Anything is possible if you just believe in the power of Being.   

That is a very strong statement.  If you are a leader, Being is very important.  If you do not believe that you can Be, it will be very difficult to lead effectively.

What is the Power of Being a Leader?  It is not being the boss, being overbearing, being critical or being disrespectful.    The Power of Being a Leader lies in the ability the Leader has to create a vision, communicate it to the team and bring them, with support and love and resources, to see and live the vision the leader has for the company.

Many facets of leadership make up the power of Being a Leader.  Just like a building, block by block, row by row, a foundation is formed.  From the foundation springs the building’s core and then the pinnacle at the top.  Imagine leadership looks like that building.  Each block in the foundation is an experience that made the leader who they are today.  That each row strengthens the actual core of the leader and at the pinnacle is the success the leader has had bringing the team to see the vision and within that vision develop other leaders.  That is the Power of Being a Leader.

What makes up the blocks and then each row is essentially drawn from the experiences the leader has had, a mentor along the way and the direct interaction with the business.  Look at what it takes to have the power of leadership:

• Take Risks:  Leaders do this all the time – whether it’s chasing a new demographic, launching a new product, hiring a coach, putting someone in charge of a project.  Leaders understand that risks need to be taken and not every risk will turn into success.  Failure is simply a step on the way to success. 
• Learn and Support Learning:  similar to taking risks, failure is a learning opportunity.  Good Leaders support learning – for themselves and for their team.  Taking what was learned and applying it in new ways to new projects teaches the team that their time and energy is valuable.  They are a necessary part of the team and this learning is for everyone and the benefit of the business.
• Listen and Act:  Leaders listen with both their eyes and ears.  They hear the words and see the body language.  Leaders also take what they have heard and act on opportunities – whether to ask more questions, create physical change or implement new objectives; Leaders take control at the listening stage of a conversation by using their ears more than their mouth, by asking questions as opposed to offering all the answers.
• Participate and Be Accountable:  Being is participating, vested in the actions to execute the vision.  Perhaps not by physical activity on a project team but certainly by being accountable for feedback, tracking and measuring results and encouraging the team to continue to move forward.  At times, the Leader may need to do the un-thinkable and stop the activity so that there can be a regroup if the team is off track or heading in a less than desirable direction.
• Share: Leaders have experiences that could benefit the team and the project at hand. Sharing this information helps to move the project forward.  Leaders are human and by allowing the team to get to know the Leader as an individual is courageous, fostering trust in the organization.
• Laugh:  Work is hard, and we spend a lot of time doing it, leading is not easy, so take a minute each day and enjoy what you are doing – laugh through a difficult issue by seeing it for what it is – not literally laughing in someone’s face, but asking the question:  what could be the worst thing that could happen, what would it take to make this better – then go at it, without procrastination.

Look at what it means to have the Power of Being a Leader.  Now sit back and observe how your team operates.  What do they say?  How do they interact?  Do you see your own mannerisms or hear your own words?  Do you see your approach reflected in their behavior towards each other or their work? This is you Being the leader

The team will reflect the leader in everything. Be ready to handle that Power of Being a Leader and review those observations frequently so that if required you can make measured changes in your behavior.

Being is it. Be present. Be a risk-taker. Be a leader. Be yourself!