By Scott Nichols

Leadership is probably one of the most difficult, rewarding, scariest and brave characteristics we can have. I believe leadership is in all of us, but some of us are really good at using it and some of us are really bad at it. Whoa, that’s kind of a big statement there. I said that because I have seen people transform into good leaders when they thought they didn’t possess the ability to lead. I believe some are bad at leading because they don’t know how to be a leader. I understand some people are natural-born leaders but the majority of us hate the thought of having to even speak up in a meeting. In my experience, I have come to the conclusion that the number one reason someone is afraid to lead is a lack of confidence – the confidence to public speak (when they have to), the weight of the decisions on their shoulders, and the lack of confidence on an outcome.

One of the most important things I have noticed about great leaders is all the prep work they do. Before they even say a word, they make sure they understand the subject 100% before any action is done.  In my estimates, I have found that leaders will spend up to 90% of their time prepping, researching, and listening to find solutions to problems others can’t. Ten percent of the time is the actual doing of the leadership.

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