Money Secrets

One of the questions being debated in my Masters course currently is the subject of leadership. What is it? Can it be learned? Is it a trait we are born with? Are ‘leaders’ different to ‘managers’?

Looking through some of the prescribed reading texts, (very boring, ) got me to thinking about the people who choose to go into business for themselves, either on or offline.

Do you manage your business - making sure all the processes run smoothly, checking the quality of your products, invest in the best resources, including the people you employ?

Or are you a leader - driving your business forward, creating the vision that enables your employees to see what you see, and motivates them to act with the same degree of committment as yourself?

And if your business is an online business model, is it any different? Can you be a ‘leader‘ if you don’t have staff that you pay wages to? If you’re in network marketing, does a prospect or downline member count as someone you can ‘lead’? Is leadership a skill or a trait that the ‘gurus’ have acquired and so are able to convince others more easily because of it?

According to D. Quinn Mills (Harvard Business School professor)

Leadership is the process by which one person influences the thoughts, attitudes and behaviors of others.

So on that basis, you don’t need to even have a business in order to be a leader. All you have to do is be able to influence people!

Which of course, is what all the great copywriters and marketers are able to do at the drop of a new sales page! Does that make them leaders?

Hmm! Answers on a postcard please (or in the comment box, if you prefer) - all in the interests of me achieving a better grade of course.

To Your Leadership
Susan Coils