The I-Connect007 research team has been surveying readers on the topic of leadership as part of our ongoing planning for upcoming issues. As this response illustrates, great examples of leadership can be found everywhere—provided we're paying attention.
Q: Whom do you admire as a leader, and why?
A: I admire my grandmother. She was born on a dirt floor in a small Midwestern farming community. She eventually built and ran the local hospital. One day, when I was five, I went to see her. I found her out front, planting flowers with a maintenance person. I said, “Grandma, why are you planting flowers? I thought you were the boss." She laughed at me and said, “I'm helping plant flowers because I am the boss." It's a lesson I'll never forget. We lead by example.
Thanks go to John VanNewkirk at CheckSum for such a great contribution to the discussion on leadership.
The survey is still open; to participate, click here.