How Leadership Can Help You?

Here is a description of the manner we can define leadership and of what people want in a leader.

People want leaders who treat them with genuine compassion, courtesy and respect. They want leaders who help them to become more successful.

They want leaders who inspire them with a vision for a better world and show them how to go there.

If you’re a leader, you have a task to complete.

Do you want the people you lead to simply do the task? Or do you want those people to actually take leadership of accomplishing the task?

For the difference between doing and leading in terms of accomplishment is stock car and a formula 1 racer.

Clearly, you can order them to accomplish the task; and if you’re in a position of authority, they will most likely carry out the order.

But they might not do it with full commitment. Or they may resent being ordered. Or they may be inclined to do nothing unless ordered, and so, after accomplishing the task, they do little else but wait for the next order.

It may take some time to comprehend the manner we try to define leadership and how we have described it here. However, it is only through it’s complete comprehension that you will get the right picture of leadership.

An audience of Leaders Try To Define Leadership

Recently, it was asked to an audience of leaders to define leadership and to describe the most important characteristics of an ideal leader.

An Excellent Video Showing How To Define Leadership

Their answers were (in the order collected):
A good listener, enthusiasm, passion, shows appreciation, a visionary, role model, trusting, integrity, organized, knowledgeable, credibility, persuasive, charisma, team building, clarity of purpose, problem solver, attitude of service, leads by example, patience, willing to act without complete knowledge, understands followers, consistent, empowers other people, and adapts to change.

Surprisingly, this is essentialy the same list when other audiences are asked to answer the same question.

1- The characteristics that the list contains.

You’ll notice that all of these characteristics relate to the human side of leadership. That’s interesting because people often minimize this side of leadership with terms like “soft” or “touchy feely.” Actually, applying these characteristics requires more strength than not.

2- The characteristics that the list excludes.

Absent from this list (and all lists from other programs) are characteristics such as stern, mean, serious, short tempered, vindictive, tough, angry, harsh, punitive, controlling, violent, or ruthless. And that’s interesting because many popular representations of leadership emphasize at least one of these “hard” characteristics. In fact, these characteristics are the refuge of those who lack the strength (or the skills) to apply the human side of leadership.

How Would You Define Leadership For Yourself?

How about you? Would you rate yourself as a leader compared to the list of positive characteristics? How would people that you manage, describe your leadership? Would they list characteristics from the “soft” list or from the “hard” list? Could you become more effective by improving upon any of the “soft” characteristics?

In conclusion, and to resume how to define leadership, let’s say that it’s the best manner to provide guidance for executives, managers, and specialists who are involved in leading the strategic direction of their organisations.

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