How to Be a Leader of Significance in Just a Few Seconds!

I am not a leader!… The truth is, we all are leaders. Everyone we encounter each day is influenced by you. You influence people in ways you may never know.Charles Barkley, hall of fame professional basketball player, once said, “I am not a role model!”I hate to bust his bubble, but he is. We are all leaders, role models, or whatever name you would like to display. Everyone you encounter will be affected by what you say, how you smell, how you made them feel, how you looked.It is inevitable you will impact people every day in many ways. How you choose to impact them is your choice.The question is are you a leader based on influence or are you a leader of significance?When was the last time you said, “Thank you”?When was the last time you heard “Thank you”?The two words “Thank you” are two of the most powerful words a person can hear or say. There is no limit to how many times they are heard or said.The more frequency they are heard or said increases the self-worth of many people.Giving someone the gift of a “Thank you“, “Good Morning“, or a “Hello” may be the most valuable gift a person will receive in their day.On an average day in an average week at an average office building, two average business professionals entered an average elevator. The average professional gentleman said Good Morning to the other average professional gentleman.There was no response.As the average elevator stopped at the floor, the first gentleman exited. It appeared to be another average encounter of two average professional gentlemen.Later in the day, an exceptional thing happened. As the gentleman who said, good morning entered the meeting, the other gentleman who was on the elevator and sitting in the room said, “Hey, there is the ‘Good Morning’ guy.” Wow! What a moment.Although the two words “Good Morning” appeared to be unnoticed, it made an impact. The power of two simple words. Often the impact of small words makes the biggest impact.

” God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you?” — William Arthur Ward Every day we are provided time. Each day we have 86,400 seconds. How we use the time is up to us. How many of those seconds do you invest to impact others? When we invest our time saying, “Thank You” , we impact people in powerful ways.The investment of finances provides great impact, the investment of words provides lifelong impact.When we invest our time, each day impacting others with our words, we will be given the same amount of time the next day to do the same.If we look at the time, we have each day an opportunity to invest in someone else, we influence the value others experience.Related: Can You Label Yourself an Expert?

How do you invest your time each day to impact others with the 86,400 seconds you are given each day?

When you encounter someone, say “Hello”, don’t remain silent.

Discover ways to say Thank you as many times as you can.

Thank people for specific things.

Send random texts, messages, or calls to people who you know, “Just to say “Hi!”

Smile!

Respond to others with enthusiasm when they speak to you.

“The right word spoken at the right time can make all the difference in building people up. Choose well.” –Michael Hyatt Small words have impact on others. We may not see the results of what we say, we can be assured they will impact far beyond our reach.When we look for ways to invest our 86,400 seconds each day, we will discover that the investment of a few seconds will not remove time from our day but will add value to another person’s day. When we seek out opportunities to make an impact, we will discover they are numerous .A simple “Thank You” may be the best gift a person can receive. Be generous and watch the impact and influence you will have on others. You will be a significance in ways you could never imagine.