Non-Leaders vs. Leaders: What’s the difference?

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Brian Kight

Anyone can lead. Not everyone can lead equally well, or lead the same types of people, or lead to the same achievements. But anyone can lead.
The problem is few choose to lead.

Leading people requires no title, permission, or authority. All it requires is the responsibility to do what leaders do. Anyone can do it, anywhere, at any time, from any position.

A non-leader takes responsibility only for themselves. There’s everything right with being a great non-leader (performer, producer, contributor, member, etc). We need more people to take responsibility for themselves.

Every team and organization needs non-leader performers who take personal responsibility. As you’ve experienced, this alone is a challenge.
But a leader is different.

A leader takes responsibility for more than themselves. They take responsibility for themselves first, then for things beyond themselves.

Leaders take responsibility for other people. Not only for their direction and instruction but also for their standards and decisions, actions and impact, adjustments, improvements, and failures.

That’s the difference between a leader and a non-leader. Non-leaders limit their responsibility to themselves. Leaders extend their responsibility beyond themselves.

A title might tell you what authority someone has, but it can’t tell you whether they’re a leader or a non-leader. Responsibility defines a leader, not title and authority.

Brick by brick. Do the work.

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