Morning Motivator - Leading or Representing?

"I think people are frustrated and the protesters are giving voice to a more broad-based suspicion about how our financial system works."
- President B. Obama on OccupyWallStreet Protests

In order to understand leadership, it is important to understand the difference between "representing" and "leading."

These terms are often confused or conjoined based on the idea that many of our political *cough cough* "leaders" are voted to "represent" us as constituents. Yet, being a leader is very different from being a representative.

Representing means you are the voice of the people - of THEIR opinions - not your own. You are a tool for them to provide their voice and interests on a bigger platform with focus. You DO NOT get an opinion, rather, you get to represent.

Leading is about taking all the opinions from the representation, analyzing them and then acting in the best interest of the whole, even if it means be UNPOPULAR in doing so. Leading is about doing what is right, rather than what is cool or desired from a small group of voters.

Are they similar? Yes. Are they the same? Not at all.

2 DEGREE SUCCESS STEP: Being a leader is very challenging. It requires you to consider the alternatives to every situation. You do not get the luxury of just pushing information up to the higher levels, as a representative would. Your job is to create opportunity, mitigate risk and eliminate waste.

As a leader, you are expected to look out for all parties concerned and execute functions that serve their best interests. If the country needs revenues, you may have to change tax structure. Popular? No. Necessary? Possibly.

Lastly, as a leader, you must stay away from polarizing opinions and interests. Your job is not to be a Democrat or Republican...it is to be a leader. Your job is to make sure that the special interests are heard but do not control, they are understood but not defining culture.

Remember, REPRESENTATIVES follow... LEADERS define the directional options.

Cheers,

Zach

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