Is Leadership Overrated?

When we think of leadership, the tendency is to think of senior positions dealing daily with strategic decisions. The truth is that leadership can be at any level within an organisation. A great leader is someone that other people want to follow. No one can demand that people follow them or that people do as they say. Controlling others is not within anyone’s gift. Some managers might adopt the style akin to being on a battlefield or heading up a dictatorship, but what does that truly do for others? Whilst employees may have no alternative than to follow direct orders and live in fear of repercussions, it does nothing for peoples true motivation. A reason to leave? Research shows one of the top reasons why people leave their organisation is so they can get away from their boss. The reality of that is that an organisation can end up hemorrhaging top talent to competitors if leadership style and behavior is left unchecked. An organisation can only really reach peak performance if it’s employees are motivated to achieve. The way they will do that is if they are inspired and motivated to do so. Inspiration To truly maximise performance, strong leadership is essential. The challenge of linking all resources together so they work seamlessly is not an easy task. How a leader pulls all that together is like a conductor ensuring all parts of the orchestra know their unique role and when to play their part. The complexity and challenges of navigating through an ever changing and shifting landscape requires great flexibility, agility and resilience. Harnessing emotional intelligence to be able to adapt style to varying situations whilst simultaneously developing individuals so they maximise their potential and personal career path, requires great skill. Transparency, trust and integrity are foundation stones for inspiring leaders, as are optimism and honesty. Inspiring leaders have great communication skills; they provide a vision and strategy that others can buy in to. They provide direction and a clear outline of what is required. They balance risk and think long term rather than getting lost in the day-to-day. They delegate, measure performance and provide feedback in a skilled way that guides others to develop and continuously improve. Great leaders treat failures as learning opportunities. They don’t blame others. They don’t seek glory for themselves, but instead ensure that praise flows to those that deserve it. They give commitments and then do what they say they will. When leadership turns bad, it can have a devastating effect on performance, the mental wellbeing of individuals and the health and performance of the whole organisation. Leadership is a privilege Leadership is a privilege, not a right. Good leaders focus on others – their employees, their clients and their stakeholders. They lead with authenticity and humility. When it is done well, leadership is the key to unlock individual and team success. When an organisation does well, it has a culture of great leadership that inspires everyone to maximise their potential. For that to happen, great leadership most certainly is not overrated. Here are some of the UK's top leaders in 2016.