Leadership. It’s critical for success in every aspect of life – from our career development to parenting and everything in between. But what exactly is leadership? And what does it take to become a leader?

Chances are you’re already a leader – you might not recognise it yet. Mindsets are shifting when it comes to defining leadership today. Forbes recently described leadership as “a process of social influence, which maximises the efforts of others towards the achievement of a goal.” Gone are the days when leadership was associated exclusively with authority, power and hierarchy. This refreshing view is a reminder that anyone – yes, anyone – has the potential to be a leader in today’s world.
Intrigued? Here are five myth-busters about leadership that will make you think twice about yourself, your actions and your relationships with others.
Myth 1: A leader is someone with a title.
A title might sound great, but it’s not a fast track to ‘leadership’ status. Contrary to what you may have heard in the past, you don’t need a specific qualification or title to become a leader. Your family, neighbourhood, gym and social media networks all have natural leaders – most of which don’t have a title. What they do have is high Emotional Intelligence (EI). They can recognise and manage their feelings and emotions to better influence others in a way that encourages positive change.
Myth 2: A leader has seniority.
Much like a title, leadership doesn’t automatically happen when you reach a certain level of power or authority. You may have worked up to a senior role, but the job is just that – a senior role. Sure, you’d hope to find natural leadership at the top. However, studies show repeatedly that employees (of any level) with a high EI are increasingly outperforming those with just a high IQ. A 40-year study by UC Berkley PhD found that Emotional Intelligence was the key differentiator between mid-level management and outstanding leadership success – regardless of intellectual intelligence.
Myth 3: A leader has certain personality attributes.
When you think of leadership, you naturally think of extroverted personalities with plenty of charisma. But this couldn’t be further from reality. Yes, there are plenty of charismatic and extroverted leaders, but these traits aren’t intrinsically linked with leadership success. Also, growing evidence and studies confirm introverted leaders achieve even more success than extroverted ones! Rather, it’s the ability to recognise and manage feelings and emotions – of both yourself and others – that facilitates leadership success. And the good news is that anyone can learn to enhance their EI capability. Click here to see how.
Myth 4: A leader is a manager.
They often get bunched together, but it’s important to highlight that leadership is not synonymous with management. Managers predominantly manage things, whereas leaders lead people. These roles often overlap, but if you’re not a manager, that’s not to say you’re not – or can’t become – a leader.
Myth 5: A leader is someone from the corporate world.
Leadership is heavily associated with the business domain – and a quick Google search will confirm this. However, as we explored in our first myth, leadership comes in many different guises today. It’s a role open to anyone from any background in various scenarios – from personal to professional – and it’s there for the taking.
In what area could you develop the emotional intelligence and essential skills to enhance your leadership capability (become a leader)?
CLICK Here to find out how you can take the next step.
Comments