Leadership is far from a science. Many would even argue that it is more of a form of art. Since effective leadership means different things to different people, I wanted to dive a little deeper into this debate to glean a better understanding as to what great leaders do. It consists of a convergence of art and science. Tanveer Nasser shares this perspective:
Whether you are more on the side of art or leadership is beside the point. Effective leaders consider not only specific requirements of the position and research, but also many unique components such as culture, environment, and the community. It is hard to say definitively that there is one style or technique that works best when all the variables are taken into consideration. Case in point. You could be a great leader in one position but be horrible in another if the same strategies are employed in different conditions.
By employing strategies that intersect between art and science, leaders can excel in their position regardless of title. Below are five main focus areas.
People
It is the people who drive change, not one person. They are the most critical resource in any organization. Great leaders don’t tell others what to do, but instead, take them to where they need to be. It is about making the time to empower others to be great even if they think they’re not. The best leaders take the time to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of those who they serve to build a culture of success. Take care of your people and they, in turn, will take care of you.
Alignment
Leadership can seem like a juggling act with all of the mandates, directives, and goals at play. Great leaders understand the importance of the long game and ensure that the day to day work is always aligned with the bigger picture. They understand that putting an enormous amount of energy into short-term goals that might not positively impact culture is not a prudent way to achieve lofty goals. Always remember that implementing and sustaining change is more of a marathon than a race.
Collective
Success in organizations is never the result of one person. Great leaders celebrate the accomplishments of others above their own. They are always quick to build others up as a way to share how their efforts have led to better outcomes. As the old cliché goes, there is no “I” in team. Great leaders understand that they have to get the majority of their people moving in the same direction not because they have to, but because they want to. A focus on the collective can help to achieve this.
Respect
For the most part, there are no handouts in life. Just because someone has a title, position, or power does not mean they are a leader or deserve your respect. Leadership is about action, empathy, modeling, and selflessness. One of the best ways to earn respect is not to ask others to do what you are not willing to do or have not done yourself. You don’t have to be likable to earn this.
Integrity
There might not be a more critical focus than this one. A person who possesses this quality is viewed as honest, moral, honorable, righteous, fair, and trustworthy. In a recent article, Marcel Schwantes said this about integrity, “It holds intelligence and energy together, or everything crumbles.” He continues to go on by explaining that integrity is what makes it hard to question a person's decisions. His or her actions are open for everyone to see and you can rest assured that he or she will use good judgment. Integrity is the essence of great leadership.
When it comes to effective leadership, and the qualities leaders possess, you don’t have to be on one side of the fence. The key is to embrace both the artistic and scientific aspects while growing into the best leader for your respective organization, school, or district.
Unlike science, art allows for a more subjective interpretation of ideas or concepts; that there’s no need for a singular, fixed answer or definition to understand it. As many artists say about their work, it’s not so much what they wanted you to see as it is what you choose to perceive within their construct.
There are also many scientific disciplines that have helped us to gain insights into what makes one individual a more effective leader than others. Thanks to discoveries in the fields of organizational psychology and neuroscience, we can gain a better understanding of what human traits or behaviors are best suited for leadership, and why they are of benefit to the organizations and teams these individuals lead. While science might not provide us with a clear definition of what leadership is, it has proved to be vital to not only improving how we perceive this function but also how those who lead serve others through these roles.
Whether you are more on the side of art or leadership is beside the point. Effective leaders consider not only specific requirements of the position and research, but also many unique components such as culture, environment, and the community. It is hard to say definitively that there is one style or technique that works best when all the variables are taken into consideration. Case in point. You could be a great leader in one position but be horrible in another if the same strategies are employed in different conditions.
By employing strategies that intersect between art and science, leaders can excel in their position regardless of title. Below are five main focus areas.
People
It is the people who drive change, not one person. They are the most critical resource in any organization. Great leaders don’t tell others what to do, but instead, take them to where they need to be. It is about making the time to empower others to be great even if they think they’re not. The best leaders take the time to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of those who they serve to build a culture of success. Take care of your people and they, in turn, will take care of you.
Alignment
Leadership can seem like a juggling act with all of the mandates, directives, and goals at play. Great leaders understand the importance of the long game and ensure that the day to day work is always aligned with the bigger picture. They understand that putting an enormous amount of energy into short-term goals that might not positively impact culture is not a prudent way to achieve lofty goals. Always remember that implementing and sustaining change is more of a marathon than a race.
Collective
Success in organizations is never the result of one person. Great leaders celebrate the accomplishments of others above their own. They are always quick to build others up as a way to share how their efforts have led to better outcomes. As the old cliché goes, there is no “I” in team. Great leaders understand that they have to get the majority of their people moving in the same direction not because they have to, but because they want to. A focus on the collective can help to achieve this.
Respect
For the most part, there are no handouts in life. Just because someone has a title, position, or power does not mean they are a leader or deserve your respect. Leadership is about action, empathy, modeling, and selflessness. One of the best ways to earn respect is not to ask others to do what you are not willing to do or have not done yourself. You don’t have to be likable to earn this.
Integrity
There might not be a more critical focus than this one. A person who possesses this quality is viewed as honest, moral, honorable, righteous, fair, and trustworthy. In a recent article, Marcel Schwantes said this about integrity, “It holds intelligence and energy together, or everything crumbles.” He continues to go on by explaining that integrity is what makes it hard to question a person's decisions. His or her actions are open for everyone to see and you can rest assured that he or she will use good judgment. Integrity is the essence of great leadership.
When it comes to effective leadership, and the qualities leaders possess, you don’t have to be on one side of the fence. The key is to embrace both the artistic and scientific aspects while growing into the best leader for your respective organization, school, or district.
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