A Student of Leadership - Where Great Leaders are Made, One Habit at a Time!

Hello, and welcome to A Student of Leadership. The podcast that uncovers the secrets of exceptional leaders. Join host Rob Adams as he explores the critical habits and practices that define leadership greatness, one transformative episode at a time. From cultivating a compelling vision to embodying courage, empathy, accountability, and resilience, you'll gain the tools and insights to elevate your leadership impact no matter where you are on your journey. Whether you're a seasoned executive or stepping into your first leadership role, each conversation will inspire and equip you to become the leader you were always meant to be.

Let's dive in.

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of A Student of Leadership where great leaders are made one habit at a time. I'm Rob Adams and I'm your host today where we are focusing on a core leadership capability that amplifies your impact, influence. And before we get started, can you believe we are now on our 10th episode of A Student of Leadership with this micro podcast? And I am so excited that you continue to listen in and join us on this journey of focusing on key words and phrases around leadership that truly define leadership. So today, let's get started on influence.

Influence is the ability to inspire action and guide outcomes without relying on authority or coercion. It's about earning trust, building relationships, and aligning people toward a shared vision. Great leaders understand that true influence is rooted in behaviors, not titles. In this episode, we'll explore what it means to lead with influence, sharing a compelling story of impactful leadership, and providing actionable steps to enhance your ability to inspire others. Consider the leadership of Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, an advocate for girls' education.

Despite facing immense adversity, including an attack on her life, Malala has become one of the most influential voices in the fight for education equity. Malala's influence is a testament to the power of unwavering conviction and authentic leadership. Her consistent commitment to her cause, despite extreme adversity, has become a defining feature of her leadership style. By embodying her values and sharing her story with vulnerability and courage, she has inspired a global movement for change. Her influence is not derived from a position of power, but from her unwavering commitment, personal story, and ability to connect with people worldwide.

By sharing her vision and demonstrating extraordinary courage, she has inspired 1,000,000 to join her cause. Malala's story highlights that influence is about leading with conviction and authenticity, motivating others to act for a greater purpose. John Maxwell, a renowned leadership expert said leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. In the behavioral leadership framework, we see this emphasis on influence as a key distinguisher of exceptional leaders. Across industries and cultures, leaders who consistently build trust, forging genuine connections, and inspire others through their actions tend to create the most meaningful and lasting impact.

Now ask yourself these questions. How do you currently influence those around you through your words, actions, or examples? What steps do you take to build trust and credibility with your team? And how can you use your influence to align your team's efforts with your organization's vision? In a study published in the book, The Personality and Persuadability by Alan Schoonmaker, research from Carnegie Institute of Technology reveals that 85% of financial success is due to interpersonal skills, such as the ability to communicate, negotiate, and lead effectively.

These are all core aspects of influence. This highlights that influence is a key driver of both personal and organizational success. Now here are 3 practical ways to strengthen your influence as a leader. Number 1, build genuine relationships. Take the time to understand your team's motivations, goals, and challenges.

Show genuine interest and empathy to foster trust. Number 2, model the behavior you want to see. People are influenced more by actions than they are words. Consistently demonstrate the values and the work ethic you want your team to emulate. Number 3, communicate a clear and compelling vision.

Articulate your goals in a way that resonates emotionally and intellectually with your team. Help them see how their contributions matter in achieving the bigger picture. Remember, building influence is an ongoing journey and never a one time event. By consistently focusing on genuine relationships, modeling the behavior you want to see, and communicating a compelling vision, you will cultivate an authentic and impactful leadership style that inspires others to follow your lead. Now your action challenge for this week is to identify one situation where you need to inspire action or alignment.

Use the principles of influence to build trust, communicate your vision, and guide your team toward a shared goal. Reflect on those results and the connections you've strengthened through this process. Influence is the power to inspire and align people around a shared purpose. As you work on this week's action challenge, remember that influence isn't about control, it's about connection and trust. Influence, like all of the leadership habits we've explored, is a skill that can be developed and refined over time.

By consistently choosing to lead with connection, trust, and purpose, you're not just amplifying your own impact, you're empowering your team to achieve extraordinary results and creating a ripple effect of positive change in your organization and beyond. Next week, we will explore curiosity, an essential essential trait for continuous learning and innovation and leadership. We'll discuss how curiosity can unlock new opportunities and deepen your understanding of the people and the world around you. Until next time, keep practicing those habits that make great leaders. And remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time.

See you next time on A Student of Leadership. Take care, everybody.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of A Student of Leadership. If you liked what you heard, then be sure to subscribe and share with like minded people. Have a burning question for Rob or a topic you'd love him to discuss on the show? Get in touch on socials. We'd love to hear from you.

We'll see you next time. And remember, great leaders are made one habit at a time.