To Say...You Need the "Right Stuff" for Leadership Ambiguous?
"Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the rising of a person's performance to higher standards: The building of a personality beyond it's normal limitations" - Peter Drucker. Another profound quote: "Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm" - Publilius Syrus . There has been much debate on what traits, style and/or personality type that leaders are made. One thing that can be agreed upon by most including some scholars is not being able to come up with an absolute definition of leadership. Are leaders born or made? The evolution of leadership defined goes back many years. Some researchers define leadership as a trait or behavior. Others view it as information processing or rational standpoint. As early as the 1900's to 1929, leadership was conceptualized as having control and centralization of power. Therefore, it is safe to assume that a school of thought was individuals who exhibited more authoritative behavior, were likely to be considered having leader traits. In the beginning of the 1960's to late 1970's, perspectives on leadership took on a collaborative nature. Thus, adopting that good leaders become more inclusive, as well as demonstrate behavior less self-imposed, but influence others to work toward shared goals. This sentiment much like how some spotlight leadership today, indicates leaders effect and are affected by followers. Effective leaders influence...compel, not force others to do something, get a project or task done. Leadership generally occurs in a group, but it's effect does impact or motivate on a personal level.
Have you ever questioned whether your leadership skills really shine, even if you already hold a position of leadership? Maybe you imagine what others think about your leader abilities, and feel a need to improve or change your relationship impact strategies. Perhaps you go back and forth with making timely decisions when it especially counts. It's common to have these kind of feelings or concerns. Leadership entails being conscientious to the point of caring about the thoughts of those you expect to follow you. It is reasonable to believe that some individuals do have qualities and traits that are found in some leaders. However, whether one is born with leadership traits is indeed challenged to say the least. It's true some leaders are more charismatic than others, but individuals aspiring to lead most certainly can learn leadership practice skills. A key ingredient to the leader making process is to practice emotional intelligence. This means the ability to see and express emotions, use emotions to set the stage for thinking and understanding. Furthermore, learning to reason with emotions. What more effective way to lead, enlist or have others buy into something, then to understand group needs. What will others benefit or gain from your influence? It is a mistake to not examine one's leadership in relation to shared interest and successful outcomes.
Leadership skill building is a complex process! It requires the support of others. If you look back and find nobody behind you...NOT following practices, sharing ideas, completing projects you oversee, and without motivation - then realize a need to increase investment in the followers.
" Leaders tend to lean in versus lean back...look for entrances and carve out exits" - Eartha L DeYampert
- Eartha L. DeYampert, Senior Consultant
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