Everybody Can Be Great

When you think of the word, "Leader", what comes to mind? Maybe your list looks something like this:

Person of Authority
Person of Position
Well-Educated
Appointed
Gives Direction
Boss
Higher in the Organizational Hierarchy
Higher in the payscale

Too often, we think of "Leaders" or "Leadership" within this context and frame. We assume that all leaders are given their authority and we must have a "position of leadership" in order to lead.

I'd like to challenge you to re-frame this in your own mind. Consider this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and in our Country in the 1960's)

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s “Theory of Relativity” to serve. You don’t have to know the Second Theory of Thermal Dynamics in Physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How does this challenge your idea of leadership? In what ways do you think you can lead? Can you think of people who might currently be following you? How can you serve them?

If you've been chosen for a leadership program, but you're not wearing the title of "leader", I challenge you to take advantage of the opportunity. We all lead in some way, whether we are aware of it or not. If you're part of a family, a church, or a community group, someone is watching and following you. Wouldn't you love to elevate your leadership game?

"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve." I challenge you to consider the ways you can serve the people within your sphere of influence this week. Pay attention to how people respond when you serve them. It should be a fun experiment!

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