An Interview with Kevin Eikenberry: Part 1

I'm excited about the opportunity to visit with and feature Kevin Eikenberry and his best-selling book Remarkable Leadership. On Friday, August 24, we will feature the interview with Kevin. He will share his thoughts on leadership and what it takes to become a remarkable leader, the power of reflection, and more.

Let me tell you about Kevin. He is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that provides a wide range of services, including training delivery and design, facilitation, performance coaching, organizational consulting, and speaking services. Kevin is making a difference in the lives of many people.

Here's a sneak preview of the Friday interview. Some early thoughts from Kevin...

Road Map: Kevin, why are you so passionate about leadership?

Kevin Eikenberry: Leadership is an activity I have been observing, and doing since I was young. That reason alone should be enough! Beyond that however, I'm passionate about leadership because leaders create change. Whether creating a better product, a more cohesive team, or more peaceful solutions, leaders help change the world.


RM: Why the book “Remarkable Leadership.”

KE: I wrote this book for many reasons - here are just a few of those reasons:
- to support and help our clients reach their goals.
- to further my own knowledge and understanding of leadership
- to share what I have learned with the broader world
- to support the growth of my business
- to help change the world in a positive way.

RM: The most debated question regarding leadership is..."Are leaders born or made?" How do you answer that question?

LE: I love this question and I answer it at the beginning of Chapter 1 (here's a preview).

Are leaders made or born? The question seems to be eternal, yet the answer seems clear. I’ve never received a birth announcement in the mail, or read one in the newspaper, that announced the birth of a leader. Yet on any given day, we can read the obituaries in any newspaper and see which leaders have died. This simple analysis shows that leaders must be made. People can do and learn the skills of leadership. People can become leaders. . .

We all are born with a unique set of skills and innate abilities. Some of us are born with talents that make us more easily successful as musicians, mathematicians, or mechanics. Others are blessed with talents that make empathy, persuasion, vision, or communication come more easily. We all are given a unique bundle of talents at birth, and it is our job to use that personal set of skills and abilities to maximize our potential throughout our life. Some of our unique talents will help us in our journey to becoming a remarkable leader, and other skills may not come as naturally to us, and so we may need to be more diligent or conscious in developing."

Check back on Friday 8/24 for the full feature interview (Part 2 of 2) with Kevin.

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