Rethinking Leadership

Conventional definition defines a leader who is charismatic, powerful, and overpowering enough so that he could drive the millions behind him. However such a narrow conceptualization of leadership cannot sustain itself in the contemporary competitive scenario.

Leadership is a much more complex concept that moves beyond the margins of “driving millions behind”. It is neither the physical assertion that “I am the leader”.

In true essence a leader is one who does not have to say, “follow me”, but still millions are “with” him. A true leader radiates energy, enthusiasm, positivities which magnetizes his personalities and automatically attracts all around him. He is an embodiment of devotion, intellectuality, service and energy. However alone with these four components one may not become a leader. These are the ingredients which needs to be blended with the most essential component of leadership- that of social compatibility. Infact, scholars discuss the nature of leadership in terms of the “interaction” among the people involved in the process: both leaders and followers. Thus leadership can be redefined as the “process of interaction”. It is a process because true leaders and true followers are not made in a day: infact they are evolved over a period of time. Thus leadership is not a one sided effort; instead it is a “collective endeavor” among group members. Thus the essence of leadership is not the leader; instead it is a bond of faith, trust, and mutual respect that is established by the process of moving forward collectively.

Contributed By:

Richa Shukla

(Globsyn Business School)