Scott Couey

Last Thursday, I completed a four week workshop on leadership called “Leadership Elements.” (Thank you Mark Shull for recommending it!) Each of the four weeks focused on a different topic regarding being a leader. What is so great about this information is it can be used in various different environments – in the work place, at church, or even within your group of friends. Here are just a few of the “take-aways” that I learned.

• Influence, not position is what allows us to lead people.
• Influence is always in motion.
• Fair or unfair, we are often judged on the perception of our leadership, not the reality of our leadership.
• Influence comes from who you are, not just what you do.
• Leadership begins with character and ends with influence.
• Competence might make you a leader, but character gives you influence.
• People might not always listen, but they never fail to imitate.
• If you don’t know where you are, you can’t get from there to where you need to be.
• Self-awareness helps prevent hypocrisy.
• You can’t lead others past where you are.
• Self-awareness leads to compassion for others.
• A person who doesn’t have an awareness of their shortcomings comes across as pity.