Leadership

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What is Leadership?
My Leadership Philosophy
Leadership Resources
Best Leadership Books
All Leadership Articles

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” –Lao Tzu

Welcome to Leadership on Sources of Insight!

I’ve grown and groomed many leaders and leaders of leaders at Microsoft and more. This is an organized index of leadership articles and resources available on this site that you can use to master the mindset, Skillset, toolset for better leadership through guides, checklists, articles, quotes, and more.

What is Leadership?

I think of leadership as influencing with a purpose. As John Maxwell put it, leadership is influence:

“Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” — John Maxwell

I agree with John Maxwell that leadership is influence. It’s not about position or role.

In my experience, the whole point of leadership is to help people go and grow where they have not gone before.

To me the difference between good leadership and great leadership lies in how you achieve the vision, how well you pave the path for others, and who people become through the process.

When leadership is done well, people are inspired by the vision, they generate energy, and they achieve great things, together, and become greater versions of themselves.

My Leadership Philosophy

I’ve led teams at Microsoft for more than 20 years including remote and virtual teams. Here is my leadership philosophy:

Leadership starts from the inside out. Learn how to lead yourself first, before you lead others, so that you can become a better leader.

There are thought leaders and there are people leaders, and sometimes both, but being good at one does not necessarily make you good at the other.

Leadership takes heart. You gain leadership by giving your power away to others, by empowering them and building trust that you have their best interest at heart.

Focusing on strengths is a force multiplier for everyone. The best thing a leader can do is to bring out the best in others.

Establishing a vision, mission, and values helps create clarity, bring people together around a common purpose, and create culture.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast, but strategy is a skill that more leaders should learn to grow their competence and capabilities, and to help teams navigate challenges with skill.

As a leader, you need to balance connection and conviction so that you can handle the tough stuff under stress.

The best leaders grow more leaders and give people chances to rise and shine.

Leadership Resources

Getting Started with Leadership – The Getting Started with Leadership Guide will help you build your leadership foundation, master personal leadership, and learn how to lead others.
The Leadership Guide – The Leadership Guide will help you quickly learn the mindset, skillset and toolset of better leaders:
The Leadership Checklist – The Leadership Checklist is a list of checks to remind you and help reinforce the mindset, skillset and toolset of better leaders:
Leadership Skills – To become a better leader, practice the skills of leadership: Change, Connection, Courage, Culture, Emotional Intelligence, Influence, Motivation, Storytelling, Strengths, Strategy and Vision.
Best Leadership Quotes – This is my collection of the best leadership quotes that I’ve curated as a way of organizing the wisdom of the ages and modern sages.
Best Leadership Products – This is a walkthrough of some of the best leadership products to help you learn and master your leadership abilities and become a better leader.