Leading from within

 

Studies have consistently demonstrated that organizations that prioritize leadership development are much more effective in meeting the expectations of their constituents, stakeholders, and customers. 

High-Impact Leadership Development” (2008), an organizational focus on leadership development results in:

• Becoming 84 percent more effective at raising the quality of the leadership “pipeline;”
• A 73 percent increase in employee retention;
• A 67 percent increase in the ability of the organization’s members towork collaboratively; and,
• A 66 percent improvement in the organization’s results.  

Leaders today sometimes appear to be an endangered species.

 

tend to be over-managed and under-led.

 

Bad leaders are corrosive to an organization because they can drive out anyone who’s good. Unfortunately, since many bad leaders are manipulative and deceptive, it is often a challenge to root them out and get rid of them.4 The lack of positive and effective leadership is a key reason why many talented workers leave the organization.

Given that everyone has the capacity for leadership at some level, it would seem that the absence of leadership in an organization shouldn’t be a problem.

Unfortunately, too many people lack the will to change or to develop their leadership potential.

However, a leader is certainly more than someone who is a widely recognized individual or who possesses organizational authority. 

a forceful and dynamic personality who really leads from the front; an architect and implementer of strategy; a mediator in conflict situations; an integrator who assures the climate of the organization; a person able to motivate subordinates and who, by persuasion, compulsion or example to others; succeeds in getting others to follow the leader’s wishes9. 

 Another definition by John Seaman Garns is that “leaders are just ordinary people with extraordinary determination.” Harvard Professor Rosabeth Ross Kanter suggests that leadership is “the art of mastering change . . . the ability to mobilize others’ efforts in new directions.” 

 

The most effective means of influencing people is through communication. A leader communicates to his or her followers a direction that they should move toward and tries to influence their attitude so that they will be ready to move in that direction. This requires vision on the part of a leader and the ability to guide people toward a common goal.

 

The test of a leader lies in the reaction and response of his followers. He should not have to impose authority. Bossiness in itself never made a leader. He must make his influence felt by example and the instilling of confidence in his followers. The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led. This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness. General Omar Bradley . 

 

Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. Vince Lombardi

 

 

Despite these general perceptions to the contrary, leaders are not born; they are nurtured. It should be mentioned, however, that a potential leader can be born with innate qualities that predispose them to being leaders, such as natural intelligence and the ability to learn. This doesn’t mean that effective leaders are the smartest people in the room or the organization, but they have to be smart enough to make decisions and to mobilize resources to do the work that is needed. In that sense, the debate about whether leaders are born or made is really important. It’s not about how leadership was acquired by someone; it’s more about how he or she acted on it that makes the difference.

It’s not what you’ve been given, but what you do with it that matters.

While the basic desire or motivation to be a leader cannot be taught, early childhood development of self-worth, self-confidence, and a concern for others can help to nurture leadership characteristics. Successful leaders have also worked hard to gain valuable experience, perspective, and knowledge to become someone who others want to follow.