The time has arrived for the Leadership Opportunity Blog Fest!
Leadership is one of life’s most overanalyzed, thoroughly dissected, and utterly confused topics. But it doesn’t have to be. Instead of reading smarty-pants leadership books, or attending esoteric leadership retreats, you can learn much more by studying the leaders who have actually led you.
I decided to host the Leadership Opportunity Blog Fest because the greatest leadership lessons come from everyday leaders who have inspired everyday people like you and I. As you read these stories, I’m sure you’ll be struck by how similar they are to your own experiences working with leaders.
While each story is unique to the contributing blogger, each story is also universal in its appeal. These aren’t just leadership stories from notable bloggers, they are your stories, my stories, and our stories. Collectively, they suggest that leadership isn’t some complex and confusing topic that requires endless explanation by brainiac theorists. Rather, leadership is a simple tradition. It is a set of practices and ideals that are passed along from one person to another, across organizations and generations.
The stories contained in these blog posts remind us that we uphold the tradition of leadership when all of our efforts are directed on opening doors of opportunities for others.
Chip Bell, author of Managers as Mentors, shares on his blog about how the rules of combat can instruct us on great leadership through the legacy of Hugh L. McColl, Jr., a retired chairman and CEO of Bank of America, and ex-marine officer.
Steven Snyder, author of Leadership and the Art of Struggle, shows his appreciation for one of his mentors, Bill Gates, in his blog post.
“If there is a standout quality to Bill Gates, it’s that he is a visionary. When I first began working with him at Microsoft, he was continually looking towards the future, spotting opportunities and avoiding the problems before they occurred.”
Tony Adams, a popular Australian blogger, engages us with wit and humor as he walks down memory lane, flashing back 30 years to share on his blog about Mark Petch and the impact he left on Tony.
Julie Winkle Giulioni, co-author of Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, raises an interesting question in her post highlighting Beverly Marsh, and shares her letter to her open-door leader from a few years ago.
“In your quest for career success, suppose you had to choose just one of the following: perfectly-honed skills, ideal opportunities, or someone who really believes in you. Which would you pick?”
Linda Pulley Freeman, author of THRIVE!, recognizes her parents on The THRIVE! Journal. Freeman credits her parents for influencing her to become the person she is today.
Karin Hurt the founder of Let’s Grow Leaders shares in her post of Dr. Henry Sims, author, mentor, university professor, and the best door opener of her career.
“He stopped what he was doing and we talked for several hours, he practiced everything he had written about. He led me to lead myself. “
Becky Robinson of Weaving Influence inspires us with her post, sharing how her husband has been the most important door-opener for her.
David Carr of Carrpe Diem shares about his father, a regional sales representative who was a cornerstone of his significance, introducing him to people who mentored him.
“Every morning as I would be taking a shower, I’d throw-up! I’d begin thinking about the day, the people I’d be calling on, the sales process…presenting features, advantages and benefits…overcoming objections…asking for the order…my stomach would speak for the rest of my body. Yet, my father believed in me.”
Sharon Reed reflects in her Heart Path post on the characteristics and power of personal mentors and role models and their impact on getting through struggles along life’s journey and highlights her friend S. Chris Edmonds.
Chery Gegelman of Giana Consulting shares through her personal experience and that of others that leaders who open doors are treasure hunters.
I hope you enjoyed the Leadership Opportunity Blog Fest. Giant Leap Consulting appreciates Chip, Steven, Tony, Julie, Linda, Karin, Becky, David, Sharon, and Chery for sharing their open-door leader stories. I urge you to visit their blog posts and share your thoughts.
You: Think about the people who made all the difference in your own life – the people who helped you become a better self. The leaders you most admire are likely those who gave you a shot when no one else did. They are likely the people who believed in you before you believed in yourself. And they are those who held you accountable until you lived up to, and into, your own potential.
So… who has been an open-door leader in your life?
