I asked the Dean to let me redo five years of study rather than write the dissertation
Several years ago I achieved a huge goal I had set for myself: earning a doctorate by the time I was 40. I only missed it by one year — but that one year was a killer, and it was the last step in the process that nearly did me in. Writing my dissertation.
For some people that might not be a big deal, but for me it was a gut-wrenching experience, because I'm not the brainy type. I even suggested to the Dean of Students that he let me go back and repeat the previous five years of study in lieu of the dissertation.
Without a moment's hesitation he responded:
George, it's all about the process.
The Dean of Students
What he was suggesting was that it was not the dissertation that really mattered, but the process I would go through to complete it. Easy for him to say. So I engaged in the process, and I must say it taught me a lot. It taught me about persistence and discipline, what I was really made of, and about not giving up when everything in me wanted to throw in the towel.
Leadership is the same way
No one ever became a leader in a day, a month, or even years. Why? Because leadership isn't about a destination — it is about the process. Leadership isn't a place you arrive at; it is a process you engage in, and that takes place over a long period of time. Even a lifetime.
It doesn't happen just by reading a book, going to a class, or attending a seminar. We have to continue learning, growing, applying, adjusting and re-adjusting, and many are not willing to take the journey.
There is nothing simple about leadership except its definition: leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. Beyond that it gets pretty complicated. It involves earning respect, gaining influence, developing emotional strength, learning people skills, becoming disciplined, learning to cast vision, delegating effectively — the list goes on. That's why leaders require so much seasoning to be truly good leaders.
So if you are going to be a great leader you need what I call the X factor: exposure and experience. These only come with time.
Two warnings
To you young aspiring leaders out there — don't rush the process. Leadership is a journey, not a destination.
To you more seasoned leaders — don't deceive yourselves into thinking you've arrived. We all have room to grow. In fact the greatest gap that exists today is the gap between what we know and what we do. So stay engaged in the process.
Success is found in your daily agenda
What am I doing every day that helps me grow in my quest to be a better leader? Ask yourself: what should I stop doing? In other words, what am I doing every day that I don't need to do, or shouldn't be doing?
Dr. George Powell
Pastor of Abundant Life Church in Portland, Oregon, and an independent coach, teacher and speaker certified with the John Maxwell Team.