In terms of leadership theory there are many schools of thought: some pundits believe that leadership skills are something inherently acquired through birth and the gene pool, and that if you weren’t born with great bravado and the ability to motivate others you’ll never be able to do so. Others feel that leadership skills can be practiced and honed as one grows and matures, giving those of us currently stuck at the corporate ground-floor hope of one day walking into a C-Suite. And many behavioral scientists feel that leadership is even more than a birthright or a practice, but a set of actions that consistently echo with the general public and are repeatable to the point that even the least of those can mobilize the masses for a common purpose. In all, though, there are some basic premises of leaders that transcend the thought processes of people who have way too much time on their hands. These skills can be honed and crafted to fit individual personalities and styles and truly form the basis for great leaders. The first and probably most important is Discipline. This is not just physical discipline to eat well or exercise consistently- while those things do aid in the process- this speaks mainly towards the need to be disciplined in one’s decision making and actions as a leader. If people see that you are fair, consistent, and well-balanced in how you go about your work and handle the personalities of others it will go a long way in gaining their respect and bring them to your side. Discipline can come from many sources, but the best is to have a clear set of directives and values by which you live by and sharing those to the people you are leading so that they know the basis for your decisions and where you are coming from.
Another key ingredient to great leadership is Building Relationships with a Purpose. To lead effectively one must be able to communicate with people on their level, and in order to do that you must be willing to learn about their cultures, personalities, family background, and life goals. It is much easier to communicate with someone if you know where they’ve been and what they are trying to accomplish in life. By explaining to the young professional aspiring to climb the corporate ladder how a simple task or project will help him build skills in key business areas, they will be more likely to tackle the assignment head-on as opposed to simply trudging through it; When you Build Relationships with a Purpose people will be drawn to you and want to do their best because you care.
Finally, all great leaders must have a Vision and have a plan for achieving it. In order to generate momentum within a population of individuals you must give them a reason to be excited. Whether it’s the chance to win a ballgame, gain promotion within the company they work, or raise money for a great cause, people want to be able to make a real and genuine connection with their day-to-day lives and the overall task at hand. As leaders it is our job to make that connection for them and convey the message that it will take many great individual efforts in order to achieve the life-sized goals that you have in store for them. If you are able to do that then it make the job of leadership that much easier.
In all, the basics of leadership are a simple recipe, but the consistent application of these traits over the long-run can be difficult and touch to achieve. If you are able to do so, however, you will create a fan base among those you are leading that will be unshakable, even in the wake of great conflict.
Below is a video of a leader who was not so great at the basics. He wasn’t very disciplined, he did not build relationships with a purpose, nor did he have a great vision for his people, but he did get the most out of those he needed the most- especially when it counted.
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