If you didn’t get to attend, or really had zero idea that the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) took place last week, fear not..I got you.
The GLS is rooted in helping develop leaders, push us to think differently, rejuvenate, and help influence others. This years event was titled specifically, “Everyone has Influence”. And it’s SO true. No matter if you have a formal more traditional leadership role or are a Youtube sensation with 500k followers, or bust your booty in your workplace daily…you have influence. You have influence in your inner circle, with your spouse, your children, and at work. People see you…thats right, even if you think they don’t or they don’t care…they still see you and THAT comes with great responsibility on how we live our leadership. With so many amazing takeaways, its almost hard to come up with just a handful as I reflect back on this years event. Here are some that are still rockin my world.
I am paraphrasing, but one speaker, CEO and Author Liz Bohannon said with a smile, “You are average”. (Feeling inspired? You’re just a 6 out of 10.) But she went on to say that “you don’t have to be above average to live an extraordinary life”. This resonated with me because I am suuuuper “average” when it comes to societies standards. Growing up I was an average student, average athlete, and came from an average lower middle class home. Today, I wake up, go to my “average” job, come home make an average dinner…you get my point. You wont find my name on any ground breaking records and I am not inventing the next Amazon. But want to know what Liz taught me? Who cares! People everyday are creating and doing amazing work in this world…and so can you! Don’t be held back thinking if you’re not Oprah or Steve Jobs and instead you’re at home with 2 crazy kiddos, your idea must suck and won’t ever make it. You CAN change the world with your idea, your strategy, and even with one lil blog post at a time. 🙂
Pushing that point even further, later Award Winning Producer Devon Franklin said that “Your difference is your destiny”. Thats right, whatever makes you different from the rest is actually he most amazing thing about you. (go read that again!) But if you never own what makes you different, you never embrace it, you might not ever fulfill your destiny. You and me both want to feel fulfilled right? So what is stopping you?! Devon was told many times that he could not be “the Jesus guy” as a Hollywood producer and it would basically ruin his career if he was known for his faith. Well, the man is wildly successful and a New York times best selling author, so embracing his different clearly worked for him. So often what we hide is really what should shine in the light, but we are crippled by insecurity. I have been, many days I still am. But ya know what friends, we have to anchor ourselves and know that we were made for more and stop getting in our own way.
Powerhouse Chief Marketing Officer Bozoma Saint John is a shining example of a leader who knows her differences and embraces them with unapologetic confidence. I mean, she rocked a pink suit and her instagram handle is @badassboz for goodness sake. (she is goals for real) For my culture junkies out there, this is for you. She says that a leader’s job is to help create a better experience by asking them what that means for THEM. Because, when that happens, trust emerges and more people are willing to use their voice to speak up and empower each other resulting in a thriving culture. Doesn’t this work in our home lives too? As a wife, soon to be mom, and leader in my home…I want to create an environment where my husband and my son have a good experience. Maybe your employees don’t need a huge raise, but would like the option to work from home once a week or get a standing desk. Maybe your family doesn’t need 100 plans during the week and just wants time with you playing a game and connecting. Culture lives everywhere, not just at work. You have influence everywhere, not just at work. Where and how are you creating your culture?
We can all use our influence for good and lead with love– but only when we practice self love. Self love happens when we are self aware. I think that is something we all are Becoming Wiza about these days. Jo Saxton asked me and 100,000 other people worldwide that day, “who where you before anyone told you who you were supposed to be?” (go read that again too, shit is too good) I think we all get trapped in this identity crisis at some point and have a hard time leading with love because we are so damn stuck on what we “should” be doing instead of living by who we really are. STOP IT! You were not created to not be your true self, you were made to inspire, you were made to influence.
I could write 10 more pages on this event because it was that incredible. But I encourage you to #getwiza and start answering some of these hard questions that I too am working through so that I can be the powerhouse influencer and leader I can be with you. Here are some resources that you can tap into and hear from more of the speakers and download some of the resources to help you lead with influence.
xoxo
Lyss
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Becoming Wiza 