Lately I’ve been feeling a little skeptical about the meaning of leadership.  I’m not sure I really know what leadership means anyway!  A lot of the leadership training I see is more management techniques than leadership development. The problem is that someone can know all the techniques and still not be an effective leader.  Can we really teach leadership or is it something that has to be revealed from within an individual? 

So yesterday a quote came in a friend’s email sig that really hit the mark. I felt myself exhale as I let go of the need to "learn leadership."  I would be very interested to hear your reaction:

Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it’s also that difficult…First and foremost, find out what it is you’re about, and be that."  Warren Bennis

I want more of this!  If you have any suggestions on leadership training or resources that are more about being-yourself-to-be-a-leader, please let me know.  I will compile a summary to share with our community of readers.

Laura

PS:  Not to say there aren’t fabulous leadership resources out there.  One that comes to mind that is all about the "being" of leadership is the book, Leadership and Self Deception.  Really great!  And applicable to all our relationships.  Cheers!