Leadership Part 1

Leadership! I find myself asking “what does leadership even mean today?” Webster’s dictionary will define leadership as “the power or ability to lead others” or “the time when a person holds the position of leader”.3 I would say those definitions of leadership are spot on. However, they fail to mention that leadership is a process, not a position.2 In this and upcoming blogs,  I am going to introduce you to leadership and the 5 levels of leadership.

For someone like myself, who interacts with at least 100 individuals on a daily basis, leadership is very important to me. When positioned in a leadership role, here are a few things to remember.

·         It is not about you

·         It is not about the power you possess or privilege you think you deserve

·         It is not about being in charge

·         To lead others, you must first know yourself

·         You must be able to lead yourself before leading others

·         Leadership is about serving others1

Level 1: Positional Leadership

Positional leadership is the lowest level of leadership, it is the starting place and the foundation upon which leadership must be built.2 I am sure many of you have heard a previous boss, teacher or coach say “Do this, because I said so” or “You are going to do this because I am in charge” those are classic examples of someone who was a positional leader. Now let’s not mistake the “positional leadership” role as a bad thing. Remember, this is the starting place, when a person gets appointed to a leadership position, it is usually because someone of authority saw potential in that person.2 It is also up to that person do define what type of leadership they will employ to those around them. In every situation, there is always going to be the “good” and the “bad”, I will now share with you some positives and negatives of positional leadership.

Positives of positional leadership

·         You have the potential to be a leader

·         Your authority is recognized by your peers

·         This position is an invitation to grow as a leader

·         You have the ability to shape and define your leadership role

               Negatives of positional leadership

·         Your leadership position can be misleading

·         Leaders who rely on their position, often devalue people

·         Positional leaders focus on control instead of contribution

·         Positional leaders place rights over responsibilities

In conclusion, it is important to remember that leadership is a journey and positional leadership is just the beginning. The impact of your leadership is solely up to you. Don’t wait until next week, next month, or next year to start developing your leadership skills, start right now and strive to create an environment people want to be a part of. Stay tuned for next week’s blog where we will discuss the second level of leadership, till next time.

References:

1Harris, B. (2016). The bison way. Cultivating a culture of champions. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://strengthperformance.com/video/the-bison-way-cultivating-a-culture-of-champions

2Maxwell, J. C. (1960). The 5 levels of leadership: Proven steps to maximize your potential. United States: Center Street.

3Merriam-Webster. (2015). Definition of LEADERSHIP. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadership