Leadership is one of the most misunderstood terms in the world today. Misunderstood not because people don’t know what it is but because almost everyone has a different understanding of what leadership is. A simple Google search will turn out different results as there are as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders.
The differences notwithstanding, one thing that everyone seems to agree on when it comes to defining leadership is the purpose for which leadership exists. The purpose of leadership is simply to create change and bring about the desired result.
What is Leadership?
I define leadership as simply the ability to take the initiative to bring about the desired change. This desired change could be within a group or just for you as an individual. When it has to do with you as an individual, we differentiate it with the term personal leadership. So, personal leadership is your ability to bring yourself to take the initiative towards creating or bringing about your desired change.
Other Definitions of Leadership
“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally people to a common purpose together with the character that inspires confidence and trust.” Bernard Montgomery.
Bernard Montgomery was a senior British Army officer who served in the First World War, the Irish War of Independence and the Second World War. He could be said to be one of the most prominent and successful British commanders of the Second World War (1939-45). He notably commanded the Allies against General Erwin Rommel in North Africa, and in the invasions of Italy and Normandy.
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Warren Bennis.
Warren Gamaliel Bennis was an American scholar, organizational consultant and author, widely regarded as a pioneer of the contemporary field of Leadership studies. He was a Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and Founding Chairman of The Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California.
He was the author of the following books on leadership:
- Visionary Leadership: Creating a Compelling Sense of Direction for Your Organization (1992)
- Beyond Counterfeit Leadership: How You Can Become a More Authentic Leader (1997)
- Co-Leaders: The Power of Great Partnerships (1999)
- Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge (2003)
- Reinventing Leadership: Strategies to Empower the Organization (2005).
“Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision and inspires them to make it happen, despite the obstacles.” John Kotter.
John Paul Kotter is the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Leadership, Emeritus, at the Harvard Business School, an author, and the founder of Kotter International, a management consulting firm based in Seattle and Boston. He is a thought leader in business, leadership, and change. Some of the books authored by John Kotter include:
- Power and Influence (2008)
- The Leadership Factor (1988)
- John P. Kotter on What Leaders Really Do (1999)
- That’s Not How We Do It Here!: A Story about How Organizations Rise and Fall–and Can Rise Again (2016)
- CHANGE: How Organizations Achieve Hard-to-Imagine Results Despite Uncertain and Volatile Times (2021)
“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.”
Myles Munroe.
Myles Munroe, OBE was a Bahamian evangelist and ordained minister avid professor of the Kingdom of God, author, speaker and leadership consultant who founded and led the Bahamas Faith Ministries International and Myles Munroe International. He was chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the International Third World Leaders Association and president of the International Leadership Training Institute as well as the author of numerous books. Some of the books on leadership authored by Myles Munroe include:
- The Spirit of Leadership
- The Principles and Power of Vision
- In Charge
- Power Of Character In Leadership: How Values, Morals, Ethics, and Principles Affect Leaders
- Passing It On
Why Leadership?
From the various definitions of leadership offered already, it is clear that leadership seeks to create change and bring about the needed result. Leadership is a vital component of any organization or business and when an organization gets it right in leadership, it will get it right in every other thing, including sales. Below are four importance of leadership to any organization or business.
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Leadership Sets The Vision
Every organization and business needs a vision to remain successful. Vision is what defines the destination for the organization or business and it takes leadership to effectively set the vision for an organization per time. Leadership defines what goals an organization or group should be pursuing at any given time. Leadership sets the vision.
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Leadership Formulates The Plan
To achieve any vision, a viable plan is needed in that direction. Formulating a plan that will help an organization or business in achieving its vision and goals will require leadership. An organization that will be successful is known by the vision and plans it has in place. This is why the viability of a business idea is often judged by the kind of business plan the entrepreneur has for the business.
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Leadership Coordinates
The pursuit of any plan and the attainment of any vision will take a lot of resources – human, material and financial. However, having resources at your disposal is not what makes a plan or vision work out but the effective coordination of the available resources. Leadership is what makes this coordination possible.
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Leadership Spurs Growth
There is a popular saying that “everything rises and falls on leadership”. This is because, with effective leadership in place, an organization or business will do what it takes to achieve its goals. And when an organization achieves its goals, growth will be inevitable for it.
Closing Thoughts
Leadership is a highly important function that every organization or business needs in order to achieve growth and profitability. The good thing about it all is that leadership is an art that can be developed. So, it does not matter where you are currently, you can begin to work on beginning an effective leader that will achieve great results for your team and organization.
You may also wish to check out this post on the five qualities that make for effective leadership.