By Jim Pawlak “Leadership isn’t about what goes on in the mind of a leader; it’s about what goes on in the minds of the people he/she wants to lead.” The point: Authority makes you the boss, but that doesn’t make you a leader. Influence does. How do you influence others? Image “Cracking the Leadership Code: Three Secrets to Building Strong Leaders” By Alain Hunkins (John Wiley & Sons, $27). Hunkins’ three secrets of creating influence are: Connection, communication and collaboration. He learned them the hard way: 1. Connection — Hunkins was hoping to become the executive director of a nonprofit. The staff elected the leader. He had been with the organization several years and assumed he’d be a shoo-in because Gary, his opponent, had been onboard less than a year. Hunkins lost 38-6. Over lunch with Gary, he found that the reason he lost was directly related to lack of connection with those with whom he worked.