Lessons in Leadership

There are literally a mountain of leadership books out there that offer a range of view points and ideas for how to successfully lead. A pair of new books offer some interesting insight and new perspective on the roles of leaders, but also on what leadership will look like in the future and how to be prepared to lead.

The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything – Bob Johansen (Berrett-Kohler Publishers)

I have always been intrigued with by folks with the job title of futurist; it just sounds so big picture thinking. Bob Johansen is a futurist’s, futurist, plying his trade at Institute for the Future in Silicon Valley, which for all intents purpose is the hub of what the future will look like.

Johansen, authored Leader’s Make the Future, in which he offered a window to the ten skills that leaders will need and now with The New Leadership Literacies: Thriving in a Future of Extreme Disruption and Distributed Everything he offers up five new literacies that will link back to those skills.

When you spend some time thinking about how quickly the world as changed over the past decade, let alone the past couple of years, what are the leadership skillsets that a truly dynamic leader will need to master to adapt to the ever changing, disrupted workplace. Literally how we deliver products and services is dramatically changing the face of the workforce and leadership must rapidly adapt to those changes.

Those who stand still will be left behind, or run over. Johansen offers insight in to how to better anticipate, adapt and lead that change and remain viable in the dynamic shift.

How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority – Clay Scroggins - (Zondervan)

So what makes you a leader? Is it being bestowed with a title that reflects a position of leadership that makes you a leader? Have you ever been in a situation where you saw an opportunity to take the lead and let it slide by, because you felt that you didn’t have a leadership title, so you couldn’t take a leadership role?

Well I am here to tell and Clay Scroggins new book How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority, backs me up; leaders are not made by titles, leaders are made by a willingness to exert your influence over a situation. Clay’s book is a how to guide for earning and exerting your influence over a situation or people to take the leap into leadership.

I have often used a story of parental leadership based upon a sphere of influence. Like most good parents, my mother exerted a sphere of influence over me that extended well beyond her sightlines and being in her presence. 

Even when I was miles away from home, her leadership influence over me was clearly defined and palpable. You too can develop that kind of talk the talk walk the walk type of influence in your daily life.

What Scroggins really lays out in the pages of How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, is how to break down the hesitation or fear of stepping out of your lane and using your earned level of influence to drive a situation or scenario to the positive outcome you desire. Breaking down that fear is a hurdle that can go a long way towards helping you break through the title barrier that is more often than not self-imposed.

Whether you are looking to lead in a work situation, a community role or church setting, Scroggins gives you a whole belt full of useful tools and examples that will help you break through.