First person: What ‘affect’ are you causing in others?

You’ve heard the concept of cause and effect; let me introduce cause and affect. The difference in the words affect and effect is that one is used as a verb, one as a noun. Affect, usually used as a verb to create an effect (noun) in another’s behavior. Effect is the result or consequence that occurs due to specific cause. It is what happens as a result of the cause.

Leadership is not predicated on a title. Everyone is a leader. You have leadership responsibilities in some areas of your life. You have influence with your children, spouse, neighbors, friends, church and others. You may not be in a leadership position at work, but you are in a position of leadership (influence). What you do, how you carry yourself, every action is influencing someone. If you are showing disrespect to your leaders or organization, you are influencing others. If you have a habit of talking about others, positively or negatively, you are influencing those around you, maybe not in a positive way.

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Many definitions of leadership include the word influence, and I agree that in it’s simplest definition leadership is influence. If you cannot influence someone, you cannot lead. Leading is guiding, not forcing, not coercing. Influence in leadership is having an affect on another in a way that inspires him/her to action. Is your influence in the lives of others inspiring them to positive action? If not, are you not leading them down a wrong path?

Trust and respect

What is needed to influence or motivate someone? Two traits answer this question — trust and respect. You affect people at the level of trust and respect they have for you. You cannot lead people to accept another person if you are never showing your trust and respect for that person. The trust others put in you is dependent on the trust and respect you display for others.

As believers we are called to build trust and respect for God Almighty and for His created beings. When we talk negatively about God’s greatest creation, humans, we are reflecting not God’s image, but a negative image of that person and His creator. For those we disagree with, we are to pray for and use our influence to positively affect the behavior of those listening to us.

Think on examples of how you inspire others to action in the following areas of life: family (spouse, children/siblings), school or work (peers/friends/coworkers) and in your community (grocery/bank/doctor’s office).

You have opportunities all day long to inspire and influence people around you. What affect are you causing in the lives of those around you? This week, strive to live as an influence in leadership, having an affect on others in a way that inspires them to action.