Leaders come in all characters, personalities and temperaments. I think sometimes that we have a narrow definition of leadership, limiting it to the most powerful positions in the corporate or political world. Roles that influence the activities of many people and control large organizations.
What I am most inspired by is the quiet often unrecognized leaders we meet in our daily lives. I am fortunate to have amazing leaders in my circle of friends and family. I admire the stay-at-home Moms raising respectful, confident, adventurous children. The dedicated young men and women heading to work everyday and rushing home in the evening to carve out precious time with their young families. Career women juggling full-time jobs and still being fully present for their children and grandchildren. Retired folks with their vast store of knowledge and wisdom that seems to present itself miraculously when you need it most. Entrepreneurs pursuing their passion and lifting others with them as they soar. These people embrace the leader within.  Whether they realize it or not, they have a strong connection to their personal values and strengths, and embrace them on a daily basis. They are leaders just by being who they are at their core.
Leaders can be found everywhere you look. A young student who inspires their classmates to support a cause they are passionate about. The extremely competent co-worker that quietly enables the entire team to excel. The project manager that diplomatically diffuses heated arguments so everyone is heard and can get back on the same page and move the project forward. All very different, but all demonstrate similar characteristics. They lead by example. They embody integrity and honesty. They are respected, because they are respectful. That doesn’t mean there aren’t disagreements. We are of course human. But our differences broaden our perspective, provide more information and enrich our experiences.
Each of us are leaders in our own way. We may not appreciate the impact we have on those around us, but we very definitely do. Do we give thought to the impact we personally have in the world? Do we acknowledge the value we bring to those around us? Do we recognize those quiet leaders that have influenced our lives?
Today, take a moment to acknowledge the personal leader in you. The value you have and the enrichment you provide others’ lives. And take a moment to recognize and show appreciation for the quiet leaders in your life. They may not know how valuable they are and the impact they have in your world.

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At the end of 2018 I wrapped up over 20 years of employment with the same company. Downsizing. I still support their reduced operations, but in a part-time capacity. I don’t mind saying I’ve been at loose ends for the past several weeks. The nagging questions in my mind – what will I do now? How will I pay the bills? Where do I want to work? Who will hire me? DO I want to work?
This rather shocking transition has been experienced by far too many in our community. It can be a challenging thing to work through. Shifting away from the spiral of worrisome questions and taking the opportunity to do a bit of soul-searching is the direction I chose to go. Who am I outside of my corporate role? What is my purpose? What brings me joy and fulfillment? What are my strengths, my unique gifts that I can share with my community? What am I passionate about?
Don’t get me wrong, for the most part I very much enjoyed my corporate role. But now that it’s not part of my daily routine, what did I enjoy most about it? What will I miss? What was the value that I contributed?
I’ve discovered that it comes down to Leadership. I’ve been in a leadership role for years. In that time, I have had the opportunity to support and witness amazing people find their confidence and truly come into their own. This is what I find most satisfying.  To cultivate an environment and hold space for individuals as they find confidence in their skills, discover their unique strengths and embrace their own personal leadership. And that is one of my strengths. Being able to see the potential before they see it for themselves, and helping steer them in a direction where that potential can be realized. That has been truly rewarding.
I've chosen a picture of my horse Buddy to represent leadership. I lost him in 2015, but he is still with me in spirit. I learned a lot about leadership from him. He was my lead gelding. He led his herd with compassion, and loyalty. And had a great sense of humor as well. He wasn't the largest of my horses, or the pushiest. He wasn't the most visible and wasn't at all demanding. But he took his role seriously, he knew his strengths, and he knew when to let others take the lead. He was confident in his role, but he also knew that everyone else's role was important.
Leadership looks different for every individual. What does it look like for you? What are your strengths? And how can you embrace your personal leadership?