I must admit that for many years I did it all backwards! Yes, I have had to learn the hard way how to do it right. Be a leader that is. Even though I have not arrived as a leader, I am working daily on the process. For many managers and bosses, I think a common misconception is that managing and leading are synonymous. But they are not. You can manage things–projects, households, offices, etc.–but you cannot manage people. You must lead them.
There are five main functions, or responsibilities, of leadership, which include planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling. Some of the many skills required of a leader are the ability to think creatively, communicate effectively, solve challenges, build human relationships, make wise decisions, and take qualified risks. A person will know immediately how well they are doing as a leader by how well people are following them.
The definition of leadership is this: That ability or skill to enlist the willing cooperation of people to achieve a desired result. Some of the key words here are "enlist", "willing" and "result." These attitudes should permeate our minds as leaders, and be consistently manifested in our actions and communications if we are to be truly effective.
Effective leadership is a life-long process. A person must first have the "want to" to be a true leader. Then they must be willing to learn, and put into practice, the necessary skills for good leadership. A good leader does his or her best to set a good example for those they are leading, and has an attitude of enthusiastically serving others rather than expecting to be served. A true leader is one who is able to get things done, but never by stepping on or using other people. An effective leader knows how to cause people to want to be involved in achieving the desired results.
