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Leadership is the new buzz word in the workplace
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AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth
Organizations have a new buzz word - and that word is “leadership.” What makes leadership the new buzz word? In the past, companies were happy with the “manager.” The manager managed processes and people. The manager provided direction, oversaw work flow and directed employees to produce maximum efficiency to achieve the goal of the organization. While a good manager has a positive effect on the bottom line, it does not really add the human element to the workplace.
John Luther, author of the short story Madame Butterfly, once said - “Authority is a poor substitute for leadership." Simply put, being in charge does not automatically make one a leader. A leader has certain knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies that make them stand apart from a manager and makes them a leader. While the definitions or words may change for some, the underlying current is still the same.
A leader has organizational knowledge. They are risk takers who are not afraid to step outside the box. They have a vision and use their exemplary communication skills to share the vision with those that they lead. Leaders have a passion for learning. There is no such thing as “too much” information. Leaders actively practice team building and are truly interested in the psychology of human nature.
So why leadership? Depending on your definition of a leader, the leadership concept is storming the workplace and forcing supervisors to question their ability to mobilize through leadership rather than management. Strong leadership affects learning, retention and has an even more positive effect on the company’s bottom line.
Check out the Washington Posts Leadership section.
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