Leadership in business - coaching leadership

A leader is an agent of change, defined by his or her work capacity, knowledge and ability to solve problems. A position does not automatically imply leadership.

A leader guides his team, inspires, challenges and motivates them to achieve common goals. He creates conditions for each team member to achieve high performance. Even if he does not have all the answers, his strategic thinking allows him to find the best solutions.

Some leadership traits may be innate, but even so, a leader needs to hone his or her skills and be in an environment that recognizes his or her gifts. Fortunately, developing leadership skills is within everyone's reach, as long as they put in the time and effort. It is a matter of discovering and enhancing those traits that will allow you to find your own leadership style.

Difference between formal authority and leadership

Formal authority comes from the position or function performed. It is imposed and external, granted by the business to meet objectives and maintain order. It is necessary to ensure productivity. An authority responds to known problems.

Leadership, on the other hand, has a personal authority, inspiring respect and admiration. A leader's power is informal, given by people because of their qualities, ability to think outside the box and their values. A leader does not necessarily hold a formal position, but his or her influence is recognized.

Formal authority may or may not include leadership, and vice versa. Companies invest heavily in developing leadership skills in people with important positions. Leaders are key to generating changes in actions and thinking, which improves team performance.

The ability to solve challenges and influence others to work together is the ultimate test of whether a formal authority is also a leader. He or she must step out of his or her comfort zone and face new challenges.

Relationship of leadership with power

Power not only implies the ability to do something, but also to influence the decisions of others. A leader's power must be used wisely if it is to be effective in the long run.

Power can be legitimate, repressive, transformative or proactive. It can be granted by authority, experience, knowledge or level of influence. It is used to reward or punish.

Leaders are associated more with their level of influence than with their power, although the two are connected. Influence is granted voluntarily, through persuasion, and is sustained over time. A good leader must balance power and influence, especially if he or she combines personal authority with a formal position.

Find your leadership style

Being your own boss, getting a promotion or carrying out a dream project means you will have to relate to others. You will have people under you, which gives you authority and responsibility. When it comes to leadership, it's natural to wonder how to influence others.

What if you don't feel comfortable in that role? Perhaps you prefer to be in the background or think you don't have what it takes to be a leader. However, leaders are not all the same. You should identify your strengths, recognize when you have acted as a leader in the past and reflect on those experiences.

Leadership skills can be learned. If you are inexperienced, start by taking active roles in familiar settings and evaluate how you are doing. As you internalize leadership, you will connect better with others and change their perception of you.

Natural traits associated with leadership

Natural traits of leaders include:

• Outgoing attitude: they are the center of attention, sincere, spontaneous and affectionate.
• Tolerance: they respect the ideas of others and are not obsessed with rejection.
• Empathy: they can put themselves in the other person's shoes and see things from their perspective.
• Intelligence: they have the ability to learn, reason and make good decisions.
• Observation: they perceive what is going on around them and understand the interrelationship of things.
• Independence: they prefer to achieve their goals on their own terms.
• Curiosity: they are inquisitive and seek to understand the situation thoroughly.
• Ambition: they want to achieve what they set out to do, no matter how difficult it may be.
• Fearlessness: they are willing to take risks and step out of their comfort zone.
• Energy: they are impulsive, active and transmit their energy to others.
• Dedication: they are hard-working and committed to what they do.

Skills of a good leader

In addition to innate traits, there are skills that a good leader can learn:

• Ability to motivate: maintain focus on goals, motivating others to learn and perform their tasks with confidence and autonomy.
• Ability to empower: Allowing room for personal growth, recognizing achievements and allowing freedom of action.
• Ability to face challenges: Assume necessary risks to solve problems.
• Effective communication: Conveying clearly what is desired and making the communication personal to the receiver.
• Develop emotional intelligence: Prioritize an environment of well-being, attentive to others and to the various facets of each situation.
• Management skills: Create conditions for successful management, finding the necessary answers.
• Capacity for self-improvement: Keep updated in their sector, sharing information and trends with others.
• Promote healthy interrelationships: Interact in a respectful and natural way with others, regardless of their position.
• Ability to delegate: Provide the necessary information so that the delegated task is performed properly, keeping track without limiting the capabilities of the other.