BLOGWhat is a Leadership

Leadership commonly accompanies many delusions, one being that the capacity to guide others is an inherent aspect of human character and hence cannot be cultivated further in life. The reality, however, is different. No matter whether extra- or introverted traits dominate your style of approaching life, the skill of masterful leadership is something anyone can learn and integrate into their professional or personal life.

So what makes an extraordinary leader? And how can you develop and refine the skills needed to become one in your career and personal life?

While embarking on the journey of understanding leadership, it is fundamental to define the given notion. Put differently, what is leadership exactly? Despite the simplicity of the given question, no single definition can address all the complexities of leadership as a social phenomenon.

Many attempts to outline the concept of leadership have boiled down to placing management as its absolute synonym. The truth is – the discussed notion goes far beyond the mechanics of pure management. Despite a common misconception that leadership and management are interchangeable terms, they are not. Leadership goes beyond managerial duties in many aspects.

In general, leadership is the capacity to inspire a team toward reaching a shared goal. Such a definition fits the realm of business and management of human resources but fails to address the value of a given concept in one's personal life. Hence, leadership is a two-faceted phenomenon comprising the skills to influence, encourage, and empower others, as well as oneself, to develop new skills and refine existing competencies.

Considering the definitions mentioned above, the titles of a CEO or HR manager are not critical prerequisites for holding the name of a leader. Leadership is a combination of invaluable skills and a particular mindset that anyone can cultivate and entwine into their lifestyle.

Integrated effectively, leadership has the potential to:

• Encourage people to fulfill their true potential
• Challenge conventional and vastly inadequate approaches to HR management
• Enhance followers’ performance
• Navigate increasingly complex corporate environments
• Boost organizational productivity by creating a supportive working environment
• Foster a positive mindset of continuous improvement.

It is worth noting that leadership is not about holding authority over someone else. On the contrary, it is about empowering and encouraging others and oneself to reach new heights and discover new opportunities. For this reason, the actual value of masterful leadership is hard to define.

With a whopping 79% of employees considering resignation due to the lack of appreciation from leaders and almost the same percentage of millennials deeming the lack of leadership development in the workplace the core issue of modern corporate culture, the significance of effective leadership gets even more pronounced and relevant.

Admittedly, aspiring leadership is vital, as it helps people recognize their potential, develop new skills, and pursue common objectives. In the business sphere, the absence of/ ineffective leadership often leads to a state of commotion within a company, where employees have no direction to follow and hence face stagnation.

In essence, the importance of leadership pertains to its capacity to enhance productivity and improve performance, both at the organizational and individual levels. What leadership does – it allows you to convey a clear direction to be followed and then unite your team around the previously communicated vision. Businesses built upon the concept of aspiring leadership tend to be resourceful, innovation-focused, and highly agile.

Additionally, talented leaders foster positive work environments infused with a sense of purpose. The corporate culture based on effective leadership thus serves as an evident competitive advantage for the organization. Ultimately, effective leadership practices improve a company’s bottom line, leading to higher employee retention and a philosophy of ongoing progress.

Despite the abundance of leadership styles and corresponding frameworks for managing human resources, all leaders share specific characteristics that define their guidance and make it stand out. Such fundamental qualities and skills comprise:

• Purposefulness: An aspiring leader has a distinct rationale behind the guidance of their followers. The failure to articulate a clear vision means a leader might get lost in the turmoil of their responsibilities.
• Resilience: Leaders should push through to enhance what is at their disposal by implementing new strategies, hiring new talents, and challenging the status quo.
• Integrity: The qualities of being honest, trustworthy, and reliable shape the personality of a decent leader whose opinion matters within a team. To be a leader means to act according to your convictions and own up to your mistakes.
• Courage: Likewise, the courageous leader seeks honest and open feedback from their followers. Though unfiltered feedback may not always be easy to hear, it is an invaluable resource for leaders to assess themselves and beware of shortcomings in professional conduct.
• Respect: A decent leader is an individual who promotes and exhibits respect to their followers while addressing any instances of contemptuous behavior within a team.
• Agility: It is critical to be agile and flex one's influence to communicate and delegate effectively in the constantly evolving environment.
• Innovation: Leaders should be able to generate new ideas, address problems, and complete many other duties that call for implementing innovative and creative thinking.
• Encouragement: The capacity to lead presupposes the need to identify and acknowledge the potential and contribution of others. Without it, the team might lose motivation and interest in enhancing their performance.

The transformation into an aspiring leader might seem overwhelming, as it requires an ongoing pursuit of self-improvement. Despite the apparent challenges, the shift to effective leadership that recognizes the potential of others is a rewarding experience in itself. As highlighted above, a genuine leader appreciates and encourages their followers, cultivates an open atmosphere, and listens to the feedback of others. In such a way, leadership serves as a tool for establishing a positive environment where individuals are at the core of consideration.