Society as a whole struggle with the definition of leadership. The misconception of what a leader is combined with the vast amount of poor examples of leadership is the root cause of the confusion. Leaders are not defined by the amount of money they make, their title, their power, or their education. Leadership is defined by how well they know, understand, and execute 8 things.
Leadership is having the ability to rise up and venture down a path less traveled but above all else ensuring those who follow you will reach their destination. Helping others reach a destination that is better than where they were or where they would have gone otherwise. True leadership is all about people.
These 8 Areas Define True Leadership
People, people, people
You can lead people not things. Just like people are an organization’s greatest asset, the same is true for a leader. You have to have a vested interest in each and every person you are leading. You have to look out for them and keep them motivated to continue the course. Your success is dependent on their success. If you are more focused on yourself than you are on others, do not tarnish the role of leadership.
Everyone won’t want to follow you
People are naturally drawn to those who share their values and beliefs. Great leaders have the ability to recognize who should be following them based on the value they can give to that person. Trying to command and control others to submit to your vision will only increase the time it takes to make the vision come alive.
Leverage the people
Leaders know that in order to reach the destination faster they have to use their assets well. Leadership is having the ability to leverage the skills of those you lead for the greater good of the group. Knowing where to put whom and at what time they should be there is a skill leader must master. Do not bring someone on board for their skills and background and then prohibit them from using those talents.
You are not responsible for their every action
Leaders hold themselves accountable to those they lead. Great leaders know that people have free will and will make their own decisions in choosing their destiny and how they leverage their own talent. This is often the first and hardest lesson for a leader to learn. The best leaders understand that their role is to guide people in the right direction and not take it personally when they choose another path.
Being the protector comes with great responsibility
Great leaders recognize their job is to protect the group and their growth. There will be difficult conversations and decisions along the way where a leader will have to remove members. The decision to remove people from the group does not come from performance, as most would think, but rather from behaviors and attitudes. Yes, performance is important but does not sacrifice behavior and attitude at the expense of someone being able to perform a task.
Fairness not Equality
People are not always in sync with each other when it comes to stages of life, skill, and aptitude. Therefore it is impossible for a leader to treat people equally. Great leaders understand this and also understand that in place of equality they must be fair and honest with each member. Know the difference between playing fair and playing favorites and help your followers understand the difference too.
You won’t always be right
Great leaders know they don’t have to have all the answers or know the right way to accomplish something. This awareness allows them to be open and rely on the assets of the group. The faster a leader can recognize and admit they are wrong the faster the group can proceed with the journey. Make mistakes but do not repeat them. Model the way by admitting you are wrong and that it is OK to not have all the answers.
Your actions make you relevant
You aren’t a leader because your boss said so. Yes they gave you a title, they gave you a department, or perhaps they gave you a project to lead. Those things don’t make you a leader. Your title or level of responsibility is not a magical key that opens the door to leadership. Leadership is earned. You become a leader when those you lead give you their respect and their trust when they believe in you and what you stand for. When those you lead call you a leader, then and only then do you become one.
If you don’t understand these 8 things you aren’t a leader. You have to know why others should follow you. You have to have the ability to get others to see how following you will help them grow into who they are capable of becoming. The followers are who determine who the real leaders are.
Last updated on September 14th, 2020 at 06:26 am
