What is Leadership?

I often get asked two questions: "How do you define leadership?" and "What is your leadership style?" Neither are easy to answer and the reality is that my response will probably be some combination of my true actions and what I aspire to be. Conversely, asking colleagues to answer these same questions about you can also be slanted given the nature of the working relationship, perceptions and that person's bias.

These types of questions typically get asked of new hires when taking on the responsibility of people-leadership. But the importance of asking this question of all employees - including individual contributors - should not be overlooked.

In my experience, the best definition of leadership is who you are when no one is looking.

Securing a role with people-management responsibilities or a title that implies seniority does not simply anoint you as a leader. Earning the respect, trust, and confidence of others is the first step in being able to call yourself a leader. Learning how to identify and leverage the talents of those around you helps empower your team while indirectly showing that you don't know everything....because let's face it, no one does.

When it comes to describing leadership style, there are any number of assessments that can be taken to assist with classifying your style. Digging deep into the results can yield valuable information about how to improve working relationships, identifying styles with complimentary characteristics, even help with assessing candidates for a new role. But in the end, the best definition of leadership style is that you achieve results for the organization and ensure the talent within the team is leveraged in the best way possible.

So, what kind of leader are you when no one is looking? The irony is that someone is always looking. The ability to influence someone with a single response or interaction is everywhere. I often suggest to my clients that they begin looking for behaviors in others that they wish to emulate. Maybe the behavior they want to cultivate is to be able to speak up more in meetings. An easy, first step might be to simply identify a person that regularly talks in meetings and begin to observe when and how they enter the conversation. For the true leader, it doesn't matter where these behaviors are observed or who demonstrated the behavior. You actively seek out behaviors in others that you wish to emulate as you cultivate your own leadership style. Remember that in honing your leadership behaviors, you are also actively making decisions about the types of behaviors you do not want to exhibit. The ability to recognize and embrace a journey of discovery and humility will help shape both your definition and style of leadership.

Who are you when no one is looking? Visit my website or book a free consultation online now to learn more about how to unlock the skills within you.

#executivecoaching, #leadership, #moveandunleash