The world has enough followers but not many good leaders. A lot has been written about leadership and several teachings and coaching is being done the world over to try and increase the leadership base. It is vital to ensure that you build everyone in your team to be a leader. You never know some of the members who will surprise you with their leadership qualities when an opportunity arises. Leaders are not measures by height or outward appearance. Sometimes leadership is hidden in very highly unlikely people. In the Bible, a story is told of the time David was anointed king. Brothers were paraded; some were talk, dark and handsome. Some had leadership potential written all over their faces. Some even thought their age compelled them to be selected as the leader. All these did not count; a young man who was tending sheep who happened to be youngest got the honors. What the brothers didn’t realize was that while the young man was looking after sheep, he had to practice leadership in that forest. He had to care for the sheep, fight the animals that threatened the lives of the animals (lion, bear etc). He did not need people to call him a leader but he was already practicing in that regard.

1. Ability to create a compelling vision. Leaders focus on the future. They have a clear picture of what they want the organization to become. They are excited about the future and don’t waste time dealing with the past. It is tragic when leaders are reduced to “fire fighters”; busy putting out fires that come up in teams at the expense of really crafting and casting vision. People will follow a visionary Read the rest of this entry »

Numerous leadership theories have been in existence since the early days. The early ones focused on behavior and qualities, whereas the the later ones focus on the role of associates and followers.

There are various leadership theories. For instance, the great man theory. This theory states that leaders are born and cannot be made. This theory believes that leaders are people who have exceptional qualities that are inborn are are destined to lead. This theory also suggests that leadership is inherent. The term ‘man’ is used here because leaders were mostly men.

The behavioral theory suggests that leaders are made not born. This theory focuses on the action of leaders and not the internal states or mental state or qualities. It believes that leaders become leaders after a process of teaching learning and observation. The contingency theory focuses on the variables relating to the environment. These determine the style of leadership to suit particular situations. The success of such leaders will be determined by the combination of these variables as well as the kind of followers they have. Read the rest of this entry »