Interview With Mike Henry – Lead Change Group
One of the most pressing needs for me when I decided to step out and develop my own business, was to find like-minded people to connect, network with and even make friends. Like-minded people who knew there was an imperative for a new way of leading: an understanding that a new paradigm was required. Social media was very new to me in those days and as I searched for what I could find on leadership, it became clear there were many wonderful leadership experts out there, doing inspiring things. Even then, the organisation which came up again and again, and who’s philosophy resonated strikingly like my own was the Lead Change Group, founded and led by Mike Henry. It wasn’t long before I decided to contact Mike and make a connection with both him and the Lead Change Group. I was made to feel very welcome and I have since connected with many of the talented and inspirational instigators who have joined Mike on his quest. I am therefore delighted and honoured when Mike agreed to an interview to feature in the magazine. If you’d like to hear more about the Lead Change Group and how the group came about, you can find out more on the links included in Origins of the Lead Change Group. Here’s what Mike had to say.
Can you describe to our readers the overarching purpose of the Lead Change Group?
A. Our formal purpose is to encourage, energize and equip people to apply character-based leadership to lead change in themselves first, then others and their community. Our definition of character-based leadership is leading from who you are and not your position or power. My personal purpose is to elevate purpose and mobilize people. When we make “leadership” better, we make our world better. So I want to mobilize people to be the best leader they can be.
What practical activities does the Lead Change Group undertake?
A. We have a website where any member is welcome to write and join the dialogue. To me a big part developing as a leader is to simply participate in your own development. If you have to prepare 500 words about what you believe as leader, it will sharpen your vocabulary and further shape your focus. We also have a local group in Tulsa and affiliated local group in Dallas and we’re available to help other members start groups in their community. We wrote a book, titled . We want to promote the people in the community who are making a positive difference.
Looking back over the growth of the group to date, what are you most proud of and why?
A. Probably our first get-together, Leaderpalooza. Fifteen of us got together and agreed about the idea of a community focused on promoting character-based leadership. I enjoy all of those great friends and that meeting changed my life.
How can our global readership get the most benefit from the group?
A. Get in and share. Be the kind of person you’d like to connect with. You will connect with great people and you will get opportunities to collaborate. You will become like the people you’re around. But you won’t get to “hang around” those people unless you’re one of those people. If you join an organization like the Lead Change Group measuring your return, you won’t do very well. Leaders gain best when we enter an effort or a situation looking for ways to create value. The value we create, we get to share. The Lead Change Group is no different. It’s a great community of cool character-based leaders. If you join, you get to contribute to that community and receive the benefits of it.
What is next for the lead change group?
A. I’d like to have another conference. They’re a lot of work, but the people in this community are wonderful and I can’t spend enough time with them. I’ll be working to get that event planned next.
Who is the most inspirational leader you know?
A. Well, I’m a Christian, so the leader I (hope I) follow most closely is Christ. I believe He’s the most inspirational leader. I’m also very influenced by Seth Godin, Steven Furtick, and Simon Sinek. But the people of the Lead Change Group inspire me every day. There are people all over the globe who are investing their energy to improve leadership in thousands of ways. When anyone takes personal risk to make their community better, they inspire me.
Finally what is the best piece of leadership advice you would give to aspiring or developing leaders?
A. Be the person you’d like to follow. Your best “you” pursuing your best ideas will have the greatest influence and make the biggest difference.
Thank you for your inspiring words Mike!
If you can find more about the Lead Change Group, by visiting their website, or the series of articles about how the Lead Change Group originated.
