Part II of being a leader

Colleagues,
 
A leader cannot be all things and have all skills, yet we often expect or yearn for such leaders. This is dangerous as it leads us to delude ourselves, to have unrealistic expectations, and to abrogate some of our own responsibility.
 
There is not one type of leader that is better than the rest. There are many ways of leading and different contexts align to different ways of leading. However, I need to answer Mara’s question.
 
What makes a leader?

1. Intention – a leader recognizes the power they have and consciously chooses to wield that power
2. Courage – there is risk in exercising power over others and a leader must be willing to stumble.
3. Goals – a leader exercises power for a clear purpose and to achieve a specific outcome.

 
Note that these things don’t necessarily make a “good” or “effective” leader. Three things that are essential to my vision of “good” leadership are:

1. Ethics – wielding power creates an ethical obligation to care for those who are subjected to the power.
2. Teaching – helping people learn and grow creates long-term value for people and the organization (or movement).
3. Learning – leading is complex and an imperfect science. A leader must continually learn.

 
So, Mara and all of you readers, what makes a leader is a willingness to use power to influence others to achieve a specific outcome. What helps make a good leader is using this power to also enhance the capacities of the people being led and to continually grow the self as well.
 
Most of us hold strong ideas about leadership. If you think I really missed something, or if something here really resonated with you, please let me know! You can email me here.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick