Leadership - Identifying the leader
Identifying the leader
Power and position
The leader will only have power if he can influence a group or team to get to his vision or goal.
When you gain a particular position you will naturally assume that you are also the leader.
This is rarely the case at first.
Position alone will not give you the power. Most would disagree if you have a boss or you are in the armed forces.
There are plenty of managers and officers who believe they are good leaders just because they have the position.
They wrongly believe that they can exhibit power just through the potential negative effects that could arise from not cooperating, for example, losing your job or incarceration etc.
The point being that people will carry out particular tasks in order to avoid these excesses but overall efficiency will dramatically reduce.
A good leader knows how to motivate a group to achieve their potential and enjoy it.
They will follow rather than being dragged.
Indicators
When you first take up a position it is important to try an identify the real leaders.
You should not see this as an affront to your ‘position’. In the real world a new face will usually be met with suspicion, mistrust, uncertainty and fear.
It will be up to you to build this trust in order to influence.
Initially, the real leaders will be those individuals that people have known for some time and hence have earned their trust.
You must identify these and get them on board so they may influence others with the benefits of your vision.
People watching
When you run or attend a meeting keep a close watch on the reactions of the group.
When an issue is raised it is natural for all eyes to turn towards the actual leader.
When an individual speaks is there respectful silence and attention?
The leader seems to instil a natural feeling of trust.
They possess a good knowledge and experience of the subject on which they speak and are at ease with the key factors.
They are clear in their assessment of a situation.
Communication is good and interpersonal relationships are well established.
Ultimately, people listen because they trust someone not just to digest facts.