Below is the continuation of Scott Leckie’s interview.

What do most aspiring leaders not have that keeps them from becoming leaders?

I think what keeps aspiring leaders from becoming leaders could be people skills or a lack of organizational skills.

Can you give an example of a leader that walks the walk (and talks the talk)?

A leader that walk the walk and talks the talk is General Colin Powell.

What happens when a leader doesn’t walk the walk?  Do they lose authenticity or become more authentic revealing their humanity?

When a leader doesn’t walk the walk and talk the talk it is frustrating because it comes down to the trust issue.  It’s like asking us to trust politicians.  :-)  But when this happens it depends on the situation if the person looses authenticity or becomes more of a human being.  We all make mistakes some are just bigger than others.

Do you believe anyone can be a leader?  Why?

I do think anybody can be a leader, but the person has to decide if he or she wants to be a leader.  For example, I am a team lead at work.  Did I start off wanting this position?  Yes, I did, but then when I realized what it entailed I did not want it.  But the next six to eight months I moved to a new area and then the position opened up and I finally felt ready for it.  Somethings I knew already and somethings I learned the hard way.  When you learned something the hard way and you don’t let it affect your work and the quality and help your team get through it then everything works out.  We each can be a leader, we just need to feel comfortable to be in that position.  For some it may take longer than for others.

What separates leaders from followers?

The difference between leaders and followers is self-motivation and the desire to succeed.  Followers wait to be told to do something while a leaders sees something that needs to be done and does it.