(Eight Attributes Of Leadership Cont. 3)

Changing Definition of Leadership

Introduction

Traditionally, 'soft' or 'people-focused' or 'more feminine' leadership traits, such as being vulnerable, compassionate, empathetic, understanding, etc have been regarded of secondary importance to their 'hard' traits, such as IQ, technical expertise, etc and focus on maintaining the status quo.

However, the 'heroic' definition of leadership which is based on a hierarchical structure (command and control approach with followers) with a privileged few men at the top, who are born to lead, and not made, is currently 'out of favour'. The current approach is more
"...a view that everyone has the potential to be a leader. The idea that you have to inherit leadership traits from your father, or needed to have some special attributes like physical fitness to be a leader desperately needed rethinking......the idea that leaders were born, not made was being turned on its head. Employers understood leadership could be taught. Even more importantly, it was vital to understand the impact of leaders' behaviours on those they led. It was this behaviour, rather than any traits they may have been born with, that would determine whether a leader is effective..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership is not a finite resource. Leadership is not a scarcity competition; everyone wins when we all led well. A leader is anyone who can influence and impact others through their words, actions and behaviours..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership is about influencing others to move in a positive direction that is beneficial to all..."
Mark Scott (Vice Chancellor of the University of Sydney, previously managing director of the ABC - Australian broadcasting Corporation) as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...the cost of thinking of leaders has being part of a narrow group in a formal, traditional way is that it limits our sense of whether we see ourselves as leaders too..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership looks different to different people. We just must find a way that works for us..."
Libby Trickett (Australian Olympic medallist) as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership is a privilege and not an entitlement......everyone has the capacity to lead, and leading doesn't mean having people report to them..."
Mike Henry (BHP's CEO) as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership is a practice, not a title......a sense of leadership is very closely tied to service; the idea that leadership is not for one's own ambition, aggrandisement or wealth, but the ambition to serve the broader community..."
Yves Rees as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...too often we think of leaders as somebody else. Someone more senior than us; someone with a more important-sounding title; someone we aspire to be..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...leadership is guiding others through the role modelling of behaviour..."
Craig Foster (human rights activist, international soccer player & broadcaster) as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

"...people need a tough mind and a tender heart..."
Martin Luther King Jr as quoted by Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

Leadership is now about integrating the head, heart and gut; integrating your public and private self as one.

Remember: there is no perfect leader and it is very situational.

(for more detail, see elsewhere in the Knowledge Base).

Leadership is more than rank (power, etc), position (authority, etc) and title (responsibility, etc). The above attributes of leadership can be shown at any level in society, organisations, etc.

An example is Microsoft under Satya Nadella, starting as CEO in 2014, ushered in a new culture of care and growth mindset. This replaced the 'rigour and discipline', with its focus on seeing competitors as the enemy to be destroyed and
"...it was a culture tough on mistakes..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

At the same time, Microsoft was experiencing declining sales growth and loss in market share in mobile and operating systems to Apple and Google. In response, Nadella rolled out Microsoft's model-coach-care framework to drive cultural change, ie
"...Microsoft's view of the role of leaders......they deliver success through empowerment and accountability via role modelling, coaching and caring..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

This included valuing empathy as leaders need to understand their customers (including their feelings) and their needs, to be better  able to satisfy them.

Microsoft's leadership behaviours, ie model-coach-care framework

This approach has resulted in
"...happier employees, increased customer satisfaction, greater profits and a stronger brand..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a

Microsoft now select staff based on technical capabilities and whether they can lead with empathy and humility; curiosity is rewarded; everybody, including senior management, can learn from others, etc
"...this promoted a culture inwhich people feel free to put forward good ideas..."
Kirsten Ferguson, 2023a)

More to Leadership

Leadership is more than just about:

i) charisma (your magnetism, dash, style)
ii) eloquence (able to communicate, express yourself, etc)
iii) power (authority, position, title, etc)
iv) seniority (length of service, etc)
v) priority (importance of issues, etc)
vi) popularity (likeability, etc)
vii) fame (well-known, etc)
viii) winning (beating opponents, etc)
ix) wealth (money, assets, etc)
x) education (qualifications, credentials, etc)
(Jillian at LeadFactor, 2023)