Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state, believes there is no higher honor than a life of leadership. In support of that conviction, she delivered this profound message during a Leadership Summit speech: “Every life is capable of greatness. Our responsibility as leaders is to create opportunities.” 

Leaders have the weighty privilege of helping people see their potential and believe in the possibilities of their future.

As Scottish author and politician John Buchan suggested, “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit, for the greatness is there already.”

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Mr. Holland’s Opus.

What a delightful movie!

It is the story of Glenn Holland, a young aspiring musician who passionately wants to become a big-time composer.

Money gets tight. He needs a consistent income to support a family. Mr. Holland reluctantly pursued a position as a teacher so he could still write his music part-time.

Little did he know this job would consume his life. Although he intended it to be a temporary situation, Mr. Holland discovers his passion for sharing his love for music with his students and discovers much about himself. Students embraced and were inspired by Mr. Holland’s conviction that music could transform their lives.

Everyone in the theater had to grieve with Mr. Holland when he learned his teaching position was eliminated because of cutbacks. By now Holland is middle-aged and he realizes he has missed the opportunity to take his symphony to New York and become a noted composer.

Mr. Holland concludes he has wasted his life!

Despondent, depressed and on the verge of bitterness, he shuffles down the hallway preparing for his final walk out of the school. The noise in the auditorium caught his attention and when he peeked in . . . dozens and dozens of students whose lives he impacted during his years of teaching had gathered to honor him.

Never underestimate the impact your influence, actions and encouragement are having on people, even if they don’t tell you. Like Glenn Holland, we might need to look past ourselves and see a greater good.

Think of Your Influence

I’m embracing Tammy Tibet’s, co-founder and CEO of She’s the First, inspiration to, “Never underestimate your ability to make someone else ‘a first.’ You could be the first person to support them and believe in their dreams. . . And that will matter throughout the rest of their lives.”

Believe in people. Show them what makes them special.

Like people. Assume the best in each person you meet.

Maximize abilities. Every person is a treasure chest of talent. Open it.

Individualize expectations. Get a mental picture of unbelievable expectations for each of your people. Then, draw it out for them.

Nurture success. Give people the freedom to use their energy and talent reserves to perform.

Questions to Ponder:

How are you underestimating your impact on people?

Believe. Like. Maximize. Individualize. Nurture. Where are you strong? What needs attention?

If everyone believed in people like you do, would more people be discovering their greatness?

Who is a primary candidate for you to nurture their success?

Questions or comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.