By Harry Petsanis and Donna McCance
“Mindset for leadership begins by understanding that every person has the mindset to be a leader. Leadership isn’t steering other people in the direction you want them to go. It’s allowing them the space and freedom to lead themselves.”
-Harry Petsanis
Leadership
People attribute leadership to personal qualities and if you don’t have those qualities, then you’re not defined as a leader. Adjectives should not be used to define leadership.
When you lead by example, you show other people that success has no limits. When you put your head down, get to work, and don’t focus on anything except what you need to do, you can achieve just about anything. People will observe and learn from your behavior.
Some definitions of leadership include “setting realistic expectations.” If the world’s most famous and successful people had set realistic expectations, they wouldn’t have reached the level of success that they did. Realistic expectations are limiting. Growth comes from challenging yourself. If you already know how to do something, then you are not learning because you already know it. If you set expectations that you know you can achieve, then there’s no expectation of improvement or doing anything greater.
The best encouragement you can give another person is to leave them alone and let them be who they are. If you want to empower them, let them see and feel the empowerment that comes from you for being authentic and real. You become the greatest motivator because people will be encouraged by your energy and results, and they will want to emulate you. People will then be encouraged to do things for themselves.
“Motivate yourself, encourage yourself, drive yourself, and set your own expectations. Hold yourself accountable.”
-Harry Petsanis
You set an example for others to follow. Being a good leader means people follow the good examples you show, not by you telling them what to do. The goal is for them to learn to motivate themselves, and they will learn this by observing you motivating yourself.
Most people will agree with the statement that “actions speak louder than words,” yet leaders are defined as people who inspire, motivate, and craft and verbalize the perfect message which contradicts actions speaking louder than words. The greatest leaders inspire through their actions, motivate through their behaviors, and empower through their authenticity. People emulate people more from what they do, than what they say.
A leader’s goal shouldn’t be to make people feel better, which can be enabling. It should be to get them to look at themselves honestly by observing your behavior and seeing if they are truly maximizing themselves to do better with themselves. Medicine wasn’t meant to taste good, it was meant to make you feel better.
When you demonstrate that you prioritize your personal development,
others will learn to prioritize their personal development.
When you demonstrate that you are self-aware,
others will observe and learn by seeing the results of self-awareness.
When you demonstrate critical, strategic thinking and taking action,
others will see the effectiveness of these things and will learn to think and act that way.
When you demonstrate you are flexible, adaptable, and accountable,
others will learn to be flexible, adaptable, and accountable.
When you demonstrate good work ethics,
others will see what it looks like and will learn good work ethics.
Since greater than 90 percent of behavior is learned, others will learn what it takes to be successful by observing your success. People will see your authenticity and self-confidence, and they will want to develop that within themselves.
About the Authors
Harry Petsanis is a philosopher of human nature, mindset specialist, and lifelong fitness and wellness advisor. He is a writer and author, with three published books: “The Truth is A Lie,” “The Logical Path To Life,” and "Knowing Me from A to Z, A Child's Mindset," which he co-authored with Donna McCance, M.Ed.. Harry has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. He has an intense passion for psychology and the human condition.
Donna McCance, M.Ed. is a business administrator, writer, author, licensed teacher and principal/vice principal with over 20 years experience teaching in elementary education and educational leadership. She has a Masters in Education, Masters in Human Services Management, Bachelors in Business Administration and Associates in Business Administration.
Click here to order Harry Petsanis’s books
The Truth is A Lie" and "The Logical Path To Life"
Go to amazon.com/dp/B09PMHXVFN
to order Harry Petsanis's and Donna McCance's newly published book
"Knowing Me From A to Z, A Child's Mindset"