One of the interesting topics that we discussed during the "El Camino:  A Personal Leadership Pilgrimage" workshop I facilitated at the 6th Annual Pharma SFE Forum in Lisbon a few weeks ago,  was, who is a leader and why?   

  

There are many leadership models.  Some think that we should separate management and leadership functions; others define leaders by their relationship with followers; others describe how leaders lead in different circumstances; and of course there are many others.  I think all of these models miss something and a more simplified understanding of leadership is needed. 

  

The common denominator in defining who is a leader is whether the individual has influence over another individual or group.  Those who influence others, lead.  This definition includes anyone in a position of authority, however; it also includes those who have no official position power at all (see last month's story about a father who influenced his family and community).   This definition also includes CEOs, Directors, front line managers, counselors, teachers, youth advisors, etc. All of these people influence others; all are leaders; and so are you! 

  

This raises another important question; how effective of a leader am I?  One common way of evaluating leaders is to measure their success in meeting organizational goals.  However, meeting goals is not enough, after all; Hitler was effective in meeting his goals; was he an effective leader?  So too, Jeff Skilling, of Enron fame, was reported to have argued in Harvard Business School classes that the role of the business leader was "to take advantage of loopholes and regulations and push beyond the laws wherever he could to make money (Gallos, 2008, p. 94).  Skilling found a lot of loopholes and made a lot of money for himself and those who followed him through the years, however; few would call him an effective leader!

  

To evaluate leadership, we must look beyond effectiveness and examine whether the leader is anchored to core values and is guided by a moral compass.  The Bible tells us to judge the goodness of a tree by whether it bears good or bad fruit and that "a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil" (Luke 6:  44- 45).  We can use this same evaluation to examine the positive and/or the negative results and influence leaders have on others.  More importantly, we can hold this up as a standard to our own effectiveness as leaders.  By observing good men and women of the past and present, who have had positive influence on those around them, we can identify certain basic qualities that great leaders share and which we can strive to incorporate in our own leadership style.   

  

An attitude of servant leadership and solid core values should become our leadership anchor; and our ability to communicate a clear vision and purpose beyond dollars and cents should become our moral compass.  Without these key qualities it is difficult for a leader to be effective in positively influencing others or in gaining and maintaining lasting effectiveness and results.    

  

It would be a pleasure to facilitate this and/or other Magnify L&D workshops for you and your organization or as a public workshop in your area.  Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information.