I’m Not a Leader…Yet! - Leading in Your Twenties Series

"But, I'm not a leader." When someone makes that statement, I always add "YET!" There is a problem with that statement. The person making that statement assumes leadership is about a title. If you have said or thought this, it is time to stop and reassess your beliefs.

Editor’s note: This is the twelfth in a series of 12 blogs written directly to the Twenty-Somethings. This is about you and your future. As you read these blogs, please share them with other people who want ideas on how to lead now and how to develop the Twenty-Something Leaders of our future.

Renowned author and leadership guru, John Maxwell defines leadership as influence. It's that simple.

If he is right then you are a leader whether you have a title or not. Everyone has influence. Your words and your actions have influence on other people whether you work in a comfortable executive office, or you do manual labor on a loading dock.

What does this mean for the people who are in the early part of their careers? It means you have the opportunity to lead people every day because everyday you have influence on somebody.

The question is "Am I a good influence or a bad influence?"