National Leadership Day
By Sharon Schweitzer
National Leadership Day is set aside to acknowledge the power of leadership. Every year, on February 20th, we recognize the impact that leaders make in people’s lives as they seek to develop themselves and others.
The Maxwell Leadership Enterprise founded National Leadership Day in 2021 to recognize what it means to be a good leader. Everyone can lead, regardless of their title or position. Once you realize the impact of your influence, you will see that you can make a difference right where you are. That is the power of leadership! Over 50 years ago, John C. Maxwell defined leadership as this: “Leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less. Considered the foremost authority on leadership, when others were writing about management, Maxwell began to define leadership, pointing out the difference between managing (position/process-focused) and leading (people-focused). Over 90 books, millions of trained leaders, and tens of millions of readers, subscribers, and followers later, Maxwell has received many awards for leadership from Forbes, Inc 500, and many other organizations. He also received a Horatio Alger award for his contribution to service.
When we talk about leadership, we know that leadership is about growth – for yourself, your relationships, your productivity, and your people. To lead well, you must embrace your need for continual improvement so that you can be the best leader you can be.
On this day, organizations across America organize leadership workshops to get more and more people into leadership roles. This not only helps the organization utilize its workers and employees to their full potential but also makes them self-reliant and independent. If more companies invest in leadership opportunities for their employees, they will create employees who are not just loyal to them but also capable, honest, and unafraid of taking risks. We know that any organization is only as good as its leaders, which means that having empathetic and just leaders at the top who lead by example creates an environment in which everyone is inspired to be their best selves. This improves productivity and makes the workplace truly wonderful. If organizations invest in creating good leaders instead of model employees, it will do wonders for everyone.
The observance aims to empower people to help others and be change agents and difference makers in someone’s life. This is the opportunity we have on National Leadership Day: To show people what it means to be a good leader and inspire them to be a positive force of change in another person’s life.
The essence of being a leader is not about telling people what to do. It lies in one’s ability to listen to the people around them, motivate them, and change their perspectives.
It is important that each of us develop a willingness to lead when we can because it puts us in a better position to use our talents to improve our communities.
Photo by www.conovercompany.com
Sharon Schweitzer JD, is a diversity and inclusion consultant, cross-cultural trainer, etiquette expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE Centre, she is an attorney and mediator. Sharon served as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat Geo People. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business, Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, won a coveted Kirkus Star, and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. She’s a winner of numerous awards, including the British Airways International Trade Award at the Greater Austin Business Awards.
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