How do you define leadership?
I sat in with a potential client this week for a casual interview. One of the questions asked is pretty common so I thought I would detail out some thoughts on the subject.
What is leadership? This simple and common question has no real answer. Leadership has many definitions, so what does one say. Since leadership is a broad topic, I have a similarly broad answer:
Getting the right people in the right place at the right time.
Any facet of leadership can be tied back to this definition. People management is all about attracting the best and brightest, retaining the people you have and motivating them all to do their best. All of these are in line with getting the right people.
The right place and time is a matter of setting the priorities and direction. Couple these with the right group of people and you can achieve great things, whether it is an organization, whole company, government, or small team. Seems simple enough; getting the right people in the right place and time to achieve your goals. The nuance isn't in one's definition of leadership, yet rather how one achieves it.
The right question to be asking is: how do you lead? Asking "what is leadership" tends to be a haphazard way of getting to the real question. Certainly, keep that in mind next time you are asked what leadership is.
After laying out the broad framework of leadership, I continue on to answer the real heart of their question. Everyone's answer here should be tailored to their own leadership style. I, myself, lead humbly and with respect. To me, people are the most important part of the above equation and, as such, I focus on motivating and coaching my team to be the best that they can. I focus on finding the best new hires, coaching current B players into A players, making sure everyone has what they need to be successful, and, perhaps the hardest, removing those that don't belong.
I could go on and on about the nuances of leadership, but just wanted to share my overall answer to the question "what is leadership?" It's getting the right people in the right place at the right time and, for me, an emphasis on the people.
For a great read on leadership style, check out this month's issue of Harvard Business Review.
Feel free to share your definition of leadership in the comments or provide feedback. I always enjoy hearing other's opinions on the topic. Or, if you are interested in a more in depth conversation, you can contact us here.
What is leadership? This simple and common question has no real answer. Leadership has many definitions, so what does one say. Since leadership is a broad topic, I have a similarly broad answer:
Getting the right people in the right place at the right time.
Any facet of leadership can be tied back to this definition. People management is all about attracting the best and brightest, retaining the people you have and motivating them all to do their best. All of these are in line with getting the right people.
The right place and time is a matter of setting the priorities and direction. Couple these with the right group of people and you can achieve great things, whether it is an organization, whole company, government, or small team. Seems simple enough; getting the right people in the right place and time to achieve your goals. The nuance isn't in one's definition of leadership, yet rather how one achieves it.
The right question to be asking is: how do you lead? Asking "what is leadership" tends to be a haphazard way of getting to the real question. Certainly, keep that in mind next time you are asked what leadership is.
After laying out the broad framework of leadership, I continue on to answer the real heart of their question. Everyone's answer here should be tailored to their own leadership style. I, myself, lead humbly and with respect. To me, people are the most important part of the above equation and, as such, I focus on motivating and coaching my team to be the best that they can. I focus on finding the best new hires, coaching current B players into A players, making sure everyone has what they need to be successful, and, perhaps the hardest, removing those that don't belong.
I could go on and on about the nuances of leadership, but just wanted to share my overall answer to the question "what is leadership?" It's getting the right people in the right place at the right time and, for me, an emphasis on the people.
For a great read on leadership style, check out this month's issue of Harvard Business Review.
Feel free to share your definition of leadership in the comments or provide feedback. I always enjoy hearing other's opinions on the topic. Or, if you are interested in a more in depth conversation, you can contact us here.