Leading Self
What is Leadership?
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, we will look at five different concepts to consider in regard to developing your leadership capacity.
This section will help you:
- Determine a leadership perspective.
- Define a leader’s role.
- Describe power and effectiveness in leadership.
- Establish a working definition of leadership.
- Compile a list of leadership styles.
Leader’s Perspective
There has possibly been no greater topic which has received more attention over the last several decades as leadership. Leaders are all around us and the age-old question is; are leaders born or are they made?
Before you answer too quickly, consider the background to the question. The answer the majority of people are looking for in this kind of question is essentially; can anyone be a leader? Can I be a leader?
While it is true that some people seem to have a step up on others when it comes to leadership, there is no ‘leadership gene’. Leadership, like other behaviours is a learned behaviour. There are behavioural traits that one may learn from literature, from social media, from personal experience, or from personal mentors such as a parent or teacher. The key to understanding the answer to the question is to understand that all leaders are born in a biological sense, and leaders are also made. Meaning that leadership is a learned behaviour. Therefore the answer to the question; are leaders born or made, is yes.
Key Takeaways
Leader’s Role
The role of the leader is primarily just that; leading others. we will land on a working definition of leadership later on in this chapter. However, it is important to realize there is a role for the leader. Regardless of how one views leadership.
Specifically, the role of the leader can be broadly be spoken of in three larger competencies. Namely;
- Information Processing and Dissemination
- Decision Making
- Interpersonal
No matter the leadership style, each leader will either perform well or poorly in these three meta (large) areas. Success for the organization and for those within it will largely depend on how the leader manages these three meta-roles.
Leader’s Power
Leadership is inherently a powerful position. It is not surprising that some aspire to leadership because of the power found within the position. However, leadership – rather being a leader – has more to do with a person’s behaviour than with a position or title. Indeed, leaders are often judged to be effective or not through their behaviours and accomplishments rather than through the acquisition of a title or office.
The concept of a leader’s power rests squarely upon the act of influence. Power is the ability of one person or group to influence another. Many theories exist regarding the description and use of power, yet the fundamental aspect of power simply stated is; one agent having more influence over another agent.
There are many examples of leaders using their positional power to gain advantages for themselves. There ar