Final Ted Talk Idea

Prompt:

Write 100 words announcing your final TED Talk idea in a Medium post.

Response:

My final TED Talk idea is to speak about how leadership is not positional, and how you should never let the position you hold from reaching your fullest potential. In other words, leadership is based off of your actions.

If you’ve ever worked anywhere, you’ve probably worked for a leader who couldn’t really lead. They were given that title, but never obtained that skillset to be the leader they were meant to. I think that many people today have some inkling that having a position or title does not automatically recognize you as a good leader. However, the point here that I don’t think a lot of people know is that not having a title should not keep you from leading. People at every level of an organization have the opportunity, have the chance, to make an impact. Instead of thinking of yourself caught up in titles and positions, think instead about what kind of change you are making. Get rid of that idea that you can wade through life kind of making a difference. What matters at the end of the day as a leader is whether you made a difference. Did you successfully delegate work? Did you take a loss? Did you make the lives’ of customers easier? Or did you make it harder? The point of leadership is to make an impact on others. That’s what leaders are supposed to do. They take the individual who doesn’t believe in what’s next and brings them up to speed. It inspires them, it pushes them to see the bigger picture.

Now, I know people today don’t want to overstep their boundaries. Most of you listening today have titles and you lead that way. It’s what you’re supposed to do. It’s what you’re used to. But challenge that mindset. Think about making a difference, a positive difference. About what more you can do to impact your organization, past what you’re already doing. You don’t need a title to be a leader, but if you do have a title, do it right and do it more.