How do I become an effective leader? This is a question most leaders
ponder, and in the search for the perfect answer to what that ultimate
leadership approach and style might look like, many probably realise
this is not as easy as they had imagined.
Why is this? There are many reasons.
First, there are so many books and opinions on the subject it is hard
to identify one that stands out significantly from all the rest.
Second, none of them seems to be the best in all circumstances, and
third, some of them plainly seem to emulate the particular style of
famous and successful leaders.
An effective leader is authentic
Being a leader is a daunting task with a lot of challenges and
worries about doing the right things in the right way. Hence, looking
for the ultimate leadership style or method to be effective in all
situations is an understandable desire.
In fact, the quest for the perfect leadership style and
characteristics has been relentless for decades, but has still not
produced a clear picture of what that one ideal leadership approach or
style is — and it probably never will!
This is because it depends on the situation, sometimes referred to as
situational leadership. British leader Winston Churchill was ideal at
the start of World War II, and is often credited with mobilising the war
effort in Britain and leading the country to victory. But he is
generally perceived to be less effective in the following peacetime
years.
Ernest Shackleton has been called “the greatest leader that ever came
on God’s earth, bar none” for saving the lives of 27 men stranded with
him on ice floes for almost two years in the Antarctic. He never got his
men to the South Pole, but he got them out alive under the most extreme
circumstances.
These remarkable men had very different styles of leadership, yet
they were both entirely authentic as individuals. But however much you
admire one particular leader, you can’t just suddenly imitate someone
else’s style without coming across as insincere or fake.
Authentic leadership is about being true to yourself, to be your own
person, staying true to your own values, being consistent and believing
in a common purpose.
Hence to be an authentic leader, you need to demonstrate that you are
able to build trust, demonstrate passion for what you believe in,
practise what you preach, build solidity and ensure delivery.
When you have found your authentic leadership style and your own
“voice”, you can then be inspired and learn from others, adapt to
situations and apply situational leadership based on your own leadership
style.
In other words, we can learn from others’ successes and mistakes —
but we can’t be exactly like them, because that would not be authentic.
Therefore, it is important to understand the fundamentals of what
authentic leadership means to you. You have to define your own
authenticity, while appreciating how you can still learn from other
leaders and your own experiences and adapt your leadership style when
required.
Be an effective leader by managing yourself
Being an effective leader is not only about leading others, but also
about how you manage yourself. Effective leaders are able to manage and
juggle multiple demands on their time and still stay focused, without
getting stressed out or losing the big picture.
This is because they have built a set of effective behaviours and
habits around them, which guide them and their direct reports, team
members and colleagues.
Therefore, being an effective leader has as much to do with building
the most effective behaviours and habits as developing the right
leadership components to effectively lead others.
Research shows you can continue to learn new skills, embrace new
competencies and keep learning and adapting throughout your career.
No one is born a great leader — all great leaders grew into their role. And the most successful are those who stayed authentic.
Article by Niels Kemp Rasmussen, Senior Consultant with Training Edge International who
specialises in helping clients uncover hidden potential and increase
performance in their organisations.
For more information on our training programmes , please contact us at 63365804
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