Many people assume that leadership is all about titles, positions, money, and fame. However, leadership is not an actual position or title. In fact, it is about the action you take and the example you set for others. Leadership is the ability to influence others; it’s about the impact you have on others.
The definition of leadership is evolving every two years. If earlier it was about authority and dominance, it’s more about collaboration and teamwork nowadays.
With the exponential increase in the number of millennial workers, they are disrupting the traditional leadership style and want to work under leaders who give them enough opportunities to lead themselves.
What is leadership in today’s world? Leadership is a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, to execute strategic plans, and to continually renew an organization.
In the not-so-distant past, leaders followed a model based on directing and administrating. This style started to shift within the last few decades, and today leaders follow a model based on guiding and inspiring
According to a survey conducted by Virtuali and WorkPlace Trends, nearly 50% of workers said that they believe leadership is the empowerment of others and have high expectations from their leaders. In fact, they don’t even mind leaving a job if the leader fails to meet their expectations. The daringness is definitely calling for some serious leadership change in today’s day and age.
Are You In A Front Position?
Are you a guide, a commander or a conductor? Are you a leader, who knows how to play the first card in the round? Are you the foremost horse in a team?
Do you know how to direct, to persuade or to precede?
I found a very nice quotation shared by Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leading authority on leadership, who says, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way!” “Nearly all men can withstand adversity. If you truly want to test a man’s character, give him power”, already stressed Abraham Lincoln. Character is what you are doing in the dark. By the way, nowadays, I wouldn’t only mention “men” alone when it comes to leadership. There are innumerable women holding their own.
Remember and look around: in the past and at present one can observe someone at any corner offering us to lead our way. Politicians compete for our vote of confidence. Athletes and entertainers show us their pictures of success. A lot of different religious leaders pledge, promise and bind in flock gatherings.
Well, what are some of the traits that a great leader must have or develop character? Is character really enough? How about integrity? Are you, my dear reader, a leader? Is what you are saying AND DOING, the same? Are your followers wholeheartedly convinced of your integrity?
Albert Einstein, one of my favourite idols, had said, “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with the important matters!”
Leaders in politics, leaders in clergy, leaders in business – many are lacking this specific trait, because, after all, what they say is not what they do. We need leaders with character, integrity, discipline and the ability to influence others in a positive way. A leader must be able to motivate his or her people around, rather than manipulate them or run away in times of difficult decisions… !
Albert Einstein claimed that he had no special abilities, only persistence. But that was enough to develop the General Relativity Theory. I learned from my Philippine mentor, the late Monsignor Professor Dr. Hermogenes E. Bacareza already during the 1980’s: “It’s important to become your own best friend. Be your own coach. Take to your inner self as if you were talking to another person you care deeply about. And, pray!”
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