TRUTH 1: You Make a Difference

Everything you will ever do as a leader is based on one audacious assumption. It's the assumption that you matter.
Before you can lead others, you have to lead yourself and believe that you can have a positive impact on others. You have to believe that what you do counts for something.
The Truth is That You Make a Difference. It is not a question of "Will I make a difference?" Rather, it's "What difference will I make?"

You Are the Most Important Leader
Leader role models are local. You find them close to where you live and work.

You also definitely find leader role models "close to home" in your organization - founders, CEO's, generals, presidents and the likes. They make it seem as if these top dogs are the only ones responsible for everything that's great, and everything that's lousy, about organizations. It's a subtle thing, but it perpetuates the trickle down theory of leadership: All things start at the top and trickle down to the bottom. But, when you actually look at the data, you see a very different picture.
The leader who has the most impact on your day to day behavior is, in fact, not, the CEO, the COO, the CFO or any other C - unless, of course, you report directly to that person. The leader who has the most influence over your desire to stay or leave, your commitment to the organization's vision and values, your ethical decisions and actions, your treatment of customers, your ability to do your job well and the direction of your career, to name but a few outcomes, is your most immediate manager.
This means that if you're a manager, to your direct reports you are the most important leader in the organization.

- James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner