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	<title>Steve MessamLeader Archives - Steve Messam</title>
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	<description>Developing Leaders: Upward, Inward &#38; Outward</description>
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		<title>WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE AN INFLUENTIAL LEADER</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consistency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consistent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influential]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stevemessam.com/?p=608</guid>

				<description><![CDATA[<p>Without influence, it’s next to impossible to lead others. If you can get people to follow you not due to your title alone but because you have earned it; you&#8217;ve achieved the title of an influential leader.  As mentioned in a previous post, leadership isn&#8217;t based on position or fancy titles; leadership is influence. A [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/">WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE AN INFLUENTIAL LEADER</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Without influence, it’s next to impossible to lead others. If you can get people to follow you not due to your title alone but because you have earned it; you&#8217;ve achieved the title of an influential leader. </span></p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/"><img width="760" height="290" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-760x290.jpg" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Influential" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-760x290.jpg 760w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-300x115.jpg 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-768x293.jpg 768w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-1024x391.jpg 1024w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-518x198.jpg 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-82x31.jpg 82w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Influence_internal-600x229.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px" /></a>
<p><span id="more-608"></span>As mentioned in a previous post, <a href="http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/"><em>leadership isn&#8217;t based on position or fancy titles; leadership is influence</em></a>. A title might buy you a little time but if you don&#8217;t earn their respect and trust, they won&#8217;t follow.</p>
<p>Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the <strong><em>character</em></strong>, <em><strong>development</strong></em>, or <em><strong>behavior</strong></em> of someone. The problem with only using a position or title to justify leadership is its leverage is primarily over the <em>behavior,</em> and not necessarily the character and development of others.</p>
<p>For example, in a boss &#8211; employee relationship, the subordinate will be cooperative when their income/livelihood is at stake. This is considered <a href="http://www.maurilioamorim.com/2011/06/the-problem-with-positional-leadership/"><em>positional leadership</em></a>. Positional leadership use position to prove leadership.</p>
<h5>Relational Leadership vs Positional Leadership</h5>
<p>Positional leadership runs into hard times working in a voluntary organization. I have seen this first hand serving or volunteering in churches or community organizations. Whenever there was a leader throwing their title around to affect behavior, they faced resistance almost everytime.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s hard to command something that you haven&#8217;t earned. I love how Maurilio Amorim puts it, &#8220;Positional leadership is given, while influential is earned.&#8221;</p>
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<p><em>Positional leadership is given, while influential is earned. -Maurilio Amorim</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Positional+leadership+is+given%2C+while+influential+is+earned.+-Maurilio+Amorim&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>Followers in voluntary organizations are there because they &#8220;want&#8221; to not because the &#8220;have&#8221; to. If a leader doesn&#8217;t have leverage &#8211; or influence &#8211; their title is ineffective. The effective leaders in this type of environment master relational (influential) leadership.</p>
<p>Influential leadership isn&#8217;t pushing or pulling instead it&#8217;s one of relational connection and support that develops a motivated and inspired team driven by a trusted leader. People follow who they trust, not necessarily who they must.</p>
<p>As you grow as a leader, it&#8217;s important that you understand the difference between positional and relational leadership. Look at this way, with positional leadership income is the currency. Relational leadership, influence is the currency.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at 3 ways you can earn your influential currency to effect the character, development, and behavior of those you lead.</p>
<hr />
<p><em>With positional leadership, income is currency. Relational leadership, influence is currency.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=With+positional+leadership%2C+income+is+currency.+Relational+leadership%2C+influence+is+currency.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h2><span style="color: #1b75bb;">3 Ways To Earn Influence As A Leader</span></h2>
<h3>1. Add Value</h3>
<p>If you don&#8217;t value people you shouldn&#8217;t be leading them. One true sign that you value those you lead is your willingness and ability to add value to them. However, we only value others to the degree we value ourselves.</p>
<p>Have you noticed that we don&#8217;t see people as they are but as we are? Your willingness to develop, and invest in yourself by reading posts like this so you can add value to others, is a step in the right direction.</p>
<p>Leadership expert, John Maxwell has said, &#8220;when you value people, you have a deeper desire to connect with them than correct them.&#8221; He also said that the first step of leadership is adding value to people.</p>
<p>As a leader, you add value by serving others. Are you more focus on others serving you are you serving them? The more you add value to them, the more they follow you.</p>
<p><strong><em>Action: Ask yourself each day, &#8220;How can I add value to others today?&#8221;</em></strong></p>
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<p><em>The 1st step of leadership is adding value to people. -John Maxwell</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=The+1st+step+of+leadership+is+adding+value+to+people.+-John+Maxwell&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h3>2. Be Consistent</h3>
<p>If you say you&#8217;re going to do something, do it. If you say you&#8217;re going to be somewhere, be there. Consistency is a must as you build influence and grow as an influential leader.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to realize that consistency isn&#8217;t a one and done thing; it&#8217;s a pattern. Consistency establishes your reputation as a leader. It&#8217;s hard to demand accountability from others if they can&#8217;t expect the same from you.</p>
<p>People buy into the leader when they can count on that leader. Can those you lead count on you? Consistency is an underrated word that plays a supersized role in your ability to be an influential leader.</p>
<p>You have to be consistent as a leader. Be reliable. The more consistent you are with those you lead, the more willing they will be in following you.</p>
<p><em><strong>Action: Identify an area where you can be more consistent as a leader and work on it for the next 3 months.</strong></em></p>
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<p><em>Consistency is an underrated word that plays a supersized role in your ability to be an influential leader.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Consistency+is+an+underrated+word+that+plays+a+supersized+role+in+your+ability+to+be+an+influential+leader.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h3>3. Connect</h3>
<p>The key to connecting with those you lead is to listen to them. People truly don&#8217;t care about what you know until they know that you care. You have to connect with them emotionally before you can move them physically.</p>
<p>Have you ever noticed how some people have their guards up when you try to (in your mind) give advice and help them? It&#8217;s because you haven&#8217;t connected with them yet. They are still trying to figure out your motives, your intentions before they let you in.</p>
<p>People won&#8217;t go along with you until they can get along with you, said so brilliantly by John Maxwell. Therefore, seek common ground with those you lead before you seek higher ground.</p>
<p>Relationships are a foundation of successful leadership. It&#8217;s the bedrock to relational leadership. As the leader, it&#8217;s your responsibility to take the initiative in connecting with those you lead.</p>
<p>Every time you connect with those you lead is an opportunity to increase your influence with them. Get to know them intimately if you desire to move them outwardly.</p>
<p><em><strong>Action: Write down three individuals you need to connect with more and be intentional to do so over the next few months.</strong></em></p>
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<p><em>Find common ground with those you lead before seeking higher ground.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Find+common+ground+with+those+you+lead+before+seeking+higher+ground.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
<hr />
<p>Remember, influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone. Your title might impact their behavior but it&#8217;s your relationship that will influence all three. True leadership can&#8217;t be given, it must be earned.</p>
<p>You earn it by adding value to those you lead, being consistent in how you lead, and connecting intentionally with those you lead. You can do it!</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"> <em><strong>What is one area you can be more consistent as a leader? Please comment below. </strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/need-know-influential-leader/">WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE AN INFLUENTIAL LEADER</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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		<title>THE SURPRISING POWER OF YOUR MINDSIGHT</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Mar 2017 11:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dreams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eyesight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindsight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stevemessam.com/?p=564</guid>

				<description><![CDATA[How Having A Big Picture Perspective Leads To Success. <p>It amazes me how some people can actually see the same thing physically but have a different perspective on it mentally. I believe it&#8217;s because there&#8217;s a difference between our eyesight and our mindsight. What you see (vision), plays a key role in your success. When you think about vision, think about these two definitions. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/">THE SURPRISING POWER OF YOUR MINDSIGHT</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em id="gnt_postsubtitle" style="color:#9b9b9b;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">How Having A Big Picture Perspective Leads To Success</em></p> <p>It amazes me how some people can actually see the same thing physically but have a different perspective on it mentally. I believe it&#8217;s because there&#8217;s a difference between our eyesight and our <em>mindsight</em>. What you see (vision), plays a key role in your success.</p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/"><img width="760" height="570" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-760x570.jpg" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Vision, mindsight" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-760x570.jpg 760w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-300x225.jpg 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-768x576.jpg 768w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-518x389.jpg 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-82x62.jpg 82w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-131x98.jpg 131w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920-600x450.jpg 600w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/telescope-122960_1920.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px" /></a>
<p><span id="more-564"></span>When you think about vision, think about these two definitions. The first one is the sense of being able to use your eyes to see &#8211; eyesight.  The second definition is to envision/anticipate that which will or may come to be &#8211; mindsight.</p>
<p>One you can actually see with your physical eyes, the other you can see with your mental eyes. It&#8217;s not really here yet but you can picture it, you can envision it with you mental eyes.</p>
<p>Having the right perspective on both sights &#8211; your mindsight and your eyesight &#8211; will help you achieve your goals as well as give you the motivation to keep things in proper perspective and not sweat the small stuff.</p>
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<p><em>Don&#8217;t let what you see with you eyes, discourage you from pursuing what you see with your mind.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Don%27t+let+what+you+see+with+you+eyes%2C+discourage+you+from+pursuing+what+you+see+with+your+mind.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h2><span style="color: #1b75bb;">3 Ways Big Picture Perspective Leads To Success</span></h2>
<h3>1. See It</h3>
<p>Our first point is, see it. You have to see the big picture with your mind, regardless of what you see with your eyes. This is why some people see the same thing physically but have different perspective mentally. Consider this for example.</p>
<p>You have three workers all doing the same job, constructing a building. Each worker was asked the same question, &#8220;What is that you&#8217;re building?&#8221; Worker one responded by saying, &#8220;I&#8217;m laying bricks on top of each other, that&#8217;s my job.&#8221;</p>
<p>Worker number two responded, &#8220;I&#8217;m building a wall.&#8221; He&#8217;s actually laying bricks, but his perspective isn&#8217;t laying bricks but building a wall.</p>
<p>Finally, worker number three answered, &#8220;I&#8217;m building a cathedral.&#8221; Here he is laying the same bricks as the others but his perspective is seeing a cathedral.</p>
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<p><em>You have to see the big picture with your mind, regardless of what you see with your eyes.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=You+have+to+see+the+big+picture+with+your+mind%2C+regardless+of+what+you+see+with+your+eyes.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
<hr />
<h4><strong>Mindsight vs Eyesight</strong></h4>
<p>Let’s break down this mindsight versus eyesight or big picture perspective versus small picture perspective.</p>
<p>Your eyesight, or small picture perspective, is driven by things that are happening around you or outside of you, your outer-self. Your mindsight, big picture perspective, that’s driven by what’s inside of you, your inner-self.</p>
<p>Eyesight sees the raw materials, it sees the lumber, cement, nails, hammer, all of the raw materials. Your mindsight sees the finished product, it see the cathedral, it sees your dream home. Mindsight is your ability to see the finished product mentally before you can see it physically.</p>
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<p><em>Mindsight is your ability to see the finished product mentally before you can see it physically.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Mindsight+is+your+ability+to+see+the+finished+product+mentally+before+you+can+see+it+physically.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>Just in case you didn&#8217;t know, you have God-given raw materials on the inside of you. If you see things from the proper perspective you can turn what may seem like broken pieces (eyesight) to your masterpiece (mindsight).</p>
<p>But, how do you get what you see physically with your eyesight to align with what you see mentally with your mindsight?</p>
<h3>2. Write It</h3>
<p>Point number two is to write it. You have to capture the vision and keep it up front. Writing down your vision helps you bridge your mindsight (mental vision) to your eyesight (physical vision).</p>
<p>As a Wisdom Chaser, I&#8217;m chasing wisdom from all places, whether it&#8217;s on social media, books, movies, interactions, you name it. One book I keep in heavy rotation when it comes to wisdom is the Bible.</p>
<p>Over 2,500 years ago there was a Hebrew prophet by the name of Habakkuk, who said to &#8220;write the vision, make it plain on tablets.&#8221; You didn&#8217;t know folks had iPads back then&#8230;just kidding, but back then they had these tablets which were stones that they wrote words on.</p>
<h4><strong>Physical Reminder</strong></h4>
<p>You need to write down your visions. Put them in places that you see routinely like your bathroom mirror, car dashboard or maybe on the refrigerator. It&#8217;s always great to have that physical reminder to reinforce your vision.</p>
<p>Maybe you need a different type of physical reminder other than words like many athletes use, pictures. Use visual reminders or visual metaphors, like a picture of a house, a car, or an object that serves as a reminder of what you&#8217;re working hard for.</p>
<p>Having that visual reminder, writing down your vision is going to help you stay focused and not sweat the small things, to help you bridge that mindsight (mental vision) to your eyesight (physical vision).</p>
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<p><em>Writing down your vision helps you bridge your mindsight (mental vision) to your eyesight (physical vision).</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Writing+down+your+vision+helps+you+bridge+your+mindsight+%28mental+vision%29+to+your+eyesight+%28physical+vision%29.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
<hr />
<p>So you wrote it down – now what? I’m going to go back to my friend Habakkuk and finish his quote. He said, “Write the vision, make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”(Hab 2:2)</p>
<h3>3. Chase It</h3>
<p>The third and final point is to chase it. Always remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have to run with endurance, it&#8217;s not a one and done thing. It&#8217;s something you&#8217;re going to have to work towards on a continual basis.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t run aimlessly. That&#8217;s why you write it down, that&#8217;s why you have those reminders to keep it in front so you can continue to push forward. Chasing is an intentional action towards a purpose, towards a vision.</p>
<p>You have to be willing to put in the work that&#8217;s required to accomplish your big picture dream. I can remember training as an athlete, the pain, the sweat, and the discomfort. I didn&#8217;t like all of the running, drills, and reps, but I saw the big picture. I knew it was preparing me to chase after that cathedral, that win, that championship.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s what it&#8217;s going to take for you to accomplish your big picture dream. You need to stay up late, wake up early, put in the extra time, make the sacrifices. I&#8217;ll tell you this, it may not seem like it&#8217;s fair, you may be uncomfortable, but it sure will be worth it!</p>
<h4><strong>Delayed Gratification</strong></h4>
<p>Here&#8217;s the big takeaway with chase it. Delayed gratification, not instant satisfaction. Instant satisfaction is only temporary, but delayed gratification is a lasting reward. You have to put in the work. Chasing after your big picture dream may seem like a never ending race.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to note that delayed does not mean denied. <a href="http://stevemessam.com/overcome-fear-active-faith/">Keep the faith, because faith is what you hope for through your actions, through chasing.</a> For faith without chasing, it’s dead. You have to have faith.</p>
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<p><em>Delayed doesn&#8217;t mean denied. Keep the faith.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Delayed+doesn%27t+mean+denied.+Keep+the+faith.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>Here’s what delayed gratification will give you. Today you’re laying bricks, tomorrow you’re enjoying your cathedral. Today you are buffing plates, but tomorrow you’re enjoying your own establishment. Today you may be riding the bench or second string, but tomorrow you will be leading your team.</p>
<p>See the big picture. Write it down. Chase after it. Don&#8217;t run away from your big picture, run after it!</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>If you have a big picture dream that you&#8217;ve envisioned take the next step and write it down in the comments below. </strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/surprising-power-mindsight/">THE SURPRISING POWER OF YOUR MINDSIGHT</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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		<title>HOW TO AVOID SETBACKS BY SETTING BOUNDARIES FOR SUCCESS</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Mar 2017 11:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boundaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boundary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guardrails]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Protection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category>
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				<description><![CDATA[2 Reasons Why Boundaries Can Protect and Direct Your Success. <p>Tell me if you’ve heard this before about the path to success, “If it was easy then everyone would be doing it”? Generally speaking, many of us start off on the right path in life but for some reason, we veer off the path and can’t quite seem to stay on the path to success. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/">HOW TO AVOID SETBACKS BY SETTING BOUNDARIES FOR SUCCESS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em id="gnt_postsubtitle" style="color:#9b9b9b;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">2 Reasons Why Boundaries Can Protect and Direct Your Success</em></p> <p>Tell me if you’ve heard this before about the path to success, “If it was easy then everyone would be doing it”? Generally speaking, many of us start off on the right path in life but for some reason, we veer off the path and can’t quite seem to stay on the path to success. I believe it’s due to the lack of setting <em>boundaries</em>.</p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/"><img width="560" height="315" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Boundaries_Blog.jpg" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Boundaries, Guardrails" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Boundaries_Blog.jpg 560w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Boundaries_Blog-300x169.jpg 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Boundaries_Blog-518x291.jpg 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Boundaries_Blog-82x46.jpg 82w" sizes="(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px" /></a>
<p>There’s a story of a broad/wide road and a narrow way. The broad and wide road leads to destruction, leads to failure, and so many people are on this road because it’s the easy route.</p>
<p>Then there are only a select few people who decides to take the narrow way that leads to life, that leads to success. This road is more difficult. The key difference between the broad road and the narrow way are boundaries.<span id="more-504"></span></p>
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<p><em>Staying on the narrow way won&#8217;t be easy but it will be worth it. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Staying+on+the+narrow+way+won%27t+be+easy+but+it+will+be+worth+it.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>On your way to work or whenever you’re traveling, you’ve probably noticed those iron and wooden railings on the side of the road. Guardrails are a system designed to keep you from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. I would like for you to look at boundaries as your internal guardrails.</p>
<p>On the path to success, it is important that you establish your own mental guardrails which should serve as warning signs to keep you from getting into those dangerous or off-limit areas that lead to failure and not, success.</p>
<p>In the best-selling book &#8220;<a href="http://amzn.to/2mkrjIz">Boundaries</a>&#8220;, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend states that boundaries are personal property lines that define who you are and who you are not, and influence all areas of your life.</p>
<p>I want to push you to create your own mental guardrails to help you establish behaviors and principles to protect you from unnecessary long-term physical, emotional, financial or professional pain or setbacks in the future.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #1b75bb;">2 Reasons to Set Boundaries</span></h2>
<h3>1. Protection</h3>
<h5>Guard Your Heart</h5>
<p>Sometimes we like to flirt with danger, getting as close to the line as possible. It’s important that we take the advice of a Hebrew proverb that says, “guard your heart with all diligence.” (Pro 4:23) Your heart is your will, emotions, feelings and your mind. What are you letting in? What are you releasing out?</p>
<p>Maybe you have had the unfortunate experience of crashing into a guardrail on the road. Yes, it probably left some damage and you probably had some temporary pain, but just imagine if that guardrail wasn’t there and you veered off a cliff or into a canal.</p>
<p>That’s the importance of having these mental guardrails, it’s for your protection. It protects your heart.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s important to understand that boundaries are not walls. Think of them as fences because fences have gates. Boundaries help you keep the good in and the bad out. Let’s face it, you’ve made mistakes, had failures, and you’re probably holding in a lot of bad emotions and experiences.</p>
<p>Open the gates and let the bad out and let the good in as you stay laser focused on that narrow way to success.</p>
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<p><em>There&#8217;s protection when you set boundaries in your life. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=There%27s+protection+when+you+set+boundaries+in+your+life.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h3>2. Direction</h3>
<h5>Burdens &amp; Loads</h5>
<p>Our second point is direction, dealing with others within boundaries. We are responsible to others and for ourselves. The Apostle Paul once said that we are to carry, share, and support each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2). He also said that each one should carry their own load (Gal 6:5).</p>
<p>There’s a big difference between burdens and loads. The Greek word for burden means excessive or overloaded burden. Think of a boulder, there’s no way we should be carrying a boulder each day.</p>
<p>For example, a burden could be a tragedy, crisis, or maybe a major loss in your life or someone else life. You should be helping or having someone else help you carry that burden. On the flip side, the Greek word for &#8220;load&#8221; is a daily responsibility. Picture a backpack.</p>
<p>Obviously, it’s easier to carry a backpack every day versus a boulder. Setting boundaries always require that you take responsibility for your own backpack, your own actions, thoughts, and behaviors.</p>
<h5>Support Network</h5>
<p>When creating your boundaries it&#8217;s important to always have a support network to help you with your boulders/burdens, or to help others with their burdens. Setting and maintaining boundaries is hard work, not overwork.</p>
<p>It’s extremely important that you have a work-life balance because overworking on your daily load can lead to burnout, and burnout is just a one-way ticket to that broad road to failure.</p>
<blockquote><p>We can&#8217;t trust ourselves to know when our boundaries are being violated. -Melody Beattie</p></blockquote>
<p>Also, you have to put some teeth behind your guardrails, you have to backup your boundaries with consequences for yourself as well as others who step out of bounds. You have to learn how to say &#8220;no&#8221; when other people try to pass their loads on you; freeloaders.</p>
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<p><em>Setting boundaries mean saying no to freeloaders. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Setting+boundaries+mean+saying+no+to+freeloaders.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>You can&#8217;t be all things to all people. It takes discipline, self-control and wisdom to know what you should and shouldn&#8217;t be doing. You can&#8217;t carry everybody&#8217;s load and you shouldn&#8217;t carry your burdens alone.</p>
<p>As a reminder, it’s extremely important that you establish these guardrails to keep you from straying into those dangerous and off limit areas, to stay on that narrow way to success. I can’t promise that it’s going to be easy. It’s going to take hard work, but it will be worth it.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Do you struggle with setting boundaries, if so which area in your life is the hardest? Please comment below.</strong></em></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/avoid-setbacks-setting-boundaries-success/">HOW TO AVOID SETBACKS BY SETTING BOUNDARIES FOR SUCCESS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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		<title>HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL HUMILITY FOR AMAZING RESULTS</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Mar 2017 11:30:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Builders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C.S. Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foundation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jack Welch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pride]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Walls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stevemessam.com/?p=479</guid>

				<description><![CDATA[2 Building Blocks of Humility Every Leader Needs. <p>Why is it so difficult for us to think less of ourselves and more of others? When we neglect the importance of serving and helping others we hurt our ability to reach new heights. Do you want to rise to great heights? Then you must lay first a foundation of humility. Think of humility as [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/">HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL HUMILITY FOR AMAZING RESULTS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em id="gnt_postsubtitle" style="color:#9b9b9b;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">2 Building Blocks of Humility Every Leader Needs</em></p> <p>Why is it so difficult for us to think less of ourselves and more of others? When we neglect the importance of serving and helping others we hurt our ability to reach new heights. Do you want to rise to great heights? Then you must lay first a foundation of <i>humility.</i></p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/"><img width="760" height="507" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-760x507.jpg" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Humility, Pride" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-760x507.jpg 760w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-300x200.jpg 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-768x512.jpg 768w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-518x345.jpg 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-250x166.jpg 250w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-82x55.jpg 82w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_3708-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px" /></a>
<p><span id="more-479"></span>Think of humility as just having a proper view of one&#8217;s own importance. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s just thinking of yourself less.</p>
<p>Then you have its opposite, which is pride. Pride is having an excessive or an exaggerated view of one’s own importance.</p>
<p>This actually gives us two categories, which we will call your blockers versus your builders. When you think of your blockers, they are the prideful people. They actually prevent others from getting around them and pretty much focus on their own interests.</p>
<p>Then you have those who are humble and they are your builders, they actually assist others in reaching their potential. They focus on the interests of others as well as themselves, which creates a win-win situation not just for your success but also for the success of those around you.</p>
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<p><em>True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it&#8217;s just thinking of yourself less. -C.S. Lewis</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=True+humility+is+not+thinking+less+of+yourself%2C+it%27s+just+thinking+of+yourself+less.+-C.S.+Lewis&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h2><span style="color: #1b75bb;">2 Building Blocks of Humility</span></h2>
<p>If you truly want to rise to great heights then you will have to incorporate these two building blocks of humility.</p>
<h3>1. Build a Foundation</h3>
<h5>Humility is the foundation of success.</h5>
<p>It&#8217;s easier to stand on solid rock than it is on sinking sand. When you&#8217;re building a house you don&#8217;t start with the roof, you start with the foundation. The foundation actually holds up and lifts up all the other parts.</p>
<p>Pride actually causes a house to fall down, because it’s only worried about the roof, it’s worried about the top. Pride goes before destruction. Jesus once said that whoever makes himself great (toots their own horn) will be humbled and knocked down, and whoever humbles themselves will actually be made great (Matt 23:12).</p>
<p>Make humility the foundation to your success by lifting up people and in return, God will lift you up.</p>
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<p><em>Make humility the foundation to your success by lifting up people, then God will lift you up.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Make+humility+the+foundation+to+your+success+by+lifting+up+people%2C+then+God+will+lift+you+up.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h5>Humility builds. Pride blocks.</h5>
<p><a href="http://amzn.to/2m66twf">Jack Welch</a>, the former CEO of General Electric, once said that “before becoming a leader, success was all about growing yourself.” That’s pride, that’s when you don’t want someone else to get the promotion, or you don’t want to see someone else in the limelight.</p>
<p>He went on to say that “after becoming a leader, success is all about growing others.” That’s humility. That’s when you begin to build a strong foundation of humility. Where you&#8217;re focusing on growing your teammates, your coworkers, your family members. It&#8217;s a win-win when they grow&#8230;you grow.</p>
<p>Blockers criticize. Builders praise and celebrate others. Pride causes your ego to write checks that your character can’t cash. It’s like building your house on sand; when the rain, wind, and flood comes, it will fall. Invest in humility so when those floods come you and those who you are lifting up will be standing on solid rock.</p>
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<p><em>Pride causes your ego to write checks that your character can&#8217;t cash.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Pride+causes+your+ego+to+write+checks+that+your+character+can%27t+cash.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h3>2. Build a Bridge.</h3>
<p>Our second building block is to build a bridge. It’s easier to cross a bridge than it is to climb a wall. After living outside of New York City for a couple of years, I know that it’s a lot easier to cross the George Washington Bridge than it is to climb Mount Everest.</p>
<p>Pride builds walls between people, but humility builds bridges. Blockers use walls to prevent others from getting around. I’m sure all of us have probably been guilty on occasion of being a wall that prevented others because we’re so focused on ourselves.</p>
<p>I want to challenge you to be a builder! Build bridges to assist others to reach their full potential.</p>
<p>Regardless your level of success, you are standing on the shoulders of those who has gone before you. You are walking across those bridges. Therefore, you must make sure that your foundation in humility is strong to carry others across as well.</p>
<p>Use your abilities and gifts to actually help your team, co-workers, family and others by being a bridge and not a wall.</p>
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<p><em>Pride builds walls between people, but humility builds bridges.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Pride+builds+walls+between+people%2C+but+humility+builds+bridges.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>Humility unlocks greatness in you by putting others first. Blockers keep others from reaching their full potential. Forget about yourself long enough to lend a helping hand and unlock the greatness in others. We need each other.</p>
<p>Always remember that pride leads to a great fall, but a humble spirit gains honor. Do your part, all your acts of humility, whether it’s serving, helping, supporting others, wherever you are. It’s those acts of humility put together, that leads to results and helps us to change the world.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being exceptionally well. How would you rate your level of humility? Please comment below.</i></b></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/build-social-humility-amazing-results/">HOW TO BUILD SOCIAL HUMILITY FOR AMAZING RESULTS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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		<title>WHY INFLUENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR LEADERS</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2017 11:30:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[21 irrefutable laws of leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Actions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Hodges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fresh Air]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Influencer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Maxwell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ken Blanchard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Motivation]]></category>
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				<description><![CDATA[2 Ways to Influence Yourself and Influence Others. <p>How important is &#8220;influence&#8221; to you as a leader? Do you find yourself more focus on attaining a fancy title or reaching a certain position? Leadership isn’t based on position or fancy titles. Leadership is Influence. I had the privilege over 15 years ago to attend a conference where I heard one of the world&#8217;s leading [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/">WHY INFLUENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR LEADERS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em id="gnt_postsubtitle" style="color:#9b9b9b;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">2 Ways to Influence Yourself and Influence Others</em></p> <p>How important is &#8220;influence&#8221; to you as a leader? Do you find yourself more focus on attaining a fancy title or reaching a certain position? <span class="s1">Leadership isn’t based on position or fancy titles. Leadership is Influence.</span></p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/"><img width="760" height="426" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-760x426.png" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Influence, Leadership" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-760x426.png 760w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-300x168.png 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-768x430.png 768w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-1024x574.png 1024w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-518x290.png 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-82x46.png 82w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674-600x336.png 600w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3674.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px" /></a>
<p>I had the privilege over 15 years ago to attend a conference where I heard one of the world&#8217;s leading experts on leadership, John Maxwell, talk about his bestselling book <a href="http://amzn.to/2mjlR5Y"><em>The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership</em></a>.</p>
<p><span id="more-385"></span>The second law, which is the law of influence, had a profound impact on my life. In that law, he dispelled a common myth by saying that leadership isn’t based on position or impressive titles. He summed up the definition of leadership as, “Leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less.”</p>
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<p><em>Leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. -John Maxwell</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Leadership+is+influence%2C+nothing+more+and+nothing+less.+-John+Maxwell&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>There&#8217;s a leadership proverb that states, “He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a walk.” If you were to look behind you, who is following you? Your spouse, kids, coworkers, colleagues? Maybe it’s students, congregants, or even teammates? What causes people to follow each other?</p>
<p>Another world leading expert, Ken Blanchard, author of the bestselling book <a href="http://amzn.to/2lfZei1"><em>The One Minute Manager</em></a>, stated this, “The key to successful leadership today is influence.” There&#8217;s no getting around it, if you want to be a leader, you have to have influence.</p>
<p>The challenge for you as a leader is to not focus on what it will take to attain a position but what will it take to attract followers. As a leader, influence is critical not only in leading and impacting others but also in leading yourself.</p>
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<p><em>The key to successful leadership today is influence. -Ken Blanchard</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=The+key+to+successful+leadership+today+is+influence.+-Ken+Blanchard&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h2><span style="color: #1b75bb;">2 Ways to Influence Yourself and Influence Others</span></h2>
<h4><strong>1. Check Your Habits.</strong></h4>
<p>The first key point is to check your habits. We are creatures of habit and habits influence us. Influence flows inside out and there is no influence like the influence of habits. What drives you? What are your interests, your passions?</p>
<p>Your passions and your interests actually cause you to develop habits and routines to get you closer to your goals. Your passions and your interests also are huge motivators, but motivation alone will not get you to the leadership mountaintop.</p>
<p>Motivation points and focuses you there, but habits get you there. Another way to look at it is motivation gets you started, but your habits keep you going. While you’re checking your habits make sure that you break the bad ones and create some new ones.</p>
<p>In order to understand a new idea, new concept, new solution, you have to break old habits. The Apostle Paul once said, “Don’t let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21)” Let’s actually substitute the word evil with whatever old or bad habit that&#8217;s standing in your way.</p>
<p>Don’t let doubt, don’t let fear, don’t let negativity get the best of you, but get the best of whatever it is that is standing in your way to success as a leader, by doing good, by doing what is right, by creating new habits.</p>
<p>We lead ourselves by using our heads, our habits, our experiences, but we impact others by using our hearts. Which leads us to our second and final key point, which is to check your actions.</p>
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<p><em>Motivation gets you started but your habits keep you going. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Motivation+gets+you+started+but+your+habits+keep+you+going.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<h4><strong>2. Check Your Actions.</strong></h4>
<p>When leading and impacting others it is important to remember that it’s a heart thing, not a smart thing. I’m sure you would agree that for the most part, people don’t care what you know, they just want to know that you care.</p>
<p>Ben Franklin had this to say, “If you would persuade or influence, you must appeal to interests or passions rather than intellect.” As a leader, care more about helping people than you do, trying to impress people.</p>
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<p><em>Care more about Helping people than Impressing people.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Care+more+about+Helping+people+than+Impressing+people.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>A leader should touch their heart before they ask for their hand. Just like you have your own interests and passions, so do others. It’s your job, it’s your duty to connect with others passions and interests.</p>
<p>Leading by example is a great way to check your actions. The most powerful moral influence is an example. You develop your credibility with people by actually connecting and showing genuine interest through your actions, by sharing freely, by giving generously.</p>
<p>Pastor Chris Hodges, the author of the book <a href="http://amzn.to/2lMymsW"><em>Fresh Air</em></a>,  has a saying that is a great example of how to lead by example, “Find a need and fill it. Find a hurt and heal it.” That’s leading by example.</p>
<p>In conclusion, I want to challenge you instead of focusing on a position or an impressive title to focus on being an influencer, because influencers make things happen. But here’s a warning; influence is earned, not given.</p>
<p>You earn it by actually touching other’s hearts, not showing them that you’re smart. God will give influence to those who use it to bless others and to honor him. One more thing. Your habits influence you, your actions influence others. Now go and change your world!</p>
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<p><em>Your Habits influence you. Your Actions influence them. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Your+Habits+influence+you.+Your+Actions+influence+them.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Who has influenced you the most in your leadership journey? Please comment below.</strong></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/influence-important-thing-leaders/">WHY INFLUENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR LEADERS</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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		<title>HOW TO FOCUS ON YOUR IMAGE AS A LEADER</title>
		<link>http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/</link>
		<comments>http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/#respond</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Steve Messam</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Appearance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JP Morgan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leaders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personality]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://stevemessam.com/?p=350</guid>

				<description><![CDATA[3 Ways to Focus More on Your Inward Image (Character) vs Your Outward Image (Appearance). <p>I’m sure you can agree with me that each and every week before you start your work or your school day one of the toughest and probably most important decisions you have to make is, “What am I going to wear?” Your image. Your appearance, how you look and how you feel plays a big [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/">HOW TO FOCUS ON YOUR IMAGE AS A LEADER</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
]]></description>
					<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em id="gnt_postsubtitle" style="color:#9b9b9b;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:1.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;">3 Ways to Focus More on Your Inward Image (Character) vs Your Outward Image (Appearance)</em></p> <p>I’m sure you can agree with me that each and every week before you start your work or your school day one of the toughest and probably most important decisions you have to make is, “What am I going to wear?” Your image.</p><a href="http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/"><img width="760" height="426" src="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-760x426.png" class="featured-image wp-post-image" alt="Image, Leader, Character" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-760x426.png 760w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-300x168.png 300w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-768x430.png 768w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-1024x574.png 1024w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-518x290.png 518w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-82x46.png 82w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666-600x336.png 600w, http://stevemessam.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3666.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px" /></a>
<p>Your appearance, how you look and how you feel plays a big role on how your day turns out. Although your outward appearance is important, I want to challenge you to focus more on your inward image versus your outward image.</p>
<p><span id="more-350"></span>Before we jump into the three ways to focus more on your inward image vs your outward image, let&#8217;s consider these definitions of &#8220;image&#8221; first. The first one being <em>appearance</em>. Think of that as how you are <em>described</em>, or your outward image. Then we have <em>character</em>. Think of that as how you can be <em>defined</em>, or your inward image.</p>
<p>As a leader, you should focus more on your character (inward), before worrying about your appearance (outward). When a leader wakes up in the morning, their focus should be on their attitude before attire.</p>
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<p><em>When a leader wakes up in the morning, their focus should be on their attitude before attire. </em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=When+a+leader+wakes+up+in+the+morning%2C+their+focus+should+be+on+their+attitude+before+attire.+&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>I&#8217;m going to challenge you to create a &#8220;tailor-made&#8221; image from the inside out because it&#8217;s going to be a key factor in you impacting and influencing others and you achieving your goals.</p>
<h2>3 Ways to Focus on Inward Image</h2>
<p>I can think of at least three &#8220;tailor-made&#8221; ways to improve your inward image and grow as a leader.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Alter It.</strong> This begins with attitude before attire. Before you decide what shoes, shirt, pants, blouse,  or skirt to wear, you need to decide what type of attitude you’re going to be wearing today. Are you going to be wearing a good attitude or a bad attitude? A humble attitude or an arrogant attitude? You must decide what type of attitude you’re going to wear today first before you decide your attire.</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Your image, your attitude, can either help or hinder your ability to impact and influence others as a leader. In order for you to alter your character, you must alter your attitude. Having the right attitude does your character good.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Having the right attitude gives your character a strong foundation to stand. In leadership, character counts. Your character is so important that it&#8217;s what God uses to truly look at you, unlike man who focuses on the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/jp-morgan-9414735#synopsis">JP Morgan</a>, one of America&#8217;s great bankers once said, &#8220;A man’s best collateral is his character.&#8221; Character counts and you can take that to the bank.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
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<p><em>A man’s best collateral is his character. -JP Morgan</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=A+man%E2%80%99s+best+collateral+is+his+character.+-JP+Morgan&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;">2. <strong>Brand It. </strong>You are the total package inside out and your brand, your name, is your legacy as a leader. The wisest man to ever live on earth, King Solomon, once stated that &#8220;a good name is better than precious ointment and should be chosen over great riches.&#8221; (Proverbs 22:1)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">As a student athlete, I took great pride in the name that was on the front of my jersey, Central Michigan Chippewas &#8211; &#8220;Fire Up Chips!&#8221; &#8211; and the name on the back of my jersey, Messam. I bought into the values, beliefs, coaching, and all of the things tied up in that brand, Chippewas, and my name, Messam.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">As a leader always remember that your name is your brand. What do you stand for? Who do you stand for? Your beliefs, your values?</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">How you <em>carry yourself</em> – your attire, your demeanor, your manners, or your appearance – and how you <em>conduct yourself</em> – your actions, your attitude, your behavior, or your character – together that’s the total package, that’s your brand, that’s your name.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Your legacy will far outlive your appearance. Leaders like Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa were great proponents of not judging the appearances of others, the skin color and all of those things, they put more value into the content of folks’ character. A leader&#8217;s character is very difficult to build up and it’s very easy to tear down.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
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<p><em>Character is very difficult to build up and it’s very easy to tear down.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=Character+is+very+difficult+to+build+up+and+it%E2%80%99s+very+easy+to+tear+down.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p style="padding-left: 30px;">3. <strong>Check It.</strong> You’re probably asking yourself, “How in the world do I check my character? How do I see my inward image?” It’s easy for me to see my outer appearance, I can look in the mirror, I can even ask someone how I look.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Here’s how you check your character. If you check your actions, you check your character. People can’t see your heart or your inward image, but they can see what you do.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Another way is to ask someone. Ask someone how&#8217;s your attitude, have someone who you trust check you when you maybe stepping out of bounds with your attitude and actions. People may long forget what you said, even what you may have worn, but they will always remember how you made them feel.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">
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<p><em>If you check your actions, you check your character.</em><br /><a href='https://twitter.com/share?text=If+you+check+your+actions%2C+you+check+your+character.&#038;via=stevemessam&#038;related=stevemessam&#038;url=http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/' target='_blank'>Click To Tweet</a></p>
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<p>Let&#8217;s make good character fashionable as leaders. Let&#8217;s put on love, humility, meekness, kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Let&#8217;s make all of those great qualities and characteristics fashionable. It will never go out of style.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What Type of Attitude Did You Decide to Wear Today? Let us know in the comments. </strong></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com/focus-image-leader/">HOW TO FOCUS ON YOUR IMAGE AS A LEADER</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://stevemessam.com">Steve Messam</a>.</p>
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