My vision of leadership

Leadership or the style of leading has always been evolving according to the situations and circumstances that I have been come across. According to me a good leader is someone who not only leads his team but also takes care and recognises everyone who are around him. I believe that great leaders are not just born or neither do they become a great leader through learning from books, but through experience.

Even though we know a lot of people who are born with leadership skills like communication abilities or creativity, I would argue that it is not necessarily the case all the time. A great leader is someone who is charismatic in ways that he has the ability to motivate and enhance the lives of his people. I believe that great leaders are not someone who commands and create fear to his/her employees to finish a task but someone who inspires enthusiasm and leads the way to complete the goal. A great leader not only helps to grow the company but also helps the employees to grow and develop. He needs to be a role model to his people and show them the ethical way of doing things and making them aware of what is the right thing to do. I also believe that a great leader helps to find solutions to problems when arised rather than blaming others.

Basically for me, an efficient leader is someone who has a mixture of these fundamental skillsets: Honesty & integrity, self-awareness, a bold vision, has the courage and communication skills and someone who is a team builder. For being an outstanding leader individuals must have these traits or have to build these skillsets. Being knowledgeable about one’s own strengths and weakness and admitting this is one of the first steps for people to be a great leader. Hard work and motivating employees to perform better are also important skills an efficient leader should require. (Crossco.com, 2015)

 

Transformational Leadership

 

The idea of a transformational leader was founded by James McGregor Burns. He defines this concept as a method in with both the leaders and followers helps each other to grow and progress. (Forbes.com, 2016) This kind of leadership may be found in all levels in the organisation and is a great concept that helps both the individuals and the organisation.

There are four main aspects to this form of leadership:

Inspirational Motivation: a transformational leader must be inspirational in such ways that the vison and mission of the organisation must be promoted throughout the establishment. The vison and mission should be so convincing that the members in the organisation know what they are supposed to do and how to do to achieve the organisational goals. They should encourage teamwork and commitment towards the whole process. (Forbes.com, 2016)

Intellectual Stimulation: A transformational leader should also encourage creativity and innovation in the workplace. They should have the capability of encouraging their staff in creating better ideas and ingenuity that can help the organisation. They should also keep in mind that criticizing the employees in public for their mistakes is bad for them.

Idealized Influence: The other skill a transformational leader must have is an ability to be a role model to their team. The leader should be a role model by showing the aspects of ethical behaviour and building trust to his/her employees. (Forbes.com, 2016)

Individualized Consideration: Leaders should be a mentor for their followers and treat them differently according to their talents and abilities. They should reward them according to their creativity and innovative ideas. They should also listen to their followers needs and concerns and provide them proper support and adequate empowerment.

Fig: Four great leaders with the four main aspects of transformational leadership.

 

My Inspiring Leader

The leader who inspired my whole childhood was Dhirubhai Ambani the founder of the Reliance company. He was the greatest entrepreneur in India. He was one of the business masterminds who changed himself from rags to riches by his own hard work. According to me he not only changed the life of his followers/stakeholders but he transformed the whole economy of the country. Dhirubhai Ambani had the philosophy that he and his co-workers(team) shared the same DNA. What he meant by this is that everyone in the team had to work hard and equally no matter the position you are in. (Blog.himanshusheth.net, 2016). He also believed that leaders should take care of their employees and by doing so they will perform wonders. He emphasized this idea not to run behind money, he said that money is just a by-product of the work you do. And the one thing that made me respect and follow Dhirubai Ambani is one of his great statements “Think Big and Dream Big, But Dream with Your Eyes Open”. What he means is that you need to realise and make clear of your vison without hurting yourself. (Blog.himanshusheth.net, 2016)

University has been an amazing place for me to grow. Both intellectually and logically. The feedback I have been receiving from my colleagues has helped me to understand my strengths and weakness. From this whole process I have learned that the style of leadership is a continues process and to be a great leader you need to fall sometimes, so as to learn from the mistakes and change yourself for being better.

 

References:

 

Crossco.com. (2015). 6 Key Components to Effective Leadership. [online] Available at: http://crossco.com/blog/6-key-components-effective-leadership [Accessed 27 Mar. 2016].

Forbes.com. (2016). Forbes Welcome. [online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkwilliams/2013/11/13/becoming-a-transformational-leader-an-interview-with-stedman-graham/#5f78ab592d05 [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016].

Forbes.com. (2016). Forbes Welcome. [online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/yec/2015/08/27/developing-the-3-habits-of-transformational-leaders/#b7f21961c45b [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016].

Blog.himanshusheth.net. (2016). 15 Dhirubhaism’s : Lessons by Dhirubhai Ambani | Himanshu’s Blog  – Technology, Entrepreneurship & Business. [online] Available at: http://blog.himanshusheth.net/2007/08/19/15-dhirubhaisms-lessons-by-dhirubhai/ [Accessed 28 Mar. 2016].