Leadership as a Learnable Skill
I used to think of the word “leadership” as a concept only reserved for the powerful, accomplished, or famous. Every time I came across the word, it evoked thoughts of Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Ghandi, or Mother Theresa, and I would shy away from ever daring to think of myself as a leader (no way!). However, it dawned on me that they were not born leaders. They became leaders through persistence and hard work, and thus we can also be inspired to become leaders ourselves.
Leadership is commonly defined as the ability to influence others to effect positive change. I would also go as far to say that no matter your title or position, you can be an effective and respected leader in your community, family, circle of friends, and/or workplace. Even if you are a recent graduate or intern, you can learn to lead those around you. Leadership is not confined to those with leadership titles on their business cards.
But the key question is, how can you hone your leadership skills? In Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders, author Rajeev Peshawaria affirms that, in order to unleash our tremendous leadership potential, we need to develop self-leadership, or, in other words, lead ourselves to lead others. We do this by gaining absolute clarity on what we want to get out of life, driven by a laser-sharp focus on our purpose and our values.
It is unbelievably easy to go through life without having a solid understanding of our purpose, which is awareness of the things that are most important to us - i.e. money, traveling, a career, family. On the other hand, values are a set of core beliefs (such as integrity, wisdom, courage) and our conviction about them, which we use as a launching pad to achieve our purpose and leadership performance. Once we get clarity on those two concepts, we can find abundant energy to lead ourselves and motivate those around us.
Over the years of working in various industries and fields, I’ve noticed that the rate of success and respect a leader may elicit from others is inextricably linked the behavior that person shows. Author Steven Snyder points out the concept of “adaptive energy,” which is the force that propels you to the goal line and can inspire you to come up with innovative ideas when faced with challenges. It also aligns your actions with your inner values and principles. A values-driven leader is a person with unshakable credibility!
The concept of what makes a true leader has evolved over time, and many theories and definitions have collided over the years. However, authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner have identified five different time-tested qualities in their book The Leadership Challenge needed to be effective leaders, to mobilize others, and to make extraordinary things happen:
● Model the way: Leaders show others by their actions that they live by the values they profess.
● Inspire a shared vision: Leaders look forward to the future and attract their followers through their energy and hope.
● Challenge the process: Maintaining the status quo simply breeds mediocrity. Search for opportunities and for innovative ways to improve.
● Enable others to act: Leaders can’t do it alone. They invest in creating trustworthy relationships, and make others feel capable and confident.
● Encourage the heart: They recognize contributions and tell others about what their teams have achieved.
Becoming a leader is not easy, but it can be achieved over time. Leadership is a powerful force that can motivate us to grow outside our comfort zones and nurture a growth mindset to accomplish remarkable things in our personal and professional lives.
- Roger B.