Leadership in business

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

A leader guides his team in one direction and inspires, challenges and motivates them to achieve common goals. He is willing to create the conditions and help each team member achieve high performance. Can bring people's interests together. Does not have all the answers but has strategic thinking that allows them to find the best solution.

There are leadership traits that a person may have naturally and may be more or less predisposed to exercise it, but it has been shown that even then a leader needs to hone their skills and find a conducive environment to reach their true potential. A space where people recognize their gifts and give them personal, if not formal, authority.

Fortunately, developing leadership skills is within everyone's reach; most people can learn them if they dedicate time and effort to it. Much depends on discovering and developing those traits that allow you to find your own leadership style.

Difference between formal authority and leadership

Formal authority is given by the position, role or function performed. It is imposed and external in the sense that it is granted by the business to achieve certain objectives set in advance. It is established to meet standards. There is a need for someone to exercise command to ensure that everything flows and streamline management, to be productive. An authority is capable of responding to known problems.

Leadership, on the other hand, has a personal authority that inspires respect and admiration. It has an informal power that is granted by others thanks to the leader's qualities, his ability to think outside the box, his values and his communication skills. They follow and recognize him or her as a leader, even if the person did not set out to lead.

Formal authority may or may not include leadership and vice versa. Nowadays, companies and businesses invest a lot in developing leadership skills in those people who are going to occupy important positions of high responsibility. It is also a highly valued skill when it comes to hiring new prospects.

Leaders are best suited to generate change, both in action and in thought. People feel at ease, listened to and represented, and therefore their performance increases.

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

Relationship of leadership to power

Power is not just having the ability to do something but to influence other people and their decisions. The power that a leader has is a tool that he must know how to use if he wants to be effective in the long term.

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

Mostly leaders are related to their level of influence and not to their power, perhaps because of the negative connotation that the term may have, but it is still a type of power. Influence is granted voluntarily, persuasion is used and it is sustained over time.

A good leader must find a balance in the level of power and influence he or she will wield, especially if he or she combines personal authority with a particular position.

Find your leadership style

You're ready to be your own boss! You got that promotion you've been wanting! You can finally make the project you've been working on for so long a reality! All of these goals are quite popular and what they all have in common is that you will have to interact with others. You can hardly succeed alone, not in the long term. Will you have people in your charge? This gives you authority and brings with it responsibility. Having seen and analyzed the advantages that the practice of leadership brings to teamwork, it is natural to think about how you are going to achieve the desired influence.

But what if you don't feel comfortable in that role? Perhaps you feel more comfortable in the background. Maybe you're convinced that you don't have what it takes, that you're not a natural leader.

Leaders are not all cut from the same cloth even if they have things in common. You must work to identify the characteristics in you that you can enhance and those that you need to overcome. Creating your own leadership style can take some time.

Surely there were times in your life when you took that role without intending to, it was necessary and you did it. You have to recognize when you have acted as a leader in the past and analyze how it went. Perhaps the cause of your discomfort lies there. People don't perceive you as a leader, or maybe in the past you wanted to be a leader and it didn't work out, or people didn't accept you.

Reflecting on those past experiences and looking at them from the prism of the present can help you overcome that self-imposed barrier. Become aware of what you have learned from those experiences, recognize that leadership skills can be learned and discover the qualities and traits that you can exploit to develop your own leadership style.

If you don't have any practical experience, it is best to start by taking a more active role in familiar environments and evaluate how you are doing. The more you take ownership of this new concept, internalize it and live it, the more you will connect with others and change their perspective of you. Not only will it be something you do as part of your job, but it will be part of your personality.

Natural traits associated with leadership

Among the characteristics we associate with so-called natural leaders are:

• Extroverted attitude: they are the center of attention, they are liked for their sincerity and spontaneity, they are usually affectionate.
• Tolerance: they are tolerant with the opinions of others and are not obsessed with rejection or negative opinions. They respect the ideas of others even if they do not agree with them.
• Empathy: they have no difficulty in putting themselves in the other person's place, in their circumstances and see things through their eyes.
• Intelligence: it is quite obvious that the ability to learn, understand, reason and make the most appropriate decisions is a trait that every leader must possess.
• Observation: they notice what is going on around them and the interrelationship of things.
• Independence: they tend not to follow others, they are interested in achieving their goals on their own and on their own terms.
• Curiosity: they are naturally inquisitive, they like to ask questions and investigate until they fully understand the situation.
• Ambition: they avoid getting stuck, they have an intense desire to achieve what they set out to do, no matter how difficult it may be.
• Recklessness: they are daring, they are willing to take risks. They are willing to step out of their comfort zone.
• Energy: they are strong-willed and impulsive. They are active and tend to transmit that mood.
• Dedicated: with a great capacity for work and application in what they do.

Skills that a good leader has

Apart from the natural traits that you may have and that help you to achieve leadership there are certain skills that are learned. Let's mention some of them:

• Ability to motivate others: How else to keep the focus on the goal to be achieved? Motivating others to learn and to perform their tasks with autonomy and confidence. Trying not to impose, but rather to inspire.
• Ability to empower your team: leave room for personal growth. Shows them what they are worth and gives them freedom of action. Recognizes their achievements.
• Ability to face new challenges: Assumes and convinces others to take risks necessary to solve problems.
• Ability to communicate: This is a key element for the correct performance of any role. The power to communicate clearly and convey what is wanted. A leader always looks for ways to make communication personal to the receiver.
• Develops emotional intelligence: He measures the impact of his responses and reactions on others and prioritizes an environment of well-being. He is attentive to others and to the different aspects of each situation.
• Management skills: Demonstrates problem-solving skills and creates the conditions for successful management. It does not mean that he/she knows everything but has the tools and resources to guide and find the answers.
• Capacity for self-improvement: he/she is concerned about his/her own training and that of others. He/she keeps up to date with changes in his/her sector as well as technological, information, market trends, etc. And shares it with others so that they are up to date.
• Promotes healthy interrelationships: interacts naturally and respectfully with others, no matter what position they hold.
• Ability to delegate: provides the necessary and sufficient information to perform the delegated task, maintaining an adequate follow-up without limiting the capabilities of the other.