How do we begin to understand the art of leadership and its indisputable importance in today’s world? Research, theory, and general musings on the topic can be found in abundance. In fact, if you were to do an online search of “leadership,” you’d find literally millions of entries. We tried this recently and unearthed 173,000,000 on Google alone.
We read, hear, and talk about leadership all the time. We read about the executives at the helm of corporate giants, like GE, and high profile non-profit organizations, such as the American Red Cross. We engage in heated debate about the leaders of our nation, the U.N., the local school board, and our houses of worship. The context varies but the importance of strong leadership does not.
At its essence, leadership is about inspiring others to follow. (As the proverb goes, “If you think you are leading but no one is following, you are simply taking a walk.”) Some postulate that leadership is fundamentally about influence. Others assert that it’s about creating positive change, refusing to be content with the status quo. Still others focus on the leader’s role in developing and communicating a powerful vision… and instilling in others the collective passion to see that vision fulfilled.
It’s all true. A great leader knows how to inspire and motivate those around her. She knows how to get the most out of her followers. She skillfully focuses her constituents on the fulfillment of the organization’s goals.
An exemplary leader earns the dedication and loyalty of his people. He fosters commitment and trust. His followers would, literally or figuratively, follow him straight into battle.
Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself: Whom would you willingly follow into battle? What do they do to inspire this level of trust and dedication? How can you learn from them to further develop your own skills and become a truly great leader of people?
The Art of Leadership: Part One - To learn more about this author, visit Liz Bywater's Website.
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Liz Bywater
(Visit Liz's Website)
Liz Bywater, PhD, is president of Bywater
Consulting Group, LLC, an organizational
consulting firm in the Philadelphia area.
Dr. Bywater helps her clients dramatically
improve individual, group, and
organizational performance... resulting in
enhanced job satisfaction, maximized
productivity, and heightened profitability
for the organization.
Dr. Bywater is a specialist in human
behavior and behavioral change. She
brings her sophisticated understanding of
people, relationships, and communication
to the corporate environment to help her
clients effect meaningful and lasting
improvements in job effectiveness. Dr.
Bywater writes and speaks on a variety of
workplace topics, including the power of
collaboration, effective workplace
communication, and outstanding leadership.
She has been published and quoted in such
publications as the NY Times and the
International Herald Tribune.
Dr. Bywater earned her PhD at the Derner
Institute of Advanced Psychological
Studies. She earned her AB at Cornell
University, where she graduated Phi Beta
Kappa and Cum Laude with Distinction.
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