What is leadership
What is leadership?
According to Forbes Magazine, leadership has nothing to do with titles or hierarchy in an organisation, neither is it management or personal attributes. Just because an individual is in a senior position does not automatically make them a leader. Leadership and management are not synonymous.
Waren Benis says that leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. This I believe is a definition that begins to take leadership out of management and into the ability to not only create a vision for those that you lead but to make it happen. The problem with Benis’ definition is that he makes no mention of the team, no mention of others… without others.. who are you leading?
I think that leadership is the ability to influence and maximise on the strengths of those around you to achieve a mutual goal. It is the ability to help others realise their potential and how they play into the bigger picture, in the plan and helping then achieve it.
A leader has the ability to influence others deliberately and create a situation/ event and or movement that would not have happened otherwise.
A good leader must possess the following attributes; Self Direction, Vision, Ability to Motivate and social awareness. With these attributes they are more attune with their surroundings, what it takes to make a difference and the strengths in every one of the team members.
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” Bill Gates forgot one key point to note is his use of the word empowerment, which could be used to enforce negative change such as electoral violence or ethnic cleansing was the case with Hitler. This definition although team oriented lacks the sense of purpose and vision for a greater good. Leadership is about maximising the efforts of those around you to build towards a common vision and goal that all can feel apart of and claim.
References
According to Forbes Magazine, leadership has nothing to do with titles or hierarchy in an organisation, neither is it management or personal attributes. Just because an individual is in a senior position does not automatically make them a leader. Leadership and management are not synonymous.
Waren Benis says that leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. This I believe is a definition that begins to take leadership out of management and into the ability to not only create a vision for those that you lead but to make it happen. The problem with Benis’ definition is that he makes no mention of the team, no mention of others… without others.. who are you leading?
I think that leadership is the ability to influence and maximise on the strengths of those around you to achieve a mutual goal. It is the ability to help others realise their potential and how they play into the bigger picture, in the plan and helping then achieve it.
A leader has the ability to influence others deliberately and create a situation/ event and or movement that would not have happened otherwise.
A good leader must possess the following attributes; Self Direction, Vision, Ability to Motivate and social awareness. With these attributes they are more attune with their surroundings, what it takes to make a difference and the strengths in every one of the team members.
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” Bill Gates forgot one key point to note is his use of the word empowerment, which could be used to enforce negative change such as electoral violence or ethnic cleansing was the case with Hitler. This definition although team oriented lacks the sense of purpose and vision for a greater good. Leadership is about maximising the efforts of those around you to build towards a common vision and goal that all can feel apart of and claim.
References
References: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/ http://www.siyli.org/what-is-leadership-what-makes-good-leader/ Transformational Leadership