I was having a conversation in supervision recently about what leadership is. Yes I know that is a fairly big question, and yet within the supervision space it provided a good opportunity for the person I was working with to pause and consider what it meant for them and what characteristics supported good leadership. I encouraged them to consider the team they were leading and what this particular team in this particular work environment needed in their leader also.
And in the typical way that the ‘universe’ provides, a blog appeared in my inbox not long after from Best Practice Consulting which asked this very same question.
https://bestpracticeconsulting.com.au/what-makes-a-successful-leader
This blog provides a great overview on the traits, theory and behaviour of a leader and also draws the conclusion that leadership is about the ability to adapt to the environment and needs of who you are working with and leading. It is also always good to remember that we are leaders and can be leaders in so many ways without necessarily having the word ‘leader’ in our job title.
What would you say is important in a ‘leader’ in the role, organisation or system you work within and how adaptive are you or your leaders to the people, context and environment as required?
Hopefully you find something useful in Best Practice Consultings blog about leadership, and also encourage you to consider how you work as a leader and what you contribute, from whichever place or job title you stand in. Maybe ask yourself:
- What are the traits you draw on in your leadership?
- What behaviours do you find most helpful in encouraging what you want from those you lead or wish to support or influence?
- What do you know about the people you lead and what they need in a leader?
- How are you being a leader from the place you stand, even if leadership is not in your job title or role expectations?
I hope this blog provides you with reflection and food for thought.
PS as a side note, if you want a good read, one the best books I have read on leadership for our NZ context is “Wayfinding Leadership: Groundbreaking Wisdom for Developing Leaders” by Dr Chellie Spiller, Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, John Panoho.
Ngā mihi
Karen
Refs:
