Leader vs Leadership

Leader vs. Leadership

A leader’s job is not to work for others, it’s to help others figure out how to do it themselves and successful, to succeed beyond what they thought possible. A leader is at his best when people barely know he exists when the work is done, and the objective is fulfilled, they will say: “we did it”. When “I” is replaced with “we”, the leader’s presence is sensed.

“Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others”

Leadership is something you earn, something you’re chosen for. Leadership is all about doing the right things, millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why. Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It’s about keeping the team focused on a goal and motivated and achieve it, especially in dynamic and challenging conditions. It is about laying the groundwork for others’ success, and then standing back and letting them shine.

The difference is that leaders embody leadership mindsets and actions. It’s who you are as a person that makes you a leader. Managing leadership actions or merely holding a leadership position does not make you an individual a leader.

To develop a vision for the organisation is leadership. To be visionary is to be a leader.
To drive people towards organisational goals is leadership. To be influential is to be a leader.
To coach others, the right things are the leadership. To model how to determine the right things is to be a leader.
To recognize opportunities is to be leadership. To solve problems is leadership.
To be wise decision-making is to be leadership. To make decisions is the leader’s job.

Some interesting quotes on leadership.

1. A leader is best when people barely know he exists when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. —Lao Tzu

2. Where there is no vision, the people perish. —Proverbs 29:18

3. I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? —Benjamin Disraeli

4. You manage things; you lead people. —Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

5. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. —Max DePree

6. Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. —Warren Bennis

7. Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way. — General George Patton

8. Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. —Jack Welch