- Leadership is a fundamental skill to the path of success.
- Leadership is not just about holding a high position or having an authority over the others.
- It is a trait that can be found in anyone, regardless of their position.
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Leadership is a fundamental skill to the path of success. We have never seen a successful man/woman sans this trait. Please correct me if I am wrong here. And the leaders who have failed in reality are those who did not see the fine line between the leadership and dictatorship. So, if you want to become successful, no matter where you are right now and on what position, you need this trait anyhow. The leadership is not just about holding a high position or having an authority over the others. It is a trait that can be found in anyone, regardless of their position. And the good news is that leadership is no longer a trait that is only passed genetically. It is rather a skill of the modern world. Leadership without position is a concept that emphasizes the ability to influence and inspire others without having an official title or position of power. There is a study which found that only 30% of the respondents having “leadership” genetic component were actually in a leadership role in real life. Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, emphasises that with discipline and constant practice, it is possible for anyone to gain the knowledge needed to make great decisions, achieve accountability and channel acquired knowledge into effective action. John Kotter, Professor of Leadership, Emeritus, at the Harvard Business School, says that leadership has little to do with innate individual traits, other than those that can be acquired and nurtured. Leadership is about coping with change and adaptation to new conditions, including setting direction, aligning and motivating people. Joan Marques, Dean and Professor of Management at Woodbury University’s School of Business (USA), in her study concludes the 9 styles of leadership wherein she emphasises that leadership is a dynamic phenomenon, which is strongly dependent on the needs and structures of societies at any given time. Hence, it is safe to conclude that leadership is regardless of an innate ability, genetical component and is independent of the designation/position.
What is Leadership without Position?
Leadership without position refers to the ability to lead others without being in a formal leadership role. It is about influencing and inspiring others to take action and achieve a common goal. This type of leadership is not based on authority, but on the ability to communicate, build relationships, and inspire trust. Leadership without position is not limited to any particular industry or field. It can be found in any context, from business to politics, education to community organizations. It is about being a positive influence on others and leading by example, rather than relying on formal authority. I am personally a fan of this concept, because nobody is going to call you as their leader if you don’t prepare yourself as a leader. But here is the vicious trap: You don’t get the exposure of leadership qualities because you don’t have that designation yet, and you don’t get that designation because you don’t have that exposure or experience in the first place. So, here the concept of Leadership without Position comes to the rescue.
Why is Leadership without Position so important?
Leadership without position is important for several reasons. First, it allows individuals to take on leadership roles regardless of their position or title. This helps to prepare themselves for the next leadership opportunity they would ever get in formal. So, the first step to get a leadership position and mark your footprint in your domain is to lead without a formal position. Second, leadership without position fosters collaboration and teamwork. When individuals are encouraged to lead without position, they are more likely to work together, share ideas, and collaborate to achieve common goals. This leads to better outcomes and a more positive work environment. It helps to create a culture of leadership, where individuals are encouraged to take initiative and lead by example. Finally, leadership without position can help to build trust and credibility. When individuals are able to influence and inspire others without relying on authority, they demonstrate their competence and commitment to the team’s success. This builds trust and helps to create a positive working relationship between team members.
How to Cultivate Leadership without Position?
- Be a positive influencer: To lead without position, it is important to be an influencer. This means being optimistic, supportive, affirmative and encouraging for others. It also means being willing to listen to others and provide constructive feedback. If you sit like a dumb a*s in your office without demonstrating your skills, thoughts and remarkable feedbacks, you can never be an influencer.
Build relationships: Building strong relationships is essential to leading without position. This means taking the time to get to know others, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and finding ways to support them in achieving their goals. Build such relations in your office or in your personal life that people will miss when you are not around. When people start missing you, you automatically become their leader.
Communicate effectively: It is important to be clear, concise, and consistent in your expressions. It is also important to listen actively and respond thoughtfully to others. Start developing your speaking skills, your sense of humour and your nerves to speak eloquent in public. Be such a communicator that you can listen the unsaid and you can speak the unheard.
Take initiative: Constantly identify the opportunities for improvement and take action to address them. Be willing to take risks and try or speak on new things. Never sit with your hands stacked when you want a desired outcome. Take the charge and do what it takes for that result. Nobody is going to do your homework. You need to do it all by yourself. I have elaborated this the other day.
Lead by example: Leaders without position set an example for others to follow. This means demonstrating the behaviors and attitudes that you want others to adopt. It also means being willing to take responsibility for your actions and decisions. Nobody follows a hypocrite. People always have an eye on you. They check whether what you tell them to do is aligned with what you actually do. If you want someone to do or act in a way then first you need to demonstrate them how to actually do that.
Be adaptable: Adaptability means being able to adjust your approach based on the current situation and your past learning. It also means being open to feedback and willing to learn from your experiences. Time changes at the speed of light. Once your knowledge becomes outdated, you are out of the race.
7 Qualities of Leaders without Position
- They are always in “Learning Mode”: They never think they are always smart. They know that they can never be a “Know-It-All”. They have an everlasting hunger for knowledge. Day spent without learning anything new is a day wasted for them. They learn from their past experiences and other’s current experiences. They keep their ego aside and are always open to learn from their juniors.
- They are excellent navigators: When others panic in a turbulence, they discover and navigate through the right path. They can find a way through a trap others can never imagine. You must have come across someone in your life who has answers to all of your questions/problems. These are those people. And they don’t walk the way of success all alone, they take others with them.
- They are well organized: They never do random things. Whatever they want to do or achieve, they back it with a plan or a strategy with a margin or errors. They don’t take all the things at once. They know their weaknesses or limitations and choose their “to dos” wisely.
- They are usually extrovert: They don’t keep things to themselves. May it be an innovative idea, a confrontational feedback or a rude but helping opinion, they voice themselves. They will prefer talking to you instead of dwelling on a conflict for years. If you ever find them not talking to you and expressing their views to you, this means you have lost a great leader. In this case, confront them and ask to talk to you on this regard. They will actually appreciate this.
- They have an amazing risk-taking capability: They will prefer dying instead of living in a safe zone. They know that to gain something, losing the other is a prerequisite. They will switch jobs, will expose themselves under different settings, will invent new concepts regarding work and life, will voice themselves when wronged, and will always do the same things in a new way. This is why you will find them selling cup of teas one day and ruling the whole country the other day.
- They have a presence: When they step in a room, people turn to talk to them. Because they are renowned for their extra ordinary wit and humour. They make their new colleagues comfortable at the office. They go beyond their roles and capabilities to help others. They bring out the best personality of the person to whom they talk to. They guide and instruct you without being boring, egoistic or a jerk.
- They have haters: As they are infamously known to attract all the newcomers who step into their radar, they attract a huge number of haters. People hate them for always stealing the show and detracting others from their once owned network. The ignition of envy is so high that such people either start a cold war with them or find reasons to instigate a fight. But this doesn’t affect at all because leaders are great navigators as I said earlier.
This was all about the Leadership without Position. Keep visiting vacancee.in for such interesting work/life concepts.
