I read this on a site last week and apparently it stuck with me, but not in the way I believe it was meant to stick with me. It said, “Don’t be the echo, be the voice.” It went on to talk about being a leader and not a follower. This is how I feel about the above quote.

When we help teach…. we hope the ones we teach echo our training and grow from it while possibly improving what we taught. Never be upset if someone improves what we taught them…it only means they grew because of what we taught them. In other words, learn from others and then you can improve what you learned, if possible, and echo what you learned with additional growth.

I used to think I wanted to be a leader until I realized the power of being a team. Echoing one another’s strengths is a powerful feeling and a feeling of unity. When I looked up what “Leader” meant the description said, “one who commands” EEEEK….what a strong and powerful word, “commands.” I’m not a fan of the word commands. That word just screams…. “You will do what I say and only what I say.”

I prefer to echo (repeat someone’s words or opinions, typically to express agreement), learn from the echo and improve if needed. Trust me…you have to echo what someone teaches you, learn from what they taught you and improve in a united way. You don’t have to be a leader to tell someone they are doing a great job, or thanking them for great improvement ideas.

I have echoed everything I was taught in college, learning to be a counselor and a life coach with my own ideas added in. Echoing from someone more knowledgeable than me and then adding my life experiences is so powerful.

Be the echo and run with it.

Trust the Journey and Life Lessons,

Alexis Life Coach Inner Abilities LLC

Alexis BSc(Psyc), MILC

Holistic Life Coach & Counselor