Lead From Where You Are: Embracing Everyday Influence
Welcome to the Leadership Vision Podcast, our show helping you build a positive team culture. Our consulting firm has been doing this work for the past 25 years, ensuring that leaders are mentally engaged and emotionally healthy.
Too often, we equate leadership with big stages, titles, or organizational power. But what if true leadership is something quieter and more present? In this reflection, I revisit a blog post Brian Schubring wrote in 2012 and draw a powerful connection to the themes in Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane, the new book by Dr. Linda and Brian Schubring.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership happens in the small, relational moments—not just at the front of the room.
- Meaningful influence begins by paying attention to what and who is around us.
- You don’t need to wait to lead—your next step might be where you already stand.
“When we look only for opportunities to lead, we often miss the more frequent and more common opportunities for meaningful influence.” — Brian Schubring
Questions to Reflect On:
- Where are you right now?
- What is your next step?
- Who is with you?
- What is your tempo for living?
“Transformation doesn’t always begin with flight—it begins with paying attention.” — Nathan Freeburg
Action Items:
- Pause today and notice one small moment where you can show up more fully.
- Ask someone in your life: What’s one small way I can support you right now?
- Journal for 5 minutes about a recent ordinary moment that carried unexpected meaning.
Final Thoughts:
Just like OC, the Origami Crane in Unfolded, we are shaped by the creases of daily life. We may dream of soaring, but first, we must learn from the fold—moment by moment, step by step. When we show up fully in the now, transformation begins to unfold.
About The Leadership Vision Podcast
The Leadership Vision Podcast is a weekly show sharing our expertise in the discovery, practice, and implementation of a strengths-based approach to people, teams, and culture. We believe that knowing your Strengths is only the beginning. Our highest potential exists in the ongoing exploration of our talents.
Please contact us if you have ANY questions about anything you heard in this episode or if you’d like to talk to us about helping your team understand the power of Strengths.
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