Manager to leader: what is leadership?

W What is leadership?

Since the writings of Plato we have tried to explore the question outlining the qualities and traits which distinguish an individual as a leader. Interestingly though, Plato never used the word leadership in his infamous Republic. Rather he referred to leaders as the guardian class having traits such as bravery, strength and a sense of adventure.

A few millennia have passed since Plato graced us with his intellect, but our general view on leadership hasn’t changed from his initial reflection. Today leaders need to have an adventure of though, creating a vision for their teams. They need to be brave enough to communicate these new ideas and strong enough to follow through. This is the way to inspire and motivate those around them.

Understanding Leadership

For the majority of the human experiment the notion of leadership was seen more as a power or force. In strictly hierarchical organizational structures this may exist even today, such as the military. However, in your average organization employees have a bit lower cost, in many cases even higher benefit, monetarily or psychologically, from switching organizations. Thus, the authoritarian type leadership can rarely be applied.

W.C.H. Prentice in the early 60’s radically rejected this view of leadership being the exercise of power or force, but rather began the discussion to view leaders as the creators of more democratically organized but almost anarchical environments which give freedom for employees to learn and grow while carefully aligning each individual interest to the groups.

While Prentice built the foundation, the two that have since overshadowed him are Abraham Zaleznik and Daniel Goleman. Zaleznik, a Harvard Business School professor, originally published an article Managers and leaders: Are they Different? Leading up to this article the general belief was that both were not one in the same by which managers tended to center on processes and organizational structures.

Don’t get us wrong, there is always a place in organizations for managers. However, while managers hold strongly to order leaders thrive in chaos. Zaleznik believed that leaders have much more in common with creative thinkers such as artists or scientists. In his view leaders are able to tolerate chaos and lack of structure, while also delaying closure of problems in order to understand them transparently. Managers on the other hand thrive in stability where things are running smoothly and under control.

The evolution: From manager to leader

While each organization is able to provide an answer to which is more important in each specific role, the truth of the matter is that the answer itself is one that has been evolving. While the term itself, leadership, has been around for a very long time, it is only since the birth of business that a new form of leadership has been bred: The Manager.

Businesses though have been around for a very long time themselves – Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkanthe being the oldest, founded in the year 705 in Japan. During which time the manger has flourished; but like birth and death the only other guarantee is change. The most recent change in the business world has come from the flattening of organizational structures over the last half-century resulting in the need for the evolution of the manager.

Flat organizational structures increase transparency, limit bureaucracy, decentralize key decision making as well as increasing the pace and creative opportunity. In these structures, employees are expected to be more of the “jack-of-all-trades” type pitching in on various different ad hoc tasks. This is an environment which may appear like chaos from the outside to a micro-manager of the past, but those days are over.

It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they tell us what to do. – Steve Jobs

Today, the growing trend is away from micro-management. Managers tend to be stretched thin leading to confusion among employees; which is exactly where the leaders step right in to take place. As mentioned, leaders tend to live in a state of chaos – however, organized – but their true asset comes from the ability to influence thoughts and actions of others with a common purpose a vision for a brighter future.

A boss who micromanages is like a coach who wants to get in the game. Leaders guide and support and then sit back to cheer from the sidelines. – Simon Sinek

The Qualities of Effective Leaders

Effective leadership is not about wielding power or enforcing authority. It's about inspiring others to follow your vision. It's about being brave enough to take risks and strong enough to weather the storm. It's about being a visionary who can see the bigger picture and a strategist who can navigate the path to success.

Leaders are often compared to artists or scientists due to their ability to think creatively and solve problems. They are known for their resilience, their ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and their unwavering commitment to their goals. They are the ones who set the pace, drive the change, and lead the way towards a brighter future. Here are ten important qualities soft skills that effective leaders must need to have:

1. Communication: Effective leaders know how to express their thoughts and ideas clearly. They are also active listeners, understanding the importance of two-way communication. As George Bernard Shaw said, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." source
2. Empathy: Leaders with empathy can understand and share the feelings of others. They create an environment of trust and respect. As Bill Bullard states, "The highest form of knowledge is empathy." source
3. Delegation: Effective leaders know how to delegate tasks to their team members, fostering a sense of responsibility and improving efficiency. As Ronald Reagan said, "Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere." source
4. Flexibility: Leaders need to be adaptable and open to change. They understand that flexibility leads to innovation. As Charles Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change." source
5. Teamwork: Effective leaders foster a spirit of collaboration and cooperation. They understand that teamwork leads to greater results. As Andrew Carnegie said, "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision." source
6. Problem-Solving: Leaders are often faced with challenges and obstacles. They need to have strong problem-solving skills to navigate these issues. As Albert Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." source
7. Creativity: Leaders need to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions. As Albert Einstein said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun." source
8. Emotional Intelligence: Leaders with high emotional intelligence can manage their own emotions and those of their team. As Daniel Goleman said, "Emotional intelligence is the sine qua non of leadership." source

In Conclusion

The concept of leadership has evolved significantly over the years. From the authoritarian leaders of the past to the democratic and flexible leaders of today, the journey has been long and transformative. Today, leaders are not just those who hold positions of power but those who inspire others to achieve greatness. They are the ones who lead by example, who set the pace, and who guide their teams towards a shared vision.

Sticky skills is the first e-learning platform applying cutting edge AI technology to teach soft skills tomorrow's leaders are required to have within the modern working environment.

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