The Call to Leadership
What does it take to make a great Leader?
This question has been pondered upon for ages. Each era has borne its brand of leadership style that reflected the life and times as well as the culture of the place and of that era.
The realities of today far differ than those of the past. Gone are the days when you would influence and lead others simply by telling them what they have to do. Homogeneous routine is out and constant change permeates a society that is in constant metamorphosis and mobility. Such new realities require a new brand of leaders- people who are emotionally intelligent and who have the ability to provide inspiration, vision, hope, empathy, and compassion. Leaders who model the way for others to follow.
The old Transactional styles of leadership are giving way to Transformational and Resonant Leadership skills – a shift from telling to inspiring, from ordering to empowering.
Today’s effective leaders need to be skilled at controlling their emotions. They understand that while anger and fear can activate people’s response in the short term, these emotions will work against them on the long run, leaving a bloodied trail of fear, suspicion, distrust and lack of motivation.
Leaders need to be self-aware and in resonance with those around them, building strong and trusting relationships. They must synergize ideas and respect the opinions of others because they believe that each person has an important role to play in creating a dynamic, creative and vibrant environment. Although they are decisive in taking decisions and actions they do not act without seeking advice or without considering all the implications that their decision will have, especially on the people they lead.
With their positive energy and drive such Leaders transmit and radiate a sense of purpose and anticipation for the next challenge at hand. By inspiring a shared vision and nurturing the spirit of their followers they are able to encourage the heart and provide a sense of ownership. Their ability to translate intention into reality and to act on their intention comes from commitment-a necessary and common characteristic in successful leaders.
Such leaders are skilled in life balance. They nurture and find ways to re-create themselves as well as others. They understand the need to sustain themselves from high stress levels that may slowly erode their effectiveness.
One might wonder if such Leadership style is utopian. After all, who has the ability to hone such skills and be an all rounder? How can one honor such skills and Leadership values when every day provides new challenges and changes? How can Leaders live such excellence when they are thrust in a cutthroat world of struggling competition?
The fact is that such leadership skills can be honored on most occasions even if situational adaptation of approaches may be required at times.
The only requisite is for Leaders to be Coached and nurtured into the process of these skills. Through individual Coaching potential Leaders can achieve self-mastery, which in turn will give them the skills to increase their circle of influence and attract the respect of others.
Leadership skills are tools for life.
They are not the secret weapon of an elite inner circle that controls people in the shady corridors of power. On the contrary Leadership today falls within the domain of each and every one of us.
The call to Leadership is an invitation for us all to spread our wings and fly.
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