Leadership is a gift

Image of gift box representing leadership as a giftThis is, without a doubt, one of the best leadership talks I have had the pleasure of hearing. General Mark Welsh, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, delivers a talk on leadership to the cadets at the Airforce Academy.

General Welsh is humble, humorous, engaging, honest and compelling – everything we want to be as leaders. He is also clearly able to articulate, through his stories, the traits all really great leaders display. He embodies the principles of his organisation and truly values, believes in, and knows his people.  These are the traits that turn good technicians into great leaders – traits we are all seeking to build into our own operating rhythm.  Ask yourself, do you embody the values of your organisation? Do you know, truly believe in and value your people?  If not, then are you worthy to lead?

The video is 50 minutes long but it is worth every minute.  If you believe you are a leader, then I challenge you to take the time to watch it and then reflect on your own behaviours as a leader. By taking the time to reflect, you will be able to decide how you are going to lead your teams in the future.

As General Welsh so succinctly puts it “Leadership is a gift. It’s given by those who follow. But you have to be worthy of it”.