by David Gomez

Created on: October 01, 2009   Last Updated: October 05, 2009

John Maxwell once said "Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less." This statement then ties responsibility to leaderships like a well braided rope. As you gain more influence you gain more responsibility to your followers. Some accept this responsibility with good intentions while others use this influence to their advantage. You have a responsibility to those you lead and it should be done in a respectful manner.

As you start looking to take on more responsibility at your workplace, church, or at home you start gaining the respect of others. This transfer of respect will gain you their influence. Having that influence they have allowed you to lead them. This influence is only done by someone giving you that responsibility. One of the myths of society is that if you want to be in a leadership position you need to have a manager title. Remember the movie "Braveheart" where William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) states the very opposite. He said "men don't follow titles." In the movie he takes the responsibility of defending his country against their oppressors. This responsibility ultimately cost him his life but he gained the influence of all his people. He made a difference with his leadership.

As you gain more leadership with those around you your ability to claim your rights decrease. If you are in a leadership position with anyone around you, you have the right to say you have worked hard today, want to take a longer break but being in that position of leadership you now have the responsibility to lead by example. As a leader your followers will do the same. When you claim to your rights you lose your sense of responsibility which in turn loses your influence as a leader. Anytime you give up your responsibility to your right it creates a me first attitude. A leader is there to serve those around them.

Albert Pike said " What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." Leadership is about being a good steward. You are entrusted with someone else's lives. This is not to be taken lightly. The more responsibility we take on the more we should take that seriously because there are others looking to us to lead them. Remember leadership is influence. Nothing more and nothing less. Because it is our responsibility.

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