Here we are again, the beginning of a New Year... A year filled with hopes and promises, but most likely also to bring along its share of challenges. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, it is the one that is most adaptable to change.” The famous words of Charles Darwin have never been more true, especially in today's world. But what has that got to do with Leadership, you may ask ? Well, first: what is Leadership ? Who is a Leader ? What comes to your mind when you hear these words?Some would say: the boss, or manager, referring to an authority figure; some would say confident or motivated people, referring to personal traits. Some might even refer to results or what a person does: guidance, mentoring...Are leaders born or made ? Are there certain people genetically predisposed to become leaders ? Or is it something to be learned ? And if so, how do we learn it?Let's define Leadership: "Leadership is the process of Social Influence that maximizes efforts of others towards the achievement of a common goal"
In simpler words: the process of modifying someone's attitude, opinions and behavior to have the best consistent efforts to reach a common goal.And in order to do that, Adaptability is the key: "to be able to apply the right tools to match the situation at hand". There is no list of Dos and Don'ts, but a full understanding of the conditions, the people you are working with, and the choosing of appropriate behavior that will lead to the desired outcome.In order to accomplish this, you need to first understand the sources of power, the styles of influence, and different types of strategies that you can apply when communicating, and how to select the best approach in a given scenario. You are probably aware that your emotions affect you at work, and your ability to recognize and regulate your emotions are the first part of Emotional Intelligence; perceiving and managing others' emotions is the second part.It is crucial to understand yourself, and others, and how personality types affects behavior and responses, what motivates people, and how it varies between different team members
Leadership is a skill that all of us have; but the only way to develop it is through education and practice.
With dedication and commitment, and the right guidance, everyone can rise among the ranks and become a successful Leader.
Comments