Peggy McAlister recently asked this powerful question in The Leadership Circle LinkedIn Group (we utilize the Leadership Circle as our online 360-degree feedback tool) and I really liked the responses. I’m curious how you define leadership.
Here are some of my favourites:
Individual leadership (personal empowerment) is defined as “Creating what matters most.” Leadership (collective leadership) is ‘Enhancing the creative capacity of the organization to create its desired future.’
There is also a definition of Creative (empowered) Leadership that I have used since the very first TLC workshop (Mastering Leadership, 1988): “Creative Leadership is the life stance of continuously focusing on a desired future and, in the midst of the current organizational realities, taking authentic action with others to bring that vision into being over time.”
“Taking leadership is to focus on the WHY, while management is about the WHAT and HOW.”
“Leadership is a space to be filled by the most appropriate person to fill it. A high performing team knows who that is at any one time.”
“Leadership is the ability to liberate, leverage and launch resources to create results that matter.”
“Leadership is aligning commitment to move towards a desired future state.”
“Leadership is about purpose, direction, meaning, and change. Management is about planning, controlling, monitoring, measuring and minimizing deviation.”
Given our world seems to be changing faster than in the past, I especially agree with the definition of Creative (empowered) leadership; this facilitated dialogue, focus, and reflection across more capable and empowered members is a notable shift from past leadership requirements.
What have you noticed about leadership requirement changes from when you started working to your current situation?
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Adaptive Talent is a talent consultancy designed to help organizations achieve amazing results and ongoing adaptability. Founded in 2008 and based in Vancouver, Canada we offer retained search, assessments, total rewards consulting, training, leadership coaching and development programs, and culture & organizational development consulting.