More Leadership Myths cont.
Introduction
"...Leadership is one of the most widely discussed and misunderstood topics......many people assume leadership is about power, charisma, or position, but true leadership is deeper than these surface-level traits..."
LeaderFactor, 2025
There are 3 levels of leadership in an organisation, ie self, team and organisation
(source: LeaderFactor, 2025)
Leadership Myths (10)
- Leadership is about charisma (while it can be an effective tool, charisma is not the foundation of leadership; it helps to have charm, magnetism and presence but does not equate to competency and character; overreliance on charisma can lead to manipulation rather than meaningful influence
"...True leadership is built on integrity, wisdom and the ability to foster trust..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about seniority (longevity is not essential for leadership.
"...True leadership is about capability, not merely time served..."
LeaderFactor, 2025
it is about ability to inspire and guide others rather than position in the organisational hierarchy.)
- Leadership is about popularity (being well liked is helpful but not essential for leadership; leadership often involves making tough and unpopular decisions; effective leaders are respected rather than liked
"...Leaders must focus on what is right rather than what is easy or well received..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about fame (being well known is helpful but not essential for leadership:
"...Leadership is not about visibility; it's about impact, vision and integrity. Most effective leaders often lead quietly, making a difference without seeking spotlight...")
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about winning (it is more than about victories; it is about contribution:
"...A true leader builds sustainable success through teamwork, ethical decision-making, and long-term vision..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about wealth (it is about more than accumulating wealth; it is about creating value, inspiring others, are making a meaningful difference:
"...A true leader focuses on purpose and people before profit..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about education (academic qualifications can help, but
"...While education can provide knowledge and skills, leadership is demonstrated through actions, emotional intelligence, and the ability to inspire and guide others. A true leader continues to learn and grow beyond formal education..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about eloquence (the ability to communicate, rather than eloquence, is pivotal in leadership
"...Effective leadership is about clarity rather than eloquence. Leaders must prioritise direct, transparent, and actionable communications rather than flowery language to ensure alignmentand understanding..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about power (it is more than authority
"...Leadership is not about control or command; it's about influence. A great leader earns the respect and commitment of the team through action, not titles. True authority is granted by those who follow, not by a position on an organisation chart..."
LeaderFactor, 2025)
- Leadership is about scale (scale refers to the number of people or organisation size
"...Leadership is not about scale but about quality......leadership is about making a meaningful impact, regardless of size of the audience..."