This past Thursday, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the First Annual Leadership & Lunch hosted on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University. This event was hosted by the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce and featured keynote speaker Dr. John Bowling.
Dr. John Bowling is Olivet Nazarene University’s University President. According to Olivet Nazarene University’s website, under President Bowling’s leadership, “The University has flourished, as evidenced by record enrollments, new buildings, expanded degree programs, increased academic standards, improved athletic programs, extraordinary morale among staff and students, and more.”
The event focused on bringing the campus and community together. Dr. Bowling answered the question on how you can describe what it means to be a true leader.
Durning his keynote presentation, Dr. Bowling summed up leadership in two words; “Leaders Do”.
What does “Leaders Do” mean?
“Leaders Do” sums up what leaders are supposed to do.
Dr. Bowling compared leadership to Newtons Law of Inertia. “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”.
He compared leaders as being the outside force that acts upon these objects.
As leaders we must act first and do something. If we do not do anything, the object that we want to move will not budge. Being proactive is the key to leadership. We must find ways we can do something.
Think of a world without leadership… What would it look like with no one who is “doing”?
My guess is that nothing would get done. Without leadership we are lost. We have no tasks that we are to complete in order to get the job done. We live in a world that needs leaders and people who are willing to step up to the plate in order to get the job done.
I would like to leave you with the most powerful statement I believe Dr. John Bowling said.
He said, “We must act. Thats what leaders do. They do.”
Hayden’s Not-So-Important Opinion?
We need leaders. We need leaders in every aspect of our life. We need people who are willing to act and do.
Hayden’s Advice of the Week?
Think about what you can do to be a leader. What can you do?
By Hayden Keifer, Account Executive, Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce
