Today’s business environment is tough, quick to change, and competitive. It is difficult to navigate in this environment without strong leadership abilities.
A leader with a strong set of skills can easily motivate and influence its entire workforce. They also help in transforming an organization.
A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the nimblest go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind. – Nelson Mandela.
Successful leaders aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and stand on the front lines.
9 Leadership Definition by Famous Scholars
- Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people, based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good. – Joanne Ciulla.
- Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes. – Peter F. Drucker.
- Leadership is Influence – Nothing More, Nothing Less. – John Maxwell.
- Leadership is like the Abominable Snowman, whose footprints are everywhere but who is nowhere to be seen. – Bennis & Nanus.
- Leadership occurs when one person induces others to work towards some predetermined objectives. – Massie.
- Leaders are those who consistently make effective contributions to social order, and who are expected and perceived to do so. – Hosking.
- Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy. – Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
- Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your leadership potential. – Warren Bennis.
- Leadership is a process of giving purpose (meaningful direction) to the collective effort and causing willing effort to be expended to achieve a purpose. – Jacobs & Jaques.
Each of these authors has their individual working definition of a leader. Hence, it is essential to find out your best definition.
To figure this out, think about what kinds of questions you want to ask about leadership.
The importance of a leader is immense, especially in the corporate context. Every business values’ performance. Hence, leaders are also expected to increase the company’s profit.
Leadership effectiveness may refer to the career success of an individual leader, performance of a group and leader emergency.
In a corporate environment, leaders are evaluated by their effectiveness. However, measuring the effectiveness of a leader differs by their leadership style, behaviour, and skills.
What are Leadership Styles?
Leadership styles are the methods that leaders take to motivate, lead and implement plans. It provides direction to their team.
Different types of styles coexist in working environments. Every style has its advantages and disadvantages.
There is no one best suitable style. It depends on the organizational goal and culture.
Difference between Leaders and Managers.
Leaders and managers both play an essential role in building a business. Effective leadership can help businesses to reach their goals.
However, being a manager and a leader is not the same, someone who overlooks an organization is not termed as a manager. Executives are a more apt job title.
Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers actually are people who do things right – Professor Warren G. Bennis.
It is a misconception that anyone in a management role is a leader.
Here are their major differences
| LEADER | MANAGER |
|---|---|
| They focus on setting visions. They bring their vision to reality by motivating others. | They focus on organizational goals. They fulfill the actual tasks and responsibilities of the organization. |
| They lead people and influence them to look at the bigger picture. The focus is on the future. | They may lead a team, but they focus on the smaller goals. The focus is on the present. |
| Leaders tend to take risks. They try to create something new. | Managers do not take risks as they are more focused on eliminating risks and pitfalls. They maintain the status quo and stability. |
| Leaders focus on the long term. | Managers focus on the short term. |
| Leaders focus on relationships and individualism. | Manager’s work primarily focuses on structures and processes. They help achieve the company goals. |
| Leaders inspire people to follow them. They use personal power. | Managers direct people to get a high level of performance. They use position power on relevant parties. |
| People work under a leader because they are inspired by them. | People work for a manager because they want to impress them. |
| Create a culture based on shared values. | Maintain existing structure. |
