all walks of life, from sport to music and entertainment to politics and commerce. A person's capacity to lead in their chosen field of endeavor is not the only measure of their leadership. Many so called leaders have fallen from grace erroneously outside their chosen field, such as family, sanity, health and wealth, and subsequently removed their capacity to lead their field in the process. The leader as a title can be fickle, if not transitory in nature, unless an individual can lead in all areas of life and sustain it over the long term. Corrupt politicians, alcohol and drug addicted entertainers, ego and greed fueled CEO's are a great case in point.

Like burning meteors, some leaders shine bright and then disintegrate as they clash with the earth's atmosphere. Existing momentarily, but fading into the blackened night sky. Conversely, true leaders and their ideologies and philosophies, the likes of; Mandela, Einstein, Martin Luther King etc, and so forth, stand the tests of time, even long after they've left this earth. Bold, courageous and determined in their endeavours, not succumbing to forces that contradict who they are and what they stand for. Leaders who stand up and shout until they're heard and indeed listened to! To me that defines someone as a true leader at the highest level. This seems to be the road less traveled, yet a road that leads to immortality and without question undeniable and delicious change.

I was given some great advice recently, I will share with you:

Master your subject so well that there is not one question that you cannot answer, and that your answer will cause others to gain a radical insight into their own and other people's lives, and give them the opportunity to transform their lives. They must become stunned and amazed at what you have to offer. You can only do this if you make the subject your main interest, your hobby and your work. And, of course, you live it yourself. Every day, without fail, I study and/or practice some techniques, and have been doing so since I was fifteen. It is also possible to make everything you are involved in an opportunity to practice - your marriage, children, career, fitness and health, consciousness expansion and so on.... Apart from that there is no other secret.

Genuine leadership is not only about performance, it's about stepping up when others fail and taking on responsibility even when you're not responsible. Leadership is a verb not a noun.

Leaders lead and followers follow. I will leave that thought with you.

Inspire,

Trent