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In this piece, Hannah defines the concept of leadership, explores the different types of leadership styles, and discusses how effective leadership can positively impact organizations and individuals.

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Leadership—it’s something every organization needs for success, but something many businesses get wrong. In fact, statistics show companies desperately need to focus on developing leaders. For example, a survey conducted by Deloitte found that “leadership is the number one talent issue facing organizations around the world.”

While 86 percent of respondents ranked leadership as “urgent” or “important,” only five percent of businesses said they were “excellent” at developing millennial leaders. So, what is leadership, and how can business owners practice, model, and teach it to their teams?

What Is Leadership?

Define Leadership

The definition of leadership is simple: It’s the practice of positive influence. But this presents another question—what is influence? Combining definitions from Oxford Languages and Merriam-Webster, influence is “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something,” but without using “apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command.”

So, what does it mean to be a leader? Dwight D. Eisenhower gives a more straightforward definition of leadership and its relation to influence: “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

What Leadership Is Not

Sometimes knowing what something isn’t sheds more light on what it is. While the leadership definition above is a good starting point for understanding its meaning, it doesn’t explain the common pitfalls many make when learning leadership skills. 

So, what does it mean to be a leader? Dwight D. Eisenhower gives a more straightforward definition of leadership and its relation to influence: “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

What Leadership Is Not

Sometimes knowing what something isn’t sheds more light on what it is. While the leadership definition above is a good starting point for understanding its meaning, it doesn’t explain the common pitfalls many make when learning leadership skills. 

Leadership Is Not Commanding Authority

As mentioned in the leadership definition, being a leader is practicing the art of influence. CEOs don’t gain followers because they’re at the top of the organizational food chain. Customers’ and employees’ respect, admiration, and loyalty are earned based on how well a person serves them. 

An effective leader creates influence by clearly communicating, promoting, and working toward achieving a just cause. They call people to join them in doing good by accomplishing the organization’s mission

When it comes to the meaning of leadership, words aren’t enough, though. A good leader acts on fulfilling their purpose. They’re always on the frontlines ensuring they serve as the living example of their organization’s values. For example, the CEO of Chick-fil-A still directly interacts with the franchise’s customers, takes out the trash at restaurants, and wears a humble name badge: Dan Cathy, Customer Service, In Training. This type of business owner demonstrates leadership skills and teaches them to their team. Not only does this model help leaders gain influence, but it also multiplies more ethical, servant leaders throughout the company. It goes to show that strong leadership is a cyclical, infinitely influential process.

Leadership Is Not Management

Confusing leading with managing is another big mistake made in business. There’s a difference between leadership and management. While the two aren’t mutually exclusive, they serve entirely different purposes. As educator and management consultant Peter Druker explains, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” 

He means a good leader is responsible for casting a vision of a better future, strategizing on the organization’s direction, and motivating their teams to achieve the company’s overarching objective. On the other hand, managers don’t need to be sources of inspiration. Their function is ensuring the leader’s vision comes to fruition. They do this by training, planning, directing, delegating, and monitoring success. 

Leadership Is Not One Size Fits All

In total, there are seven leadership styles, and this doesn’t even include leadership models such as Situattional Leadership®. Studying leadership theory is important because it helps entrepreneurs and executives learn how to be flexible and adaptable when guiding others. As emotional intelligence expert Daniel Goleman says: “The best leaders don’t know just one style of leadership—they’re skilled at several, and have the flexibility to switch between styles as the circumstances dictate.”

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The full article was written by Hannah L. Miller originally posted here.

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