Dance Monkey Dance!

What do the people around you expect from you? If you're a bossy person then maybe they expect you to assert yourself to get your way. If you're an introvert then maybe they expect you to keep to yourself and appear shy. I am a parent, and I can already see that I have certain expectations of what my child will do in certain situations. I don't really know how my daughter will react to anything... I only know how she has reacted in the past. No one REALLY knows what you are capable of. They only know what you've shown them up until now.

So, how does this relate to leadership? Well, I'm glad you asked. If you are in a position of "leadership", there are certain things that are expected of you. You are expected to be in control of your team. You are expected to delegate. You are expected to have all the answers...and so on. But what are you NOT expected to do? Maybe its sitting down with the janitor and asking him "What do you think about this?" Or maybe its coming into work and actually laughing and enjoying your team. So, what if you aren't in a "leadership" position? You are expected to do as you're told. You are expected to perform 100% of your job duties. You are expected to get along with your teammates. But what are you NOT expected to do? Maybe you can do 100% of your job duties...and then 10% of a job you don't get paid to do! Maybe, instead of just getting along with your teammates...you get together and brainstorm ways to make your team more productive.

Any decent person can do what's expected of him.... But what are the people around you NOT expecting? If you do the unexpected...you'll never lack influence!