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A person can be appointed a manager at any level, but he or she is not a leader until their appointment has been ratified in the hearts and minds of those who work with them.” John Adair 2005

What does this mean and how can you achieve it? You are already aware that management and leadership are not the same thing: that a shop floor worker or receptionist can be a leader whether or not they are endowed with the title manager by their organisation. While management deals more with carrying out the organisation’s goals and directing activity, leadership deals with change, inspiration, motivation, and influence.

Definitions of leadership

To lead people, you have to walk behind them:
Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, born 600BC

In future leaders will be those who empower others:
Bill Gates, Chairman Microsoft and millionaire

Leadership at one time meant muscles but today it means getting along with people:
Indira Ghandi, elected first Woman Prime Minister of India 1966

Above there are three different definitions of leadership spanning both time and arena. They seek to introduce us to the topic of leadership about which a multitude of definitions can be found.

You only have to consider the great leaders of history to know that leadership is as old as time. So what is the current thinking on leadership?

By the end of the 20th century, team management and cross-functional teams were clearly best practice concepts. We were even looking at leader-less teams. In the 21st century, we have concluded that teams need leaders but not just any leaders.

This 5 point plan sums up the concept of leadership today

1. We are ALL leaders! Everyone needs to learn, demonstrate and take responsibility for leadership in their organisation.
2. Leaders need to know themselves! Unless you know how to lead yourself, you cannot successfully lead others.
3. Leaders empower others to lead! Hierarchies are here to stay. But the best organisations will be those that empower their members to be leaders. And the best leader will be the one who is best at developing, listening to and empowering others.
4. Leaders must be CLEAR! And communicate this clarity to those around them as clarity leads to confidence and confident people are effective people
5. Leaders are compelled by the future! Leaders have a vision of betterment; they know what the future can look like. They must find ways to share this vision and enthusiasm with others.

Similar resources you may like

1. Establish yourself as a potential leader.
2. Leadership styles
3. How leaders add value to teams
4. Modern leadership
5. Can Leadership Skills be taught?

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cross-functional teams, current thinking on leadership, Definitions of leadership, John Adair, leadership skills, leadership training

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This entry was posted by Colin Welch on Tuesday, March 20th, 2007 at 2:21 pm and is filed under Leadership Skills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.