Leaders of Leaders

Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations. — Peter Drucker

Ponder the time-honored storytelling of great tales such as Beowulf and Homer’s Iliad. Why do so many people study of religious texts. Why do we still connect to and the philosophical leadership of Epictetus, Plato and Aristotle? Simply put, the motivation of society for leadership is abundantly clear.

I’ve been taught by, partnered with and benefitted from hundreds of leaders. The great ones possess common characteristic. Great leaders are endowed with a driving passion for a different future for themselves and others. He or she is always ‘up to something’ that mattered. Such leadership is crucial to the success of any organization. But how can one seek to most effectively develop the leadership ability of both themselves, and others?

The world has always needed great leaders. From the heroes and legends of Ancient Rome and Greece, through to the study of leadership in modern politics, economics and warfare, one is able to traverse the landscape of heroes, myths, legends. Great leaders have ruled earth, sea and the human spirit in a a myriad of different ways.

How should one define leadership? Are great leaders born or made? One way to address these questions is to look at contemporary examples. A new crop of great leaders is arising. They instill a passion for leadership by combining theory and practice with real-world, personal experiences.

One of my favorites is Derrick Boles. Boles is recognized as a thought leader in human development and organizational behavior. He is known for his expertise in leadership and his authentic learning training models.

Derrick has been recognized as one of the most dynamic speakers in the country. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support the “Ethos” of any group. Ethos is the fundamental character or spirit of a culture; the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs or practices of a group or society, any community , business or organization. His innovative approach to developing the individual has earned him National and International recognition.

He has been able to build meaningful and lasting relationships with corporations, educational institutions, civil authority agencies and national youth groups which has earned him the none formal title and respect as a “Leader of Leaders.”

Boles recently put theory to practice by completing a cross country trek on a stand up bike …..launching “ Stand Up America“.

Another one of my favorites is Sheli Yerkes Gartman. Sheli G is an international speaker and Master Certified Business and Life Success Coach.

Sheli travels the globe specializing in Experiential Transformational Education, a hands on teaching method that produces profound discovery and dynamic human development, igniting individuals and companies to manifest their highest potentiality and calling.

On goal setting, Sheli said:

We can all sit down and make lists if we need to. You can make them all day long.

But what is driving us? What is fueling us? What is in the way? These are good foundational questions, to make sure our goals are really where we want and NEED to go, and not where others think we should go (co-dependents, people pleasers??) or where we have assumed we should go…for some reason.

Since persuasion is integral to leadership, it pays to look at those who are exceptionally skilled in this area.

"I was born to sell. Most people cringe at that word, but I believe that sales, done correctly, is the most honorable profession there is, writes Aspen Morrow, CEO and Founder of Pottenger Press and Publicity. "Sales make everything else happen, but nothing sells itself!"

Aspen has been selling since she was eight years old, and professionally for twenty years. Her accomplishments include acquiring 3,300 clients for one corporation and being among the top one percent of 100,000 reps.

Author of Med Free BiPolar -- Aspen's experience as a business owner, free-lance writer, newspaper and book editor, media consultant, columnist and author/speaker -- informs her leadership. She is always excited to put these skills to work for others.

These internationally acclaimed speakers and professionals are among the next generation of world changers in the business and personal growth arena. My mother taught me to look at great leaders you know. This will help construct a framework to life so you can make it real for you and rapidly accelerate your development as a leader who makes a difference.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch