i think i’m figuring out a good definition for “leadership”… leadership is largely about making good decisions in a timely way. it’s about being decisive and picking what should happen next, and being good at that.
at the end of the day, it seems to me that there are a bunch of things that leadership is about, but when it comes right down to it, that’s leadership in its purest form. there’s other stuff that follows the decision, but that’s the point that starts it all, and it’s the point that non-leaders can’t get past well.
just a thought i’m thinking…
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But isn’t that what life is about-making good decisions in a timely manner?
true. but it seems to me that the majority of people need a lot of help in this, and leaders help them do that and help them learn how to do that better. and then there are some folks who just never get good at it and really need a lot of help.
motivation becomes critical in this task.
I just thought the definition was a bit broad and could be applied to living a good life, which as you say is difficult.
I am a bit with Gaz. I think making good decisions in a timely way is mature living. I think leadership is when the decisions you make are ones that people will want to follow because it motivates and encourages them, and they can see the purpose of your decisions, Managers sometimes make good and timely decisions, but they are not always good leaders. Sometimes their decisions are more about management than leadership, and they are two different skill sets.
interesting… perhaps my initial thought wasn’t fully developed…
let me fill you in on where this notion came from. i was doing a bunch of reading on US presidents and British PM’s, bios, general info, their work habits, the shapes of their roles, etc., not to mention liberal doses of “West Wing”, plus some docos and interviews with ex-leaders. i began see a pattern rising out of their roles that suggested very strongly that the main function for these people is to make decisions. they don’t actually do much, most of them have never touched email (i think kevvy rudd does… a rarity)… it seemed that the primary game each day was to be confronted by a never-ending series of issues and problems requiring a decision. others execute, but largely that seemed to be the role, if you clarified it down to its pure essence.
perhaps that might help you see where i’m coming from here?
Cool! I understand where you are coming from. I agree that good leaders make timely decisions, but I don’t think making decisions makes one a good leader. When it comes to decision making, my experience has always been that indecision costs more than wrong decision. With regard to political and business people that make decisions for others to carry out, I still see some as managers and some as leaders. For a good manager I would do what needs to be done, for a good leader I would do anything (appropriate) to achieve a goal.
actually, i’m currently reading one of the best leadership texts i’ve read in years, which challenges the old leadership/management dichotomy and suggests that instead there are 3 key facets to leadership (none of which can be ignored)… i forget his exact labels at the moment, but in essence it’s about the big picture, the people and the systems. he argues that this is the most mature understanding of leadership in the current scenario. it’s a good read and i might write a review if i find the time.
According to Mintzberg managers have 3 main roles being; Informational, Interpersonal, and Decisional, and they can then be broken down into a 10 more specific jobs…Well that’s the kinda stuff they’re teaching us at uni these days anyway… Does that fit in with what you are talking about?
In response to Steve. Yep it fits with the roles of managers, but we mustn’t get that confused with leaders. Some managers are good leaders, and some leaders are good managers, but the skills demonstrated are quite different, and more importantly the effect on people is even more significant. I would even be so bold to say that you can teach and train people to be good managers, but good leaders are born and gifted that way. People can develop leadership skills and the best leaders are naturals.
Yeah, i definately agree on that.