Читать книгу People Follow People - Sam Cawthorn - Страница 26

I identify two major shifts in what people look for in the leaders and influencers they are prepared to follow today and going into the future.

One is that we're now looking to leaders who are part of what I regard as a beautiful push towards authenticity and transparency, even vulnerability. Think of the worldwide movement of ordinary people who are standing up and demanding that governments become more accountable and transparent, and that corporations be more open and trustworthy.

The other is that increasingly we aren't following organisations, governments, logos, products; rather, we are following other people.

Let's look at the three L's of leadership and influence:

 Loyalty. A good leader generates deep and sincere loyalty in his followers. A good leader will earn the loyalty and respect of their followers through what they do as well as what they say. They won't backstab such a leader or jump ship. They have that leader's back.

 Longevity. Leadership isn't just about being a leader or influencer once. Through the toughest times, a strong leader will push on with focus and determination. Their leadership will be characterised by consistency and longevity. It's about being there for the long term.

 Legacy. Great leaders, through that loyalty and longevity, will create a legacy that will last beyond their own career and even their own life. Their actions demonstrate that they place the interests of the people around them above their own. Leadership is not a title; it is something so much bigger.

If you aspire to become an outstanding leader, think about what you can offer others now and about what you would choose to be your legacy. Consider what will make you an influencer worth following, because ultimately people follow people.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to discover how to lead with purpose in the future of influence. Between the chapters that follow, three outstanding individuals who have also been my clients, Pauline Nguyen, Tony Tan and Fadzi Whande, share their stories to inspire and inform us, and I am grateful for their contributions. I hope their example will encourage you to share your own leadership stories with others.