Leadership Matters

John C. Maxwell says leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. Judith Germain believes that leadership is trusted influence. Simply put, leadership is influencing others to aspire to achieve a shared goal. In this regard, leadership, influence, and power are inextricably linked. As leaders, understanding how to use influence and power to effectively impact organizational dynamics is critical to one’s success. Influence is an amazing resource for leaders and how a leader uses influence is vital to the success of a team and organization. There are effective and ineffective models for how to influence people to make change and achieve desired results. Today’s show addresses the role of influence and the notion of “exchange” in leadership; its impact on organizational dynamics; and how people can improve their effectiveness by enhancing their ability to influence and understanding their own power base.