Leadership can be easily identified by how blame and credit is handled. It is lonely being a leader. At its core, it is responsibility. You carry the weight emotionally and consequentially of decisions for yourself and those you follow.
When hard things press on you or you experience failure, the crossroads of leadership will be presented to you. If you have nurtured the habits of leadership, then you assume responsibility, solve problems and bolster others up around you. Leaders ascribe credit to others and absorb blame.
Contrast this with non-leaders. They blame others and grab for credit. Such behavior is not lost on those watching. It undermines a person’s influence.
You are always presented with opportunities to lead. Every day, you decide. If you want to build on your influence, then think about how you handle blame and credit. It speaks louder than anything you say.
What do you think?
