Most of us aspire to be leaders, but did you realize that you’re already leading? And as a leader, everyone is already one of three kinds… a positional leader, an influential leader, or a transformational leader.

For the positional leader, people follow you because they have to.
For the influential leader, people follow you because they want to.
For the transformational leader, people are inspired by you and they want to be you.

Positional leaders are a dime a dozen. Give them a title or a badge and what comes out from inside surprises even them.

Influential leaders are everywhere. Moms influence their children, strangers influence other strangers with their kind words and deeds, and hardworking employees influence their peers.

Transformational leaders go beyond their position and beyond their influence. They help change the character of others by their integrity and the lives they lead. For a truly transformational leader, leadership is never self-centered, but always about the other person in any circumstance.

Transformational managers influence their teams through encouragement and example, not by their authority or title. Transformational CEOs know the names of their security detail and maintenance people, commanding the respect and trust of thousands of people through their humility, not their power.

What’s your desire? To have a title…to influence… or to influence AND transform?