Here’s a huge irony. Most managers I know think that they are leaders. When we’ve interviewed the direct reports of the ‘leader,’ we found that folks thought their bosses were administrators or information shufflers not leaders or frankly not even good managers.
The question: ‘What makes a leader?’ is becoming more critical in this uncertain economy. Other questions arise as well: ‘Is a leader made, nurtured, or self selected?’ ‘Do leaders have to be in charge of massive organizations?’ ‘Can leadership be learned and shared?’ Lots of questions – few definitive answers.
We can reach several conclusions. Critical circumstances are often the crucible of leadership. Leadership is something special. When we see it, we know it. Leadership is an exemplary element of good management. Leadership is an art. Leadership is flexible and resilient. Depending on market requirements, organizational culture, and people’s abilities, leadership may integrate ‘command and control’ elements to ‘coaching and mentoring.’
Leaders also have the common touch and are often hands-on. Leaders are closely involved with employees, suggesting, and demonstrating as opposed to directing or managing.
Leaders seem to be self-selecting. A person sees an unfulfilled opportunity, need, or requirement. Nature, organizations, and the marketplace hate a vacuum. Someone will fill it. This someone is often called the leader. So, leadership is more often seen as a personal issue – a desire to commit, inspire, share, and improve. This can happen on the customer service desk, the production floor, or the boardroom.
Life Lesson Earned: We seem to have a leadership vacuum. So, where have all the business leaders gone? Maybe, we need new definitions of leadership and new leaders to emulate.