You have probably heard the phrase ‘A Born Leader’. Can a leader really be born with all the attributes and skills needed to lead others?
One thing that may surprise many people is that there are ways that you can learn to become a leader.
There are different types of leaders, but the main ingredient is that others are inspired and engaged enough to take the chosen path.
Being a successful leader doesn’t mean forcing others to do what you want, it is to empower them to take responsibility for their own actions and enable them to do their best.
An effective leader is someone who knows the way forward and shows that way forward.
The leaders of today
There has been a fundamental shift in what someone sees as a good leader over the last decade.
When you look at world leaders, there is the example of Germany’s Angela Merkel and how she was a strong, consistent and calm leader. Not being fazed by circumstances or critics, she managed to make for a very effective leader.
Merkel was often seen as the leader of the European Union (EU). Many thought of her as the most powerful woman in the world. From 2016 until her retirement from politics, she was regularly referred to as the leader of the free world.
Then there is the case of someone like Jacinda Arden, who oversaw a difficult period in New Zealand’s history, but remained steadfast as a leader in the face of torrid events.
Her careful approach to issues and measured responses in different situations helped her become the epitome of a new style of leader.
Gone were the days of the ‘strongarm’ approach to leadership, even though they still remain in certain dictatorships throughout the world.
There are numerous examples of world leaders taking an inclusive approach rather than a combative one.
Leadership doesn’t rely on the size of the group that someone is leading. This can be anything from a small team to a large corporation.
A workplace leadership
There are endless examples of leadership in an everyday setting.
You can often find it in something like a workplace where someone takes charge of a situation and reports to management something important like a health and safety risk on behalf of a team.
A leader can emerge from a difficult situation or grow into a position of leadership in an organic way.
It is often hard for people with a technical background and expertise in a specialised field to be an effective and relatable leader.
This does not necessarily exclude them from learning the skills and steps to become a leader. The process takes a commitment and determination to follow a program to develop that specialised skill set.
The right program for the right results
To take the next step in becoming a leader, you need to find a quality leadership development programthat suits your circumstances and your ambitions for the future.
Even those in management positions or senior roles can do with help in how to better manage and lead their teams.
This is when a specially designed course from one of the trusted leadership coaching companies can make a huge difference.
There are many opportunities for improvement for those looking to improve their leadership qualities. Some may be hindered by the lack of resources or by the work culture.
Problems can include everything from:
- Where staff are promoted without any training or coaching
- Or there are no leadership development offerings or support
- Micro-management is prevalent
- Behaviours work against the success of leadership
- A workplace where “Do as I say, not as I do” is the mantra
WIth the right program, these and other issues can be properly and thoroughly addressed.
An example of everyday leadership
There are many ways to see where leadership comes to the fore.
One example could be a group of friends getting together to build an outdoor deck. It may not be the homeowner or host who takes the wheel of leadership on this.
Someone with an expertise in DIY projects or with past experience in working with timber could take control of the project without realising it.
If that person seems to know what they are talking about and is clear with their instructions, the project can quickly become an exercise in team building. With an effective leadership in place, tasks can be allocated and a workable system can accelerate the completion of the project.
You might find that a completely different person takes charge of the finishing touches such as how best to apply the deck sealer or whatever oil or stain is required.
With a niche product like a special dark timber stain, there needs to be a formula for how it is applied and a leader in the group can make the process run smoothly.
What can be an example of poor leadership is when there is one person doing it all themselves because they think they know better and they don’t trust others to do the job to the same standard.
That scenario is often reflected in a workplace environment.
The neglectful leader
It may seem odd to think that there are leaders out there who rather than show leadership, they show nothing more than neglect for their role.
This is most often the case when there are more serious issues to deal with and ones that need to be confronted. Rather than deal with conflict (either real or potential conflict), that leader takes a back seat and ignores the matter altogether.
They could be sitting in their so-called ivory tower, enjoying some of the best cigars Sydneyhas to offer and rather than reach out to staff, they reach into their bovedafor the next chance to ignore the matters at hand.
The key to remember with any leadership and what it means to be a leader of note is that honesty is the best policy. Admitting that you don’t know all the special ways to deal with a specific issue is the first step in getting the right training or expert advice.
Rather than worry that you weren’t a ‘born leader’, it is time to bear the fruits of working hard on what needs to be improved and finding the best leadership program to help you on that path.