The term leadership, is commonly used, when addressing, or referring to the effectiveness, or success of a nation, team, or organization. Though, the term is subjective, and relative, and may sometimes be defined differently according to context, it is important to state that the word still possess a generic meaning.
DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP.
Leadership is the skill or ability to manage, influence, motivate, or provide guidance to an individual or group of people. The idea of leadership centers on motivating, and providing direction for a team, or individuals for efficiency or productivity.
Leadership is not a guesstimate, and cannot be achieved by trial and error. It is a skill, and rather intentional. It requires capacity, and discipline. It is in order to say that, just like every other skill, leadership requires ardent learning, and practice to be honed.
FUNDAMENTALS OF LEADERSHIP.
The fundamentals of leadership are learning, and practice. Therefore, he who aspires to be a leader must first be taught, either by self, or by another individual. This step is followed up by putting into action (in real life) everything learned. In another word, the second step is simply taking up simple responsibilities to perfect what has been learned.
Unfortunately, most people assume that the first step is not necessary. They, ignore investing knowledge into themselves through learning, and jump into the second stage. Absurdly, when they do, they forget starting by taking on small responsibilities. This is why most nations, and organizations does not work; because the helm is controlled by individuals bereft of the rudiments of leadership.
WHY LEARNING AND PRACTICE IS IMPERATIVE IN LEADERSHIP.
- It prepares you for the tasks ahead.
- It provides you with better perspectives.
- It sharpens your visibility.
- It builds competence.
- It helps you to identify the right people for the job.
- Provides the resources to train and bring out the best in people.
- It builds confidence.
- It provides the adequate knowledge for the job.
- It builds capacity.
- Helps you identify opportunities.
- Provides the ability to set the right goals.
- Helps in goals implementation.
- Provides the insight to identify problems easily and proffer solutions.
IMPLEMENTATION OF LEADERSHIP.
Every leadership should have a system upon which it is built upon, and when this is done, implementation becomes easy. Talking about system, this encompasses culture, vision. goals, strategy, and execution.
Culture should be the foundation of leadership system if it must work. Without it, there will be no direction. Culture is the norm; the way of life of every leadership system. It is the banner of every leadership system, that defines how the organization operates, or delivers their job. It is culture that forms the behaviour of an organization; it determines how members of an organization deliver their duties even in the absence of a supervisor, etc.
Vision refers to the clear image of the future of an individual, nation or organization. It is that desired future that inspires, and motivates an individual or a people to wake up at night. It aligns with the core values, and priorities of an organization or a people. It provides focus, and guides against dissipation of energy and wastage. Without vision, it will be very hard to start and finish a project. In the absence of vision, an organization may be tempted to jump from one project to another without completion, wasting resources. In fact, vision encourages continuity, and helps in the elimination of wastage of resources.
Goals and vision have similarities, the only difference is that goals are the building blocks to achieving a vision. Goals are specific targets set to achieve a vision. For example, the vision of a country may be to achieve steady power supply within seven years, but the goals would be ‘how to’ achieve this. The breakdown steps on how to achieve this vision is the goal. This could mean harnessing solar energy as well as the traditional means of power generation, and setting up national task force to monitor progress, and make sure that all parties adhere to the agreement. As long as this specific target enables the vision of achieving the seven years vision, it is simply a goal.
Strategy is slightly interwoven with goal; the only difference is that a strategy is the approach one takes to achieve a goal, just like goal is the specific targets set to achieve a vision. From the example given to describe goal, strategy would mean the steps designed to implement the set targets. In this case, strategy would mean how many megawatts would be generated through traditional means yearly over the period of seven years, how many megawatts will be generated through solar energy, how many solar panels are required, how many solar centers would be built, would it be better for government to build the solar centers or build partnership with existing solar energy companies to handle the project, etc.
Execution is the final stage in leadership implementation. It is the practical implementation of strategy. It requires a thorough understanding of strategic plans to carry out a successful execution. Execution must tactically follow through the crafted ideas and allocation of resources as stipulated in the strategy to accomplish the desired vision
CHARACTERISTICS OF A LEADER.
- A leader should be knowledgeable.
- A leader should be selfless.
- A leader should be innovative.
- A leader should be open minded.
- A leader should be a good listener.
- A leader should be bold.
- A leader should be decisive.
- A leader should be a good communicator.
- A leader should be a motivator and influencer.
TAKEAWAYS
- Leadership is more of an individual thing than it is a general thing.
- The term leadership is subjective and relative.
- Leadership is a skill.
- Leadership is neither guesstimate nor trial and error.
- Leadership is visible (it can be seen wherever it functions)
- Leadership is transferable
- Leadership is intentional.
- Leadership requires capacity and discipline
- Leadership creates productivity and success
- The fundamentals of leadership are learning and practice.
- Leadership motivates and provides direction.
- Leadership has a system.
- Leadership can be implemented by creating a culture, setting up a vision, goals, strategy and tactical execution.
Arthur Ugochukwu Okoro
Founder/National President
Arthur Ugochukwu-Okoro.