• One of the most brilliant bosses I have ever had is Bud.  He can get his arms around an issue faster than anyone I know and seeks collaborative interaction to resolve an issue and move forward. The beauty is he has and welcomes multiple ideas.  He wants to test and validate his thoughts, all to get the best solution.  He is a thinker and doer.  In fact; I jumped at the opportunity to work for Bud at a second company.  He is just fun to be around too!
   
• Tim was the best manager and leader I have ever had.  Not only is leading completely natural for him, but he gains unprecedented alignment in a reserved and reverent fashion.  You just know your work really matters and he is with you.
   
• The most enterprising and entrepreneurial boss is Billy.  His conviction and commitment to a vision is second to none.  For him it is. . . Risk with rationale.  I think a simple way to explain this risk concept is he embraces risk as “a friend”, not as an adversary.  For Billy, there are just not enough marketplace obstacles to divert a focus on the destination to where he wants to take a business.
   
• Last and certainly not least is Tom.  I call Tom my career launcher.  Early in my career, he taught me to be boundary-less in what I can do, but more importantly the talent and skills I had.  As a boss, but also as a mentor (and you don’t always get both in one person), I gained the insight to how important the “voice-of-the-customer” is and how it goes beyond just listening.  Simply said, and making a variation of the old US Army promotional slogan – he helped me “be all I could professionally be”. 

    These people have a gift and have shared with me, as well as, countless others.  For me, I look for ways to share it with others – it’s too good to keep to myself! 

Each of them just loves the challenge.  They – and I choose these words carefully- are creative courageous leaders, which is much different from “creatively leading”.  I am enriched to have had their influence and guidance.

Influencers for you?  Thoughts?  Share your thoughts in the comment box below!