If you want to do or understand something, you start by learning what it is. Leadership is no exception. After reading several books on the subject, I think the best initial definition of leadership you can use is:
“Leadership is the ability to develop and communicate a vision to a group of people who will make that vision a reality.”
Who is a leader then?
Someone who has a vision can communicate it and make it a reality.
I like this definition because it is concise and practical. Almost everyone understands it and can grasp the essence of leadership.
One of the key concepts behind leadership is ACTION. A leader has to develop a vision, he has to communicate it and he has to achieve it. Action is at the very core of the leader’s existence.
To achieve the vision (or goal), the leader must master five practices, as stated by Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes in “The Leadership Challenge, 3rd Edition.” The practices are:
1. Challenge the process
2. Inspire a shared vision
3. Allow others to act
4. Model the Path
5. Encourage the heart
In each of the practices mentioned there are commitments that the leader has to work on. Those are:
To challenge the process, the leader has to look for opportunities looking for innovative ways to change, grow and improve. He has to constantly experiment and take risks.
To inspire a shared vision, the leader has to envision the future by imagining exciting and ennobling possibilities. He too has to engage others in a common vision by appealing to shared aspirations.
To allow others to act, the leader has to foster collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust. The leader has to empower others by sharing power and discretion.
Model the Paththe leader has to clarify their personal values and lead by example by aligning actions and shared values.
to cheer up the heart, the leader has to acknowledge contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence. The leader has to celebrate the values and the victories creating a community spirit.
Credibility
After twenty years of research, Posner & Kouzes discovered that people want leaders who are credible. If there is no credibility, there is no leadership. The authors affirm that credibility is the basis of Leadership. Likewise, they affirm that there are four characteristics that a leader must have to be credible: honest, progressive, competent and inspiring. They found that when there is a high degree of credibility, you can expect to see the following behavior:
a) People take pride in telling others that they are part of the organization.
b) They feel a strong sense of team spirit.
c) They see their own personal values as consistent with those of the organization.
d) Feel linked and committed to the organization.
e) Have a sense of ownership of the organization.
Leadership and Change
Leadership is most often recognized where change occurs. It is in times of change that leadership, or lack thereof, becomes apparent. This opens the question: Do we need leaders? If leadership (or lack thereof) is evident in changing times, it’s no wonder that we need leaders more than ever. We live in this fast-paced society, with habits and trends changing even faster, with uncertainty all around us.
summarizing
To become a leader, you must develop a vision, be able to communicate that vision, and inspire the group you will work with to achieve it. You must have credibility. You have to build that credibility before you can lead. Do not compromise your honesty, be competent in everything you do and be conscientious (forward thinking). Change is everywhere, every day you must face it and be flexible enough to adapt to leadership.