Good morning, World! It’s Friday!

John Hauser is a leader in our community, founding pastor at Prairie Heights church, who worked for the same company I have over a period of time while he was answering his calling. He introduced me to John Maxwell’s leadership teachings and we began to inculcate the company with VCR recorded lessons during lunch time. We were planting leadership seeds.

Before, during and since that time, John Maxwell has written a tremendous number of leadership books and produced a number of simulcasts (Leadercast) in which he has introduced the world to easy to read and easy to practice leadership principles.

I recently heard one of his Leadercast references that resonated and I thought worthy of repeating (see title). While Mr. Maxwell specifically details what it means to him, John Hauser and I collaborated to put the principle into practice before it had been articulated by Mr. Maxwell.

A true leader is not the one with the most followers but the one who creates the most leaders. John Maxwell

This quest for true leadership is not about amassing a collection of talented individuals in a closed system where the developed abilities are sequestered. Our focus was to develop leadership in a learning environment where non-billable time was not considered a cost but an investment. The investment has “flight” risks but as I recently read regarding this deliberate executive decision, author unknown; CFO says to CEO-“What happens if we train all of our people and they leave?” CEO to CFO-“What happens if we don’t … and they stay?” A river does not stay in the confines of a closed berm, it is a living system that communicates, flows, feeds…

Demographics studies clearly indicate that post-baby-boomer-talent voids will be difficult to fill.  Automation and immigration have limitations. If the focus on quantity doesn’t satisfy the need, we must (and chose to) turn our focus to quality. Developing people to become their very best, reach their highest potential, to lead every aspect of our organizations. To replace (or even enhance) the vacated positions with quality leaders.

Attrition is viewed by many as a negative. In this economic environment, post recession, it is a reality that talent will shift – and possibly due to reasons beyond current comprehension. If you’ve developed leaders in an environment where rivers are celebrated and reservoirs are not, you’ve made an investment into the future of your communities, your industry, your company and your people that will transcend quarterly results and sustain a brand for decades to come.

Have a blessed weekend.