home | site map | links | about | contact | privacy policy


The Definition of Leadership: Useful Information for Leaders

The Quantum Organization

This site is about the "Definition of Leadership" - a concept that many people seem to struggle with, especially when propelled into a leadership role for the first time.

Whatever your own definition may be, you will find lots of useful information for today's and tomorrow's leaders.

You can start by reading my most recent article about the Definition of Leadership.

I believe leadership is entirely about being yourself and being "real" rather than by trying to copy some management guru's ideas. So although role models are useful, you must develop your own leadership style.

Leadership Through Being Yourself


By Peter Fisher

Leadership is mostly about being yourself and maintaining your personal authenticity rather than about learning some formula from a text book. Aspiring leaders need to be always true to themselves; not slavishly following other's ideas. That is not to say that role models can not be powerful exemplars.

Real leaders are not only prepared to reveal their weaknesses, because they know they are not super-human, but to use them to their advantage. Obviously this doesn't mean revealing technical weaknesses or functional failings as this would fatally flaw their performance. Instead, what is meant is that leaders can and perhaps should, reveal their personality quirks - maybe they are bad tempered in the morning, are somewhat shy with new people or even a little disorganized. Such admissions show they are human and this resonates with others confirming that the leader is a person - not merely a role-holder.

Reveal Your True Self


Revealing their true selves, leaders can allow others to know and help them and this makes for better teamwork; followers can also feel better if they've got something to complain about. Thus by sharing at least some of their weaknesses, leaders can prevent others from inventing damaging problems.

True leadership is therefore much more than a demonstration of strengths. Real leaders acknowledge their shortcomings and may even be able to make them work for them.

Good leaders always rely on their ability to read situations. They develop a ‘feel' for an environment, and interpret soft data without having to be told. They know when team morale is patchy or when complacency needs shaking up. There are three levels of situational sensitivity, each of which has its own specific skills.

Effective leaders are continually learning about the motives, attributes and skills of their important subordinates. They get to know their people through formal and, often better, informal contact such as when travelling together.

Effective leaders read their teams. They analyze the compound balance between team members, the tension between the tasks and processes, and how the team builds its competencies.

Finally, they are concerned with defining the cultural characteristics of their organizations and keep their finger on the pulse of the organisation's climate.

It sounds tongue-in-cheek to say that leaders care for their people. Ever noticed the cynicism in the workforce upon seeing a manager return from a people-skills training course with new concern for others. Effective leaders don't need a training programme to convince their employees that they really care. They clearly empathize with their people and care intensely about their work. This is I believe the true "Definition of Leadership"

Genuine concern is difficult because it always involves some personal risk - showing some part of yourself and your most strongly held values can seem quite scary. It may also take some detachment - the ability to stand back, see the whole picture and sometimes take tough decisions. Leadership never was a popularity contest.

Effective leaders use their differences and move on to distinguish themselves through personal qualities such as sincerity, loyalty, creativity, or sheer expertise.

Using these differences is a critical leadership skill. But, as always, there is a danger - too much distance makes it impossible to sense situations properly or to communicate effectively.

Peter Fisher is Managing Director of Career Consulting Limited. He is an Expert Author and Management Consultant as well as being one of the UK's most experienced Career Coaches. For more information and his definition of leadership visit Definition of Leadership or Career Consulting Limited

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Fisher
http://EzineArticles.com/?Leadership-Through-Being-Yourself&id=210438

Executive CV Writing Service

For the more senior positions, your CV will benefit from my experience as Managing Director and International Management Consultant. You can rely on my expertise to identify the most crucial issues which will focus your CV like no other and align it precisely with your personal and career objectives.

Following your order for your Executive CV Writing, I will contact you the same working day wherever possible and your CV will receive high priority. From the initial information you will supply, I will raise a list of specific questions to ensure a fully customized Executive CV for you. You will also receive an individually written cover letter with my compliments and all for just £79.00 (79 GBP) including VAT

Select the Executive CV Writing Service from the menu below:

CV Writing Options

To get things moving quickly you can email your existing CV to me at peter[@]careerdesign.co.uk or you can enter your details into my Executive CV Workout online form and I will respond rapidly.

No Quibble Guarantee

I want you to be delighted with my Executive CV Writing Services and with our unconditional guarantee you have no worries. I will work with you until you are completely satisfied - if not, you get your money back. Simple as that.

I trust Google Checkout and PayPal for my website payments because they're easy and secure; it doesn't cost you anything to use and you don't need an account. So you can trust the transaction and buy with confidence.

More information: Executive CV Writing Services

No Quibble Guarantee

For Your Peace of Mind
We want you to be delighted with our CV Writing Services and with our unconditional guarantee you have no worries.If you're not satisfied - you get your money back. Simple as that.

I use both Google Checkout and Payapl to give you a choice and because they are easy and secure; they don't cost you anything to use and you don't need an account. So you can trust the transaction and buy with confidence.

Unsolicited CV Testimonials

Dear Peter

Thank you very much for such a brilliant and prompt service, both cv and cover letter are just perfect. I can send it out in confidence now. Definitely will recommend others.

Thanks again.

Best regards

N.B. London



Hi Peter

The CV you produced for me is a vast improvement on my own effort!!!

I have just had some very positive feedback from an agency who were very impressed with the version you created

Have a good weekend

Thanks Again

Andy F. Crewe


Note on paying with PayPal

For a limited time only, when you pay with PayPal, I will absorb the VAT charges.

Important! when you have your new CV it must get noticed. You can do this easily and save yourself lots of time. Easily send your CV to hundreds of targeted recruiters in the UK with CVtrumpet, leaders in professional, targeted, CV distribution.


Leaders Engage, Empower & Encourage
Leaders are by definition "stewards" of the trust, hope and beliefs of others. To perform their acts of stewardship, leaders must practice and master three essential tasks:

=> Engage people
=> Empower people
=> Encourage people

Many leaders have a problem applying those 3 "E"s to their leadership goals, actions and conversations. Here are a few strategic ideas you can use to inject the three "E"s into your leadership styles and behaviors.

Corporate Team Building
Instant price quote online for corporate team building and management training. 150% return on investment guaranteed from Team Building USA.

CVs and Resumes Sometimes Just Get in the Way


As a head-hunter and Career Coach I see so many CVs and resumes that look as though they are designed to get in the way of what I (or any other recruiter) might need to know about you the candidate. They vary from pure meaningless waffle without any identifiable facts to lengthy tomes with so much detail they send me to sleep. And I persevere where many others wouldn't bother.

5 Steps on How to Set and Achieve Your Goals


Which one is a goal? I will lose 15 pounds I want to run a marathon Quit smoking All of the above None of the above The correct answer is (5) - none of the above. The first three are wishes, not goals.

7 AAA Ways To Succeed!


[Abounding Abundant Ample Ways To Boost Your Growth!] This may come as a surprise but there are reliable,effective and powerful ways to improve your ability to learnnew things. If you will allow me to use leadership skills training asour example, you will see how poor learning forces us tosuffer through any one or more of the following problems: - leadership training programs usually cost serious money -in fact, some programs are outrageously expensive - leadership training programs last for a very short time -quite a few of them run for only one or two days - many leadership training programs fail to give studentsways to confidently resolve problem situations or meet andovercome their daily challenges - less than 1% of all leadership training programs combinecoaching and mentoring follow-ups with classroom lessons - most leadership training programs like to do 'raw datadumps'- the vast majority of them do NOT give you chances to'blend' your learning experiences with supervised support orpractical feedback In this article you will discover how to find, use and takeadvantage of every kind of performance improvement learningopportunity you encounter.

Abraham Lincoln Is Still Alive


Abraham Lincoln Is Still Alive President Jimmy Carter tells in his memoirs that a trip to Gettysburg and a discussion about Abraham Lincoln helped achieve a breakthrough in the Camp David negotiations.  The Israelis and the Egyptians had reached a deadlock.

Is Your Life Ready For Groundhog Day?


In the hit comedic movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character, Phil Conners, is caught up in a time warp, doomed to live the same day over and over until he gets it right. Hilarious as the ensuing mayhem may be on the big screen, it is a poignant and not too thinly veiled metaphor for how most of us live our own lives - mindlessly occupied with our own issues and concerns, stumbling through life (often over the toes of others) with little if any conscious direction or critical thought.

Helping Others Develop Their Potential


Most of us find ourselves in a position to help others achieve more of their potential than we realize. Sure, as leaders, supervisors, and parents we can see ourselves in that position; but the fact is that all of us are uniquely qualified to help at least one other person in our lives reach their potential.

Unleash It!


On airplanes, in restaurants, in the newspaper and on television, I often hear people saying their businesses are not growing to their satisfaction or that they are not reaching their objectives.  The explanations that follow consist of reasons like: ? It's the economy? Our customers don't get it? I don't have the right people on the team I could go on, and so could you.

The Metamorphosis of the Successful Executive . . . Overcoming Professional Stagnation


You're a bright, successful business executive making good money and managing a capable staff of accomplished professionals. You are successful beyond your wildest business school dreams.

Ten Steps To Effective Leadership


Many people end up in a supervisory position or SOHO ownership almost by default. In today's workplace, if someone stays on their job long enough, they will probably be promoted as others, more senior to them or higher up the chain of responsibility, leave for other opportunities.

Professional Organizations: Join or Fold?


All of us join professional organizations for a reason--a friend belongs, we need to for credibility, etc. Many times we let years slide by and we don't stop and review those reasons.

Rationalize Success Away


I was invited to do a Leadership workshop at a well known Fortune 100 company out in New Jersey. The all day event was geared toward their new crop of interns.

Why the Squirrel Kept Winning!


I had the good fortune (or misfortune depending on your climate perspective) of living in Minnesota for ten years. The Summers were beautiful, Fall was spectacular with the changing colors of the leaves on trees and winter was,?well, damn cold.

The Death of Potential


While reading my latest book on politics and economics, I came across a reference to a bible story called "Parable of the Talents'.  In this story three servants are each give 'talents' (a monetary denomination used by the Greeks).

Reinventing Failure: Designing Success


I am fascinated by problems. I like to think of myself as a solution oriented individual.

Top 25 Leadership Quotations


Ponder what it takes to be a true leader with these practical quotes that will lead you to a more precise understanding of the secrets to successful leadership..

Leadership Skills - 10 Ways to Beef Up


10 Ways to Beef Up Your Leadership SkillsHave you ever heard someone say, "Actually, I have to admit that I think I am really bad at managing other people. My staff all hate me and I'm incapable of doing my job".

More Information Articles from Definition of Leadership:
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19
MORE RESOURCES:


England will miss Beckham's leadership
San Francisco Chronicle
The London press has detailed countless indiscretions tainting the team's reputation, and Beckham has always relished the leadership role. ...

and more »


Charges and Countercharges of Financial Misdeeds Rile Union's Leadership
New York Times
At first, it seemed like a straightforward matter. Jim McLaughlin, who had led the operating engineers' union local in Southern ...

and more »


Sacramento Primer: Chemistry, leadership will carry Stanford
SI.com
But it is the advantages Stanford has enjoyed all year -- great frontline play, leadership and chemistry -- that will carry the Cardinal to San Antonio.

and more »


Monsters and Critics.com

Will Democratic Leadership Listen on Healthcare?
WANI
No matter what the majority of Americans want, the Democratic Leadership seems to think they know best, and is working to ram healthcare reform through ...
Benenson Strategy GroupSEIU (blog)

all 71 news articles »


Belvidere School District shakes up leadership to save cash
Rockford Register Star
BELVIDERE — The Belvidere School Board has approved a plan to reassign administrators or merge some positions that would save at ...

and more »


Wilkes Barre Times-Leader

Leadership Wilkes-Barre is accepting applications
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
Leadership Wilkes-Barre is accepting applications for its Class of 201 1. For more than 29 years, the nine-month program has helped participants improve ...

and more »


Cabrera brings vocal leadership to Reds
MLB.com
His winning track record and leadership skills were also very coveted traits the club wanted for its very youthful roster to learn from. ...

and more »


The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Your comments on Mets' toughness and leadership, part 2
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
By NJ.com Staff Jim McIsaac / GettyFans are wondering: Who is this Mets team's leader in the Mike Piazza or perhaps the Tom Seaver mold? ...

and more »


Bomb blasts expose Nigeria's leadership crisis
Africasia
A twin bombing in the heart of the key oil city of Warri not only threatens a fragile peace in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta but also exposes the leadership ...

and more »

Google News

                                                                                  Top of Definition of Leadership Home Page

home | site map | links | about | contact | privacy policy

© 2010 Defintion Of Leadership & Career Consulting Limited
Powered By CCL WebServices