Introduction
If there is one thing the world cannot afford to lose, it is leadership. After all, leadership brings a semblance of order, guidance, and direction where there might otherwise be nothing but chaos. However, just any leadership is not enough. The world needs authentic leadership that reinforces growth in both individuals and teams through creative inspiration. Moreover, the world is in dire need of leaders who are ethically dedicated to creating more copies of themselves to lead us in the future. After all, the trust that these leaders' team members bestow upon them should always be held in high esteem and empathetic conscience. Because, ultimately, misused leadership power is likely to only produce more leaders who do the same.
The Dire Need for Effective Leaders
Team leadership is a serious responsibility that entails leaving the success of a group of people in the hands of one individual. This success extends to the self-esteem, feelings, and emotions of one's team members as well – not just their outward accomplishments. And even though failure is not always the leader's fault, the power embedded in leadership will always make it appear as if the leader could have done something different. In fact, to a certain extent, leadership makes omnipresence a reality by utilizing delegation and effective communication. That's why it can be incredibly detrimental when a leader is unaware of how to make the most productive use of their power.
Informed utilization of leadership power is a dynamic tool that has the potential to inspire even the most discouraged team. With enough effort, it can help mold a team culture that doesn’t see losing or surrendering as viable options. Instead, they approach every problem primed to win. However, a leader must be aware of the factors affecting the proper use of his or her power. At the same time, they need to be properly informed of the “dos” and “don’ts” involved in exercising that power. In this book, leaders will find a manual with which they can sow a very important seed – one that helps grow a culture of leadership that authenticates winning while encouraging team members to plant seeds of their own.
Why We Need a Successful Leader for the Winning Team
Under poor leadership, both teams and individuals can miss their moments to bloom, even when they have endless potential. Perhaps more depressing is that their explanation for their failures is not far-fetched. Perhaps their leader did not fully utilize his or her power, or – worse – overused or even misused it. After all, the very same power that can form a ladder to climb to success is also perfectly capable of derailing a team's efforts and throwing them back down.
Indeed, there is a wide range of reasons why a team, or simply individual members, might envy the team next door. One of the primary reasons is the type of spirit imparted to them by their leaders. A team leader who declares failing a possible option or who enforces winning by instilling fear, draining self-confidence, or curbing open-mindedness in their team members, only creates a "team" of failures and quitters. And with the rapidly increasing global competition most industries now face, quitters will be knocked down with little effort. This is why every leader must do their best to cultivate a winning attitude while also attempting to replicate their best qualities via mentoring.
It's worth remembering that leaders are always being appraised, especially by the people they lead. But people are not just out there looking for leaders to blame - they're also looking for leaders to commend. Still, there must be something to applaud. And with effective leadership, a winning mentality, and calculated, relevant, effective use of one's leadership power, a leader can maximize their chances of earning that applause. As it is the goal and pleasure of every great leader to see their followers ascend the ladder they create, they are always more than happy to replace a missing rung to keep their team going. They often imagine the type of future leaders they are creating – all the while knowing that the world will surely be a better place after their leading days are done.
Be the Responsible Leader
Above all, being a responsible leader involves accepting accountability, be it social, economic, financial, emotional, or even political. An accountable leader values the sacredness of humanity and all the meaningful relationships that life necessitates. As tasks are accomplished and goals are met, these leaders must ultimately recognize that the sanctity of society should also be upheld at all costs. Responsibility entails doing whatever it takes to deliver high-quality services, which - in this case - is cultivating a winning spirit in both your team and yourself.
Every responsible leader will require information that can help them identify their "gray areas" so that they can make efforts to improve them. This goes hand in hand with other forms of continuous learning, which are essential to keeping pace with today's rapidly-changing professional landscape and the ever-evolving needs of one's team. Indeed, great leaders always have something to learn. In a famous quote, President John Quincy Adam’s perfectly embodies the concept, saying that, “if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.[1]” Ultimately, you need to be responsible for your success and for the success of those you lead. And don't wait for the metaphorical trumpet to blow before you start – the time to seize your leadership role is now! We'll start by exploring leadership as an art form and analyzing the creativity involved in leading both effectively and properly.
[1] Qualtrics. (2020, May 20). 10 powerful quotes on leadership for your organization. https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/10-powerful-leadership-quotes/