I know I know, the last thing you want to do is read yet another article on Leadership. I hear you. The last thing I thought myself doing was writing one so we are in this together!

What does leadership mean to you?  Does it mean getting others to complete a task? Maybe it means motivating your team to be their best selves? Or the crowd favorite; leadership-= influence. We all have our own ideas about what it means to be a leader and while there are a myriad of definitions, there seems to be a general theme: leaders are people who know how to achieve goals while motivating people along the way.

After countless hours, souring through thousands of articles online, watching numerous TED videos and diving deeply into countless books on the subject of leadership, the best definition I have heard and the one that resonates with me is from Kurt Uhlir, the CEO and co-founder of Sideqik. He stated, “Too many people view management as leadership. It's not. Leadership comes from influence, and influence can come from anyone at any level and in any role. Being open and authentic, helping to lift others up and working toward a common mission build influence. True leadership comes when those around you are influenced by your life in a positive way."

Now read that last sentence again. “True leadership comes when those around you are influenced by your life in a positive way”. Let that sink in for a sec.  Now, take a look at any phenomenal leader.  They live what they preach. They demand excellence from themselves first before they ever demand excellence from anyone else and they lead by example in both their personal and professional lives.

Wait, what? What does my personal life have to do with being a great leader? Well, to be brief-EVERYTHING. True leadership is not a 9 to 5. That’s management. True leadership is a mindset that you must develop personally that will then naturally manifest professionally.  The good news is, there is a secret formula to success. The 80/20 rule. The 80/20 rule is simple, it means every day, 80% of your efforts are directed toward helping others and 20% is focused on your own growth. (Notice I said every day.) Becoming a great leader isn’t something that will happen overnight, but it can be achieved through commitment.

 The six daily practices that make up the 80/20 rule are:

Recognize someone else Compliment someone on a job well done. True leaders see the best in people and will recognize their talents so that others can see them too.

Teach someone something new  Be generous with your knowledge. Great leaders know that true success is only measured by the success of those around them.

What positive thing have I said to someone today?  By radiating positive energy you will encourage others to do the same.

What positive thing have I said about someone today? There are plenty of people who jump at every opportunity to make disparaging comments about people, especially when they are not around. Don’t be that person. Be the person that speaks highly of everyone whether they are in ear shot or not. Not only will that boost your credibility, but again, you are leading by example.

Learn something new. Great leaders are always learning. Read, take classes, take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow.

How have I been good to myself today?  No this is not selfish or narcissistic. Being good to yourself every day is one of the best things you can do as your life will be happier overall and your relationships both personally and professionally will benefit.

One final thought… True and authentic leadership comes from who you are both in and outside of the workplace. By leading positively and authentically both personally and professionally, you have the chance to change lives for the better, including your own.