A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. —Rosalynn Carter
In my years both inside and outside organizations, both as a leader and now as someone who coaches leaders and teams, there are a few key things I’ve seen and experienced about becoming and being a leader:
1) Leadership is a journey, not a destination. Leaders take a variety of paths to leadership, and there is no one way to becoming (or being) a leader. Most of us find our gift of leadership through risk, experimentation, mistakes, and resiliency.
2) Leaders didn’t become leaders all by themselves. No one in leadership roles does it alone. Most leaders know that the world runs on relationships, and have had critical role models, advisors, mentors and supporters along the way.
3) Hearing about the leadership journeys of others can help us understand more about our own. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel as leaders (unless we do); the experiences of others can help illuminate and clarify our own next steps as leaders.
Based on these concepts, I’m thrilled to be introducing a new monthly feature starting today – interviews with do-gooder leaders.
In these interviews, you’ll hear about the experiences of real world leaders who make a difference: what their path has been to leadership, what they’ve learned, what’s helped them succeed, what they’d do differently if they were starting out.
This month’s interview is with Leah Goldstein Moses, President and CEO of The Improve Group.
Click on the link below to hear (or right click/control-click to download the MP3) our 35-minute conversation, including Leah’s thoughts on who and what inspired her to do the work she does, the importance of celebration (and the role a gong plays!), and finding the ever elusive work/life balance!
Your story is important too. In the Comments below, it’s your turn!
What parts of Leah’s story most to connect to your own? Both Leah and I will respond to your questions and comments – we’d love to hear from you!
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Before specializing as a professional coach in 2004, I spent more than a decade in leadership, management and program development for state and local government and non-profit organizations. Now I get to help leaders and teams have more clarity and ability to stand up for what's important in their work and in their organizations. Working with me, leaders and teams find more meaning and purpose, feel happier and more confident, navigate change and conflict, and work together better.