What
is the role of the Leader?
Few
of us are born to lead. Yet most of us will need to lead some
group or organization, at some time. Leadership is
a role most of us will need to play.
Frequently,
leadership is a role that we discover we need to assume when
we agree to do some other task or job.
We
may need to lead a group, project team, department, or even
a whole organization. We may lead a family, club,
association or a whole community.
Our
leadership role may be formally sanctioned or we may have
no actual authority, just a group of followers.
The
context in which we lead doesn't matter. When we assume
a leadership role we have a part to play in shaping the future,
or at least some part of it, and a number of important principles
apply.
First,
the leadership role is different to management.
Often good leaders are also good managers. But the leadership
role is not the same as the management role, even when the
same person plays them both, and the two should not be confused.
The
management role is based on authority while
leadership is built on relationships. Where
the management role involves responsibility for command
and control, the leadership role relies on
influence and inspiration for consent.
The
primary leadership role includes establishing strategic
vision, values and direction setting while the management
role concentrates on planning, resource allocation and budget
to deliver the vision.
Both
leadership and management are important, but at different
times and in different situations. The best leaders
know when to assume which role - when to manage and when to
lead - and they are comfortable moving in and out of the leadership
role as required.
Second,
leadership skills can be learnt. You do not
need to learn these skills the hard way, on your own. Once
you develop your leadership skills, assuming any leadership
role is much easier, and more effective.
Attend
a leadership seminar or read some good
leadership books. See details of the online
courses in our Members Area and sign up for some of the
courses available to members.
Participate in the Leadership
Forum and ask for advice or
a pose a question of other members of the Forum. There
are many opportunities available to develop your leadership
skills.
And
finally, just as all good actors make the roles they play
their own, you must play your leadership role in a
way that is uniquely you. I believe Leadership
Integrity is about being the best you can be and bringing
who you are to what you do. This is the most important
role you can ever play.
(More
ideas on playing a leadership role in the Quick Tips below.)
QUOTE
OF NOTE
"Always
be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate
version of somebody else."
Judy
Garland (1922-1969)
QUICK
TIPS
Mature teams and organizations share the leadership role according
to who will be best in any particular situation or circumstances.
If you view leadership as a role you can happily and productively
continue contributing to a team in other ways when someone
else takes over the leadership role from you.
If you view leadership as part of your identity or personal
power base, rather than as a role you sometimes assume, you
run the risk of clinging to leadership beyond your capacity
to contribute value. Don't let this happen to you.
Taking
personal action on your leadership roles:
-
Make a list of all the roles that you play in each of the
different areas of your life.
-
Highlight the five roles that are most important to you.
-
Are the five roles you have highlighted the roles where
you consistently invest most of your time?
-
Are there things you need to do more of?
-
Are there things you need to do less of?
What actions will you take? And
remember, you don't have to do all this on your own.
The best thing you can do is join my next Leadership
Coaching Club. As a leadership specialist I've shown
hundreds of leaders around the world how to develop all the
skills they need to mentor, manage and lead. I can do the
same for you, wherever you are located.
You will find details of the Leadership Coaching Club by
clicking here.
Copyright
© Kerrie Mullins-Gunst
Kerrie Mullins-Gunst is an expert in all the knowledge, skills, attitudes and
behaviours you need to mentor, manage and lead your people, and one of Australia's
leading mentors, planning facilitators and female business speakers. For your
free Top Leadership Tips Workbook and other resources or to listen to her podcast,
visit http://leadershipskillcenter.com or call her on 61-3-9859 3924.
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