LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP WITH NIDO QUBEIN AND JOHN MAXWELL.

• Position: EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION

President Nido Qubein interviews some of the world's most influential thought leaders and change agents who are drawn to the High Point University campus. Their conversations focus on leadership, innovation and values that prepare HPU students to lead lives of success and significance. These topics are also the focus of Qubein's Life Skills Seminar, which he teaches to all freshmen.

The interviews are open to the entire community, filmed in front of a live audience, aired on public television, and shared online with viewers around the world. An excerpt of Qubein's interview with best-selling author John Maxwell, considered one of the foremost experts in leadership development, is printed below. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity and can be viewed in its entirety at www.highpoint.edu/innovators.

Q: QUBEIN: Welcome, John Maxwell, to the HPU campus, where we believe that strong leadership moves the world forward in positive ways. You are known globally as an expert on leadership. You've published more than 25 books on the topic. What is leadership to you?

A: MAXWELL: Leadership is influence. It's that simple. Your ability to influence people allows you to have the privilege of leading. You can't lead anyone that you can't influence. My favorite leadership proverb is, "He who thinks he's leading but has no one following him is only taking a walk." When people begin to understand that about leadership, they can begin to increase their influence. They can excel and do things they never thought possible.

Q. QUBEIN: Do you think that individuals are born as natural leaders, or can leadership be learned?

A. MAXWELL That's the number one question I'm asked. People want to know, "John, are leaders born that way?" Obviously there are people with what I call "leadership leanings" --giftedness that will allow them to excel at leadership if they work to fulfill their potential. But when you think about leadership being influence, anyone can do it. Maybe not everyone can do that at the same level, but every person can influence and therefore be a leader. For example, a mother at home with her children has influence, and there's leadership there. The question is not, "Are you a leader?" The question is, "What kind of leader are you, and are you continuing to develop as a leader?"

Q. QUBEIN: There are studies showing that today's college graduates may have up to 40 different jobs in their lifetime because of rapid change in our world and...