Can I Become A Leader?
It is debatable whether an individual should require a good deal of leadership qualities to be an effective leader. There is plenty of research literature, books, opinion pieces, and blogs that emphasize the case in which everyone can be a leader; however, most people avoid the topic and responsibilities.
If leadership were easy, everyone would have the desire and motivation to accept the leadership challenge.
Most people will state that they are not in a position to lead others, essentially implying that the leader is someone in a position. Obviously, not everyone will be a project manager, CEO, president, chairman, or the key leader of a large or small team or organization.
So, can you become a leader? Let’s start with three characteristics – Influence, Credibility, and Courage.
Leadership can be summed up into one word – “Influence.”
- The United States Army defines leadership as the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. Though, another definition – leadership is an interactive process during which one or more individuals use symbols to influence other individuals to join with them in accomplishing change, realizing shared objectives.
- Those definitions can be utilized by business people, educators, activists and so on. The ability to influence others is a central component of leadership. To the activist or CEO of a company, the leader's span of influence may range from a few individuals to dozens of people.
The next word on leadership is "Credibility.”
- Whether you are in a position leading people or some activist leading a cause for (let’s say) social justice, your credibility can make or break you and your determination to lead others to accomplish a goal or improve the organization.
- Just think, when you are trying to influence those individuals outside of your organization or official circles (those whom you do not have authority over), your credentials and capability for leading others could stem from your appearance, behavior, or reputation. In fact, your credibility as a leader is earned and can be taken away in seconds based on your appearance, arrogance, and lack of moral character.
The last word is “Courage.”
- The ability to do something in the face of pain, grief, danger, and the possibility of being ridiculed. The Army’s leadership manual highlights that personal courage is not the absence of fear, but it is the ability to put the fear aside and do what is necessary or right.
- Can you take responsibility for your decisions and actions in the face of danger and or being ridiculed? That is courage.
Once the individual has accepted the challenge to lead, the leader has to understand their strengths and weaknesses to grow. The leader conducts an honest assessment of their strengths and weaknesses, which requires continuous education, training, and experiences to grow and develop those interpersonal communications skills to build relationships and accomplish tasks and objectives. Yet, experiences are not enough – what is the leader learning from those experiences?
Still, this is not an overnight process but a continuous process of self-evaluation with the assistance of peers, coaches, and mentors.
So, to answer the question: Yes, you can become a leader.