No matter how small (or big) the team you’re trying to lead is, there’re always challenges that make leadership difficult. Maybe your team is experiencing some setbacks and the morale is kind of low at the moment. Maybe there’re members who can’t keep up with the progress like everyone else. Or maybe your team always misunderstands what you mean, making it difficult to keep your vision and their work in sync.
Leadership is never meant to be easy. But if you understand what leadership really means, you’re one great step closer to becoming a successful leader.
There is not a single definition of leadership and it varies depending on the type of leader — the CEO of a company, the captain of a sports team, a religious leader, a political leader, etc. However, when we talk about leadership in general, according to leadership expert James McGregor Burns, leadership is a process in which “leaders and their followers raise one another to higher levels of morality and motivation”.[1]
A leader creates visions and motivates team members to work together towards the same goal.
With a good leader, people are motivated to grow and will perform their best to reach the goal.
A leader is the charismatic head of a group of people, who possesses the skills to lead, inspire and influence the others to pursue their personal growth and the team’s goals. Leaders are important as they have a great impact on a team’s performance. Good leaders will maximize the team’s productivity, shape positive cultures and promote harmony and open communication within the team.[2]
