There’s always a common myth that leadership is a talent—something bestowed at birth, something that only the talented with charisma, confidence, or aura of command possess. But authentic leadership isn’t happenstance or personality-based offer. It’s something that’s cultivated through intention, experience, and growth. It is not a formulaic, linear process for becoming powerful—it is a change process that entails self-awareness, service, and the ability to build influence around you.
Leadership is no longer about title, but about trust; not about rank, but about authenticity. The world doesn’t need more figureheads, but more leaders that inspire through values, purpose, and a passion to make others better. And the best news is that that can be anyone, anywhere.
Self-Awareness: The First Step Toward Influence
All great leaders begin with an understanding of themselves. Self-awareness is where it begins—it reveals strengths to capitalize on and blind spots to improve on. Tuned-in leaders with an understanding of their drivers, emotions, and behavior patterns can lead with intention rather than in response.
The transition from good to great starts with self-knowledge. It is the product of asking tough questions: What drives me? How do I respond to challenge? What impact do I have on others? These require honesty and growth, setting the stage for a humble, aware, and human approach to leadership.
Above all, self-aware leaders hear more than they speak. They are humble, open to criticism, and think that they are learning for the balance of their lives—rather than something that has them in the rearview mirror. It’s power derived from being open to ask better questions—rather than knowing everything perfectly.
Purpose and Values: Fueling Leadership from Within
Power multiplies where purpose is aligned with leadership. Leaders who are motivated by something bigger than their own success build movements, not moments. They enlist action, loyalty, and trust because they are attracted to the clean lines of intention and values alignment.
It is this sense of purpose that is the guiding light—it shapes decision-making, it propels motivation, and it inspires resolve in the face of adversity. It is what defines a leader from a manager. While management keeps systems running, leadership overhauls them. Purpose is what takes the mundane, to the magnificent.
No matter if they are leading innovation, equity, sustainability, or transformation, great leaders speak to values greater than short-term objectives. They become symbols of what is important, and in doing so, they make the people they serve’ voices ring out clearly.
Influence Through Empathy and Connection
Leadership is not something that happens by oneself—it is built in community with others. Good leaders understand that relationship precedes direction. They put investment in people, hear their voice, and speak with compassion.
Empathy is not weakness—it’s genius. It allows leaders to build inclusive spaces, resolve conflict, and ignite discretionary effort. When people feel heard and understood, they become more fully engaged and give more fully.
This power to relate authentically—to relate to peers, to teams, or to communities—is the key to enduring impact. It’s not overpowering individuals but mobilizing them to a cause. Amazing leaders don’t thrust people to a destination; they journey with them, and with every step they take, they gain people’s trust.
The Legacy of Influence
Leadership in its finest sense is legacy—it lasts longer than the individual. Great leaders don’t leave behind only results. They leave behind better people, buildings better, and a restored belief in what’s possible. Their success criteria are not measured by how much they have control over, but by how much they empower.
This path—of averageness to effectiveness—is not a path of becoming perfect. It’s an action, intention, and growth path. It is time and time again being present with the want to lead, the heart to serve, and the courage to grow.
Conclusion: Leadership is a Choice
Leadership is not reserved for the elite. Leadership is for the masses of people who will dedicate themselves to developing themselves so that they can develop others. It starts with small choices and daily habits, not grand declarations. Those choices build up over time, and they build not only the individual, but the communities and systems they touch.
In the end, power is not a question of charisma or happenstance. It is a question of character, clarity, and consistent contribution. Great leaders—men and women who lead not for themselves to be followed, but to lift others up—are born of the humblest of starts.
