Comments on: Leadership: Control vs. Influence

By: The Five Marks of Authentic Leadership « Random Thoughts from an Online Pastor

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:39:02 +0000

[...] Leadership: Control vs. Influence [...]

By: Leadership in the Workplace | Work and Wok

Leadership in the Workplace | Work and Wok — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:05:24 +0000

[...] Leadership: Control vs. Influence http://michaelhyatt.com/2007/09/leadership-control-vs-influence.html [...]

By: JayShepherd

JayShepherd — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:57:02 +0000

Michael,__Love this absolutly love it . To me true leadership is all about reaching people not to get what you want from them but to earn their respect thru my own actions and examples. There are so many great leaders that you have mentioned through out history and they all have one thing in common and that is the love and respect for all of those people who they have influenced. If you want to influence anyone even in your own personal life family and friends then it must start with you. We as people all speak the same universal truth though most of us are not in touch with it. Great leaders have found this truth and live by it every day. The human spirit knows this truth and when we find others who have found it and practice it then the walls can come down and we will begin to listen, trust, respect, yes and even be influenced by others. ____ Jay____

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:48:51 +0000

Thanks Michael, I read a book once, can't remember the name at the moment, in which the author said something I have remembered to this day: "Control is zero sum game. If control is necessary in order to be happy, then you can't be happy if I am." I remind myself of that quote when I feel a urge to control. It is far more benefial to help others gain self control; attempts to control others are ultimately self-defeating. Even if I do gain control, it is control of a very small world full of unhappy people.

-Best Wishes, Gordon

By: Anthony Treas

Anthony Treas — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:01:24 +0000

This month I spoke to a group of Latino high school students about Leadership. One of my main points was; you must be able to lead yourself before you can lead others. You must set a good example (influence) for others to follow. Great post!

By: Anthony Treas

Anthony Treas — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:00:35 +0000

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:17:37 +0000

If I truly believe in my own idea of how to accomplish a thing and begin steps toward that goal with calm confidence, people around me will see that I am going somewhere and will want to jump on board for desire to be a part of and fear of being left out of something magnificent.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:55:39 +0000

So true. My observation has been that people who are so focused on control never accomplish much when they get in a leadership position because their focus all along had been on achieving control rather than really being a leader. Hence, by obtaining a top position they had accomplished their goals.

Leadership doesn’t come from one’s position but from what one does.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:17:26 +0000

In addition to John C. Maxwell books medtioned above, I recommend an amazing book in a fiction form: “The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership” by by James C. Hunter.

The book help me to not understand but also change my mind: turned impossible missions into practical actions. I’ve already gave several copies of this book to some young leaders (or the leader-to-be).

p.s. I only read the translated edition and I’ll get the English edition later this month.

By: zein

zein — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:39:17 +0000

Mike,

I have a slight different view about influence and leadership. While the four ways you suggest to develop leadership are perfect, the preceding paragraphs perhaps misleading for hasty readers that influencing other people is the key to leadership. And, we can influence other through many ways, positive or negative.
Influence, in my view is the result of leadership, not the precedent of leadership.
I see leadership as creating change, and the ways you suggest is reflecting that perfectly: create change first, then you can influence other, not vice versa.

Thanks for the great article,
Zein