Transcripts

Bill George, author of the book True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership, says the definition of leadership today has changed. A leader today is not just someone who can get others to follow.

I think that's a definition that goes back to the 20th century when we followed the great person over the hill - it comes out of two world wars and a depression. No, I think leaders are not trying to get people to follow them, I think they're trying to empower other people to step up and lead. That's what you see in a company like Target stores. They get literally thousands of people to step up and lead within their own environment. It's not a question of waiting for someone else to tell you what to do and you have to follow them.

Another thing leaders have is passion. Often Bill says that passion comes from a time of struggle.

For example, Howard Schultz saw his father in a body cast one day when he was seven and realized he had lost his job. He thought his father was a failure until he died. And then Howard decided, "You know I want to create a company my father would be proud to work at." That's why Starbucks became the first American company to give all workers health care benefits.

If you listen to others and look inward, Bill says, you can find your passion.

It doesn't have to be some kind of great drama but it will be events in your lives that cause you to find your passions to lead - because it's only when you find the passion and you can bring that together with your capabilities that you're going to be an effective leader.

At somethingyoushouldknow.net, I'm Mike Carruthers and that's Something You Should Know.