How do we build leaders?

Leaders make a difference. Great companies need great leaders at every level. But most organizations aren't intentionally focused on developing those leaders.

Leadership is more than having a position at the top of an organization. Leaders are visionaries who inspire the people around them to achieve that vision. Leaders realize success by inspiring others. Together, as a team, the vision becomes reality. To be a leader, and to inspire effective leadership in others, is to enable your team to create value together and build momentum.

It is not just a title that one holds; it is a process of self-development. Leadership is something that comes from within, and the leader has to continually challenge both himself and the people around him in order to grow. 

Leadership skills are developed over time, but they require risk-taking confidence and decisive action. Leadership is more about taking charge of a situation for the benefit of all involved or setting an example worth following than it is about being honoured for achievements later on down the road. Leadership is often associated with positions of authority, but being a leader doesn't always mean being the boss. 

Leadership can be displayed by people at any level in an organization who have a vision that others support. 

Often, the very traits that make people excellent in an individual contributor role - for example, a technical wizard - lead to terrible leadership skills.

A common misconception about leadership is that you are either born with it or not. When people believe that you have to be born a leader, those who lack confidence don't even bother developing the skills because they believe it isn't something that can be developed. However, it's possible for any individual to develop leadership skills and become a strong leader by following several steps that have been proven effective in the most effective organizations over time.

Being a leader demands courage, strong character and a vision for the future. It means being able to inspire and motivate people to put forth their best efforts for your common goals.

How do we build leaders?

Leadership Training: 

Leadership training can take place informally through gaining life experiences, but it can also be developed via more formal processes such as mentoring or joining a group that encourages professional development. Leadership skills should also be nurtured daily by staying open to feedback from others both inside and outside of one's organization. Leadership skill sets need constant improvement because the world is constantly changing - and those who choose not to change with it will soon fall behind. Leadership skills can be built starting today, so start learning about them and putting what you learn into action. Leadership training can take place informally through life experiences, but it can also be developed via mentoring or joining a group

Cultivate strong internal leadership:

One of the best things a company can do for itself is to cultivate strong internal leadership. Find the leadership potential in people you already know. An effective manager can both increase productivity and help create a positive team dynamic, allowing a diverse group of individuals to work together towards a common goal. Despite the proven success of internal leadership development programs, many companies overlook or fail to implement them successfully. Some organizations attempt to appoint or promote people into management positions without providing them with any formal leadership training; other companies invest heavily in external leadership training programs that fail to meet their participants' needs because they don't understand the specific contexts in which the trainees work; still, others start developing leaders but later drop the ball, saying they just don't have time for it.

Encourage risk-taking and learning from failure

Most businesses have a risk aversion bias. The problem is that when you are inherently adverse to risk, instead of creating a culture of innovation and learning, people begin to fear failure. They begin to focus on avoiding mistakes instead of trying new things and experimenting. 

The best way to learn is by doing. That's why it's so important for companies to give their people opportunities to learn from experiences - both the best-case scenario and the worst. As a leader, you must create a safe space where your team members are encouraged to experiment, try new things, and make mistakes.

Learn to recognize potential

You can spot someone's potential when they're committed to learning and getting better at a new skill, or when they show an eagerness to take on different responsibilities. They've got the ability to keep going when a task gets tough. They take ownership of their work.

The future of the world will be determined by those who come to authority in the next few decades. Many of our leaders are still focused on massive layoffs, quick fixes, and empty promises. Leadership is considered in a very narrow perspective and often only at the top of many organizations. Instead, we should be teaching all employees how to step up and take responsibility, whatever their role.