The concept of leadership is present in every context and at every level: social, professional, familial, political, academic, and so on. Leadership is defined as the position of a leader, the person who guides or directs a group; as the ability to lead, and further on, as the act of leading itself.
To be a leader means to be in charge of a group. This may be represented by a few persons, or by a whole country. Although leaders are thought to have a great life due to their influence and high social position, things are not that simple. Leaders carry a lot of responsibilities, as they have to take decisions in behalf of others. Often, they find themselves in stressful situations which seem to have no solutions. And so, we have reached a sensitive aspect – the qualities of a leader.
Great leaders must have extensive knowledge on a particular field, so that they should be able to always take the best decision. Next, they must have the necessary resources to offer favours and rewards, and also to apply penalties. Leaders need to express a formal authority – they must stick to the law (or any other rules), and not get carried away by personal feelings and preferences. In the end, leaders must have a strong personality and enough strength as to live with their decisions and the consequences of these decisions.
Leadership is essential from many points of view. First of all, it provides effective directions for groups. Every form of organisation has specific objectives which cannot be reached through chaotic actions. The group needs a leader to stir them all in the right direction.
Secondly, leadership is meant to motivate people to boost productivity and to work more effectively. Leaders should be properly prepared as to offer guidance and advice in any context. Most of times, people find solace in the thought that there is someone they can rely on for solving complex issues.
Then, leadership is vital when it comes to implementing changes and integrating new directions. Usually, communities are resistant to change. Leaders’ roles are to present the benefits of these aspects and to determine people see new perspectives in a positive way.
Leadership is also important in encouraging initiatives. Groups must be directed towards progress and innovative solutions. As the world is constantly changing, people must adapt and come up with audacious ideas for several issues like global warming, the exploitation of natural resources, and more.
Another role of leadership is creating bounds between people and promoting team spirit. Often, communities tend to tear apart and to forget that they all need the same things – a decent life style, safety, a proper education level, integrity, the right to express their points of view and much more. Leaders are supposed to remind people that they can only achieve these goals by working together, and not by fighting.
In the end, leadership plays different roles – guiding communities, redirect them towards productivity and collaboration, encouraging creativity and making wise decisions in behalf of the entire group.
