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Leadership is a powerful force, a timeless concept that has shaped the very fabric of history and inspired individuals to achieve great things. The definition of leadership varies for different leaders, which influences their leadership style. But they would all agree on one thing: being a leader means inspiring, influencing, and motivating others to work towards a shared vision.
Before we begin, let’s quickly review what leadership means. Leadership means having a clear vision and business acumen that can lead to attaining goals. It also means having integrity, humility, resilience, and, above all, being empathic. A leader would be affirmative when required, leading people to create sustenance, giving them room to grow, and nurturing their talent.
Throughout history, numerous commendable leaders have left an indelible mark on society. Undoubtedly, their invaluable guidance continues to serve as a source of inspiration for anyone seeking to improve their leadership skills.
Some famous quotes and definitions of a leader
These insightful quotes can deeply inspire individuals, regardless of their background or life experiences. They offer invaluable guidance on leadership that can be applied in various settings, such as the workplace, community, or personal life. So, whether you are a business executive, a team lead, a community mobilizer, or simply seeking personal development and growth, embracing the wisdom conveyed through these quotes can improve your leadership skills and ignite transformation.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams
A leader’s fundamental quality is to inspire others to achieve their goals and bring change.
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy
A true leader is characterized by their willingness to continuously learn and improve. They acknowledge that knowledge is ever-changing and believe in the value of seeking guidance from mentors and teachers to gain invaluable insights and sharpen their skills. Leaders are lifelong learners.
“The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Integrity is pivotal for effective leadership. Trusting leaders who consistently demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior are more prone to follow and achieve great things together.
“Become the type of leader that people would follow voluntarily, even if you had no title or position.” – Brian Tracy
True leadership is earned through conduct and demeanor, inspiring and invigorating others to reach their full potential. It cannot be imposed but rather earned through dedication and a commitment to serving others.
Leadership Styles: What are the different kinds?
1. Democratic Leadership
Also called participative or facilitative leadership, in this leadership style, the leader makes the decisions based on their team’s input and opinions. Basically, a democratic leader involves everyone in the decision-making process. Of course, the leader will have the final call but each team member’s input is valid here. Democratic leaders are inclusive and empowering, they have transparent conversations, value collaboration and teamwork, are supportive of their team members, and are empathic. They also have great emotional intelligence.
This leadership style is considered the most effective because it makes the employees feel more valued. However, this style also comes with potential challenges, like reaching a consensus usually takes a lot of time.
2. Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leadership is the precise opposite of democratic leadership. Also known as coercive, commanding, and authoritarian leadership, in this leadership style, team members’ opinions are not considered in the decision-making process. Rather, autocratic leaders expect their employees to adhere to their decisions, which makes this style unsustainable in the long run.
The organization will likely bear the consequences of the leadership style, as employees don’t stay for long and quit. This leadership style follows a clear hierarchy and status quo, and autocratic leaders are primarily resistant to feedback or criticism. An example of autocratic leadership going bad in current times would be a leader changing the work-from-home policy and asking employees to adhere to longer working hours without any benefits or motivation and without consulting anyone.
The autocratic leadership style is most suited during a crisis, some kind of emergency, or when a company has to make difficult decisions. However, most companies cannot sustain such a hegemonic culture for a longer period of time without losing a few good employees. History has seen many great autocratic leaders as well, but the longevity of this style of leadership is debatable.
Did you know that Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, and X), Napoleon Bonaparte (former French emperor), Howell Raines (The New York Times), Martha Stewart (Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia), Donald Trump (The Trump Organization), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Vladimir Putin, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler all have one thing in common? They are all autocratic leaders.
3. Strategic Leadership
Strategic leaders use their skills to help and guide team members and companies to achieve their long-term goals. This leadership style requires having a strategic vision, competitive awareness, and the maturity to adapt. Accountability, productibility, care, and transparency are all traits of a strategic leader. They also have excellent interpersonal communication skills. Strategic leaders are open-minded, self-aware, and interested in their team members’ well-being.
4. Laissez-faire Leadership
The French term Laissez-faire literally translates to “allow to do” or “let them do”. It is the least intrusive kind of leadership style. This type of leadership is known to be delegative and has a hands-off approach. This leadership empowers the employees in decision-making and holds them accountable for their work. It is known to motivate team members to give their best, thereby improving the company’s efficacy and productivity. However, this leadership also provides limited guidance, direction, and feedback. Employees here enjoy a very high autonomy.
5. Transformational Leadership
Transformational leaders inspire team members to achieve unexpected and unattainable goals. They encourage their employees, gain the trust and confidence of the members, and ultimately lead them to attain the company’s goals. This form of leadership is quite uplifting in nature. This leadership style also motivates and helps the employees hone their skills and gives them space to grow as professionals.
6. Coaching Leadership or Conscious Leadership
As the name suggests, this leadership style focuses on identifying and developing team members’ strengths. Coaching leaders or conscious leaders develop strategies that help the teams find synergies and work better together. This leadership style is quite similar to democratic and strategic leadership, but this style emphasizes the success of individual employees.
7. Transactional Leadership
This leadership style is strictly task-oriented and is based on the action-and-reward concept, which means team members who meet the leader’s expectations will be rewarded, but those who don’t will be punished. Transactional leaders set specific rules and standards and closely monitor their employees’ performances. However, this leadership needs to include more 1:1 check-ins and interactions; otherwise, it is likely that some members will lose motivation to work and will look for opportunities elsewhere.
So, what kind of a leader are you?
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