Leadership: What It Is And Why It Is Important

Leadership is one of the most misunderstood terms in the world today. Misunderstood not because people don’t know what it is but because almost everyone has a different understanding of what leadership is. A simple Google search will turn out different results as there are as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders.

What is Leadership?

I define leadership as simply the ability to take the initiative to bring about the desired change. This desired change could be within a group or just for you as an individual. When it has to do with you as an individual, we differentiate it with the term ‘personal leadership’. So, personal leadership is your ability to bring yourself to take the initiative towards creating or bringing about your desired change.

Other Definitions of Leadership

“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally people to a common purpose together with the character that inspires confidence and trust.” Bernard Montgomery.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Warren Bennis.

“Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision and inspires them to make it happen, despite the obstacles.” John Kotter.

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.” Myles Munroe.

From the various definitions of leadership offered already, it is clear that leadership seeks to create change and bring about the needed result. Leadership is a vital component of any organization or business and when an organization gets it right in leadership, it will get it right in every other thing, including sales. Below are four importance of leadership to any organization or business.

Every organization and business needs a vision to remain successful. Vision is what defines the destination for the organization or business and it takes leadership to effectively set the vision for an organization per time. Leadership defines what goals an organization or group should be pursuing at any given time. Leadership sets the vision.

Leadership Formulates The Plan

To achieve any vision, a viable plan is needed in that direction. Formulating a plan that will help an organization or business in achieving its vision and goals will require leadership. An organization that will be successful is known by the vision and plans it has in place. This is why the viability of a business idea is often judged by the kind of business plan the entrepreneur has for the business.

Leadership Coordinates

The pursuit of any plan and the attainment of any vision will take a lot of resources – human, material and financial. However, having resources at your disposal is not what makes a plan or vision work out but the effective coordination of the available resources. Leadership is what makes this coordination possible.

Leadership Spurs Growth

There is a popular saying that “everything rises and falls on leadership”. This is because, with effective leadership in place, an organization or business will do what it takes to achieve its goals. And when an organization achieves its goals, growth will be inevitable for it.

Closing Thoughts

Leadership is a highly important function that every organization or business needs to achieve growth and profitability. The good thing about it all is that leadership is an art that can be developed.