Leadership In The Making

May 7th, 2008 by Matt Fankhauser

A Year Long Process

This past year, I had the opportunity to spend five weeks with a group of twenty five middle-level managers from Latin America. We were involved in a program designed to help the group focus on a series of leadership skills that would ultimately add to their leadership development. This great experience culminated just this past week with some great training experiences. Even more exciting was what has happened in the lives of these participants over the course of a year.

The program started in Brazil and then made stops in Argentina, Uruguay, Honduras, the USA, and Mexico. The participants came from Brazil, Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico. The members of this group were very diverse; in ages, in the work that they do, and the level of leadership experience. They brought with them cultural perspectives of different Latin American cultures and the unique challenges they each face.

It was obvious from the way that they interacted with others as well as in the way that they participated in some of the activities we did during the first week that some of the participants were hungry for new skills, yet others were quite skeptical and unsure of their need for this program. When we concluded this program, the maturation and confidence that each one in this group had developed, even in the one’s who thought that they “had arrived” was more than gratifying.

During the last session, participants shared the results of their personal business challenges that they agreed to accomplish during this year long program. Not only were the results of all their efforts excellent, some had very significant bottom-line impacts. We asked participants to tell us what specific training sessions and key learning’s they felt had a major impact on their ability to achieve the results that they did. Undoubtedly, one of the key things they gained was an internal change that takes place through self-reflection and application of the learning’s. This program definitely gave them the opportunity to do this. It also gave them a chance to see how leadership, even in small packages, affects the lives of those around them. There is no question that each participant was impacted by the contact they had with the others. It will leave a very long-lasting impression on all of their hearts.

More Than Just Business

Several life changing experiences had happened along this journey for these people - some became fathers, some lost family members, some faced major physical illnesses, and some moved families from one country to another. Many personal and private events helped to shape and form this future group of quality leaders. Leadership is not always about work and bottom line results. It is often about how we take our experiences to shape our future and the future paths of others. It is about how we share, teach and inspire. It is how we show kindness, thoughtfulness, and a helping hand at a time in need. Leadership is making ourselves a source for which to lift the life of another. This is where leadership really makes its mark. While it is important to see the business results; the way that you touch other people’s lives and the way that they will remember you is what makes a leader great.