Definition of Leadership Information Articles For Leaders

This blog site is about 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 news and information from world leading websites and news sources for today's and tomorrow's leaders.

You can start on my leadership blog 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. Go straight to the latest up-to date Leadership News

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

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.

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Leadership Through Being Yourself

Reveal Your True Self