What? Leadership and its definition have changed many times over history. That evolution was made with the help of debunking myths, changes in education, and of course many other things. Many of these myths are described by Forbes. “Great leaders are born, not made”, “Great leaders are always in the spotlight.”, “Leaders have all the answers.”, and “Leaders work smarter, not harder.” (Walter) These old standards made leadership black-and-white or a one-size-fits-all deal. We have learned over the years that these myths are not true in the slightest. Leadership is a learned skill. Yes, you can be born with leadership tendencies, but this does not make you a leader. Leaders Excellence states, “It has often been said, “Great leaders are born, not made.” Trait Theory takes this saying literally. If you have the ability to lead, you were born with it, with no way to learning those skills. This theory expands on the Great Man Theory by defining what makes great leaders “great.”… under the right circumstances, anyone can rise to a leadership role and be successful based on the leadership style that best matches their personality if they know how to use that ability to properly address the situation at hand. Other leadership skills can indeed be learned, developed, and mastered.” (Leaders Excellence) You have to develop and hone in on your skills to better serve your team, community, company, etc. Leadership changes from organization to organization, group to group, and person to person.
So What? Why should we care about the evolution of leadership? As the world changes, we have to change, grow, and develop with it. Leaders Excellence says, “Leadership itself has not evolved, but our understanding of it has. It is important to understand why very different leadership styles can be effective, why the same leadership techniques will not work in every situation, and which leadership style fits your personality best. Everyone has leadership potential within them, but understanding these concepts will help you maximize your leadership ability.” (Leaders Excellence) Our greater understanding of leadership through the years has led us to be more proactive in the world, allowing us to create solutions to problems easier. Leadership isn’t changing, we are.
Now What? How do we continue the development and understanding of leadership? According to Wrike, there are nine things one can do to continue their leadership skill development. “Practice discipline, take on more projects, learn to follow, develop situational awareness, inspire others, empower your teammates, keep learning, resolve conflicts, be a discerning listener.” (Wrike) Taking the time to develop and evolve yourself as a leader will not only help you but also help your peers and the members of your team. The evolution of leadership is not the change of leadership rather the impact of leadership on us. We are evolving for leadership; we understand it more and more each day. Understanding leadership allows us to understand the world around us more and more. Realizing that leadership is not based on one person’s thoughts, rather on the whole group can help create the most revolutionary ideas.
Reference:
9 ways to develop your leadership skills. Wrike. (2017, September 20). https://www.wrike.com/blog/9-ways-develop-leadership-skills/.
The Evolution of Leadership: Principles, History & Theories. Leaders Excellence. (2019, September 20). https://leadersexcellence.com/the-evolution-of-leadership/.
Walter, E. (2013, October 8). 5 myths of leadership. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ekaterinawalter/2013/10/08/5-myths-of-leadership/?sh=663a4372314e.
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