As noted in a recent post, Invest in Your Future: Are you developing your future leaders, customers and team members? Would you like to?, I mentioned that I have been running a couple of workshops in local schools recently focusing helping school kids develop ‘Future Skills’. One of the areas that we have been discussing is leadership, what that means and what it takes to become one. In our discussions and exercises this threw up all sorts of interesting areas of discussion. They believed that leaders show a number of different things including:

• Passion
• Enthusiasm
• Energy
• Vision
• Compassion
• Dedication etc

To help with our discussions, one of the most effective things that we used was an exercise that supposedly comes from Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. Although, on investigation, the quiz does not seem to have originated from Charles Schultz it is still a worthwhile exercise. Here is the exercise:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five number one’s in the music chart.
3. Name the last five winners of the X-factor Contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of FA Cup winners.

How did you do? The point is, we struggle to remember the headliners of the past. This does not mean they are not achievers, they were the best in their fields at that point in time. But, applause dies, awards are given to new people and achievements can be forgotten. Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you

Easier?

I love this!

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care, who have inspired and who have helped.

I think this exercise can be a great help in helping us understand the difference between who we are as leaders and who we want to be. There are times in all of our lives when situations call on us all to lead. Becoming a leader may be as simple as the people in your group treat you like one, you are promoted into a new position or you start a new business. The only choice you have is what kind of job you’ll do, how much you give, how much you care and what difference you make.

Did you enjoy the exercise? Will you be remembered as a leader?

Thanks to garwee for the image.