What is Leadership?
Apparently this is a pretty common question to ask. I recently saw a stat that there are over 700,000 google searches per month for the team leadership. Alot of people clearly want to know how to become a better leader. As you expect when you google the word leadership you will find no shortage of information on the topic. What leadership is, what the leadership styles are (more on this on another post), how to improve your leadership skills. I think there is an abundance of information out there that can help you improve your leadership, some of it free, some of it for a pretty hefty price. But no doubt there is a lot out there.
So why am I adding to this enormous amount of noise that exists on leadership? Well for one, I definitely am asking the same question that so many others are asking. I want to truly understand leadership... and I have been a leader for a pretty long time now. I have taken leadership courses, I have read blogs, browsed websites, and have even watched some of the best Hollywood movies that inspire us all to be great leaders (the makings of another great post). If you didn't read my bio then you won't know that I have been a coach in the sport of soccer for over 20 years. I won't share those details here, but because I have been a coach for this long I have been tied to the leadership world for the same length of time. In fact I would say as a player before becoming a coach I was also immersed in the leadership role both as an informal leader as a team mate and as a formal peer leader as a captain of a few teams. I was a leader, even when I didn't know I was a leader, and well before I knew anything about how to be a leader.
Why am I off on this tangent? Well, my search for the answer to what is leadership has been a long one. Furthermore, the answers I have found and my personal beliefs on what it means to be a leader have changed throughout this journey. Because of this I feel as though maybe I can help others who are on the same path learn some of the lessons a little quicker. Not a short-cut per say, but a more focussed guided discovery.
I have two questions I would ask you on your leadership journey.
1) Why do you want to lead others?
2) What is the role of the leader?
I think alot can be solved by asking the question Why?. The reason why I coach has changed over time. I have always coached because it is fun, and because I love the sport of soccer, and I love working with other people. But being in high-performance coaching I had another why... that why was to try to win games, win trophies, and advance my career. The problem is within those two statements there are two totally different reasons for coaching. One is for the joy and satisfaction of leading, and the other was a more outward goal directed effort.
So why are you leading? To help others, to build teams, to inspire people? Or to hit targets, win awards, and gain recognition as a great leader?
Make no doubt I understand the outcome nature of sports and business... but for me when you focus on the outcome as the why of leading, I think you are starting down the wrong path. Outcome isn't a a target or destination. Outcome is a result of the process. So leadership to me focusses solely on the process, and the people within the process.
This brings me to the second question, what is the role of the leader? My belief in this manner is that the role of the leader is to aid in the motivation, the performance, and the well being of those you lead. The important subjects here are the people being led, not the leader. So keeping in mind that the leader is responsible for others, and putting their needs and successes first can help keep you grounded to a specific an overarching leadership belief. It can help guide your compass when it comes to actions, decisions, and your overall way of treating people.
Now that we have clarified that leadership is about the people led, and not the leader, lets look at the role the leader has in helping their people. As I mentioned I believe it is my role to support (foster, enhance, insert word... ) the motivation, the performance and the well being of the people that I lead. By breaking leadership into these three roles I feel I can be sure to fully encompass the needs of the people around me.
Motivation
Motivation is a complex topic and to be discussed in another post (likely numerous posts). I love the topic so much I dedicated a few years to study the topic of motivational climate through a masters degree. I believe that. leader is responsible for optimizing the motivation of the individual and the group. It is far too simple to say that people are motivated or unmotivated... the quality of motivation and the quantity of motivation can be enhanced or thwarted by the leader and by the environment of the group. So if the leader can get this aspect of things right, the individual and the group can thrive under conditions that support high quality motivation.
Performance
The performance piece is the physical domain. This includes anything that helps provide the people with what they need to actually get the job done. This includes training, resources, material, space, time, etc...
It is important to provide the necessary support for the maximum performance of the individual and the group. It is uplifting for an individual when they have the confidence, competence, and resources necessary to succeed. A good leader works with people to help them achieve this as much as possible within the means available.
Well-Being
Finally and most importantly, of great importance to me is the well-being of those who I lead. This keeps me grounded in understanding who the most important people are in this process. Looking after the well being of others means helping them be ok mentally and emotionally regardless of what they are going through. It doesn't mean simply sheltering them from disappointment and struggle, but to help them and consider their personal well being no matter what they are going through. For example, If you have to deliver bad news to an athlete or an employee this can be done with care and with trying to provide the best possible support for the individual to deal with whatever news is being delivered. Sometimes we forget that the people we lead are not simply chess pieces to be used as pawns in our game. Maybe its easier when you don't care about people and how things effect them, but I don't think the job of the leader should be easy.
Now perhaps we have some insight into why we lead. We have some thoughts on what the role of the leader is. But how do you do it, how do you lead? That is the million dollar question, with a million answers. My goal is to continue to share with you some of my thoughts on this so that you can take what suits you best and shapes your journey as a leader. And let's be clear.. it is a journey. A good leader is always evolving and changing as they go. Leadership styles exist, and some of these styles will suit you better than others. Some will work in certain circumstances and fail miserably if used incorrectly. Through the leadership journey you will learn how to juggle this.
This post gives you some insight into how I would start the process... first ask yourself why you lead and what you think makes a good leader. Next, try to understand what you think the responsibility of the the leader is. I have said that I believe it is the Motivation, the Performance, and the Well Being of the people you lead. Take care of these elements, take care of the process of leadership, and I believe it gives you the best chance at the outcome that you desire. Oh, and one final piece of advice here... don't be someone you aren't. People like authenticity, especially when they know you have their best needs in mind.
Steve Simonson