Leadership styles and their definition differ from one perspective to another. However, all the definitions of leadership or a leader is a correct definition. But, when it comes to defining a good leader, that’s another story. Because there are some specs only great leaders share. Leaders share some skills that make them more efficient with tasks, and sometimes with people. On the other hand, a good leader is sometimes good with tasks and always good with his people. Now, what is leadership? And what makes a great leader?

A little google search might show you the definition of leadership. So, the simpler the better, and Mary k. Pratt 2017 defined leadership as “Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization.” She did not stop there; she also defined a good leader as “great leaders who know how to both inspire people and get followers to complete the tasks that achieve the leader’s goal.” (Mary 2017). However, it seems like a classic of a great leader.

Personally, a leader that can make strategic and visionary decisions and convince others to follow those decisions or even coaches and builds a team, so that it is more effective at achieving the vision. Someone else may define it as “Leadership is the accomplishment of a goal through the direction of human assistants.” (Prentice 2004). Those are still just leaders because their focus is still just visions and how to make people work for those visions. However, a well-oriented leader is the kind of leader that has certain qualities.

A great leader is not just someone that shares visions and goals and inspires them for that purpose or someone who coaches you and shows you directions. Moreover, a great leader is someone who makes you safe, which of course comes with trust. (Sinek 2014)

I we go back in history to the caves ages, humans were feeling like they are surrounded by danger, which is the same as today with organizations. Organizations and their individuals are facing daily challenges trying to survive them. To make that happen, you need a trustworthy leader in the organization that would make people around him feel safe. (Sinek 2014)

A good example of a person who has just a leader could be a person who is a salesperson who needs to make a certain number of sales so he can keep his job, so the person tells himself something like “If I don’t make these numbers I’ll be fired” because his leader first asks why he didn’t make the numbers on time, which is something led by fear. After all, the person fears his leader.

On the other hand, the person will do his best to deliver what he can. Even if he doesn’t, his leader will ask something like “is everything okay?” then the leader might help him. Not only that, but if the leader is the one in that kind of situation, the whole team got his back no matter what.

In conclusion, I think the reason that makes people feel safe in their organization is having the trust to do the impossible for others to keep them going. That is what makes a good leader and separates him from other leaders. In the end, one for all and all for one.

REFERENCES:

Mary K. 2017. TechTarget. Leadership. Read 01.05.2022. Link: What is leadership? – Definition from WhatIs.com (techtarget.com)

Prentice W. 2004. Harvard business review. Understanding Leadership. Read 01.05.2022 Link: Understanding Leadership (hbr.org)

Sinek. S. 2015. TED. Why good leaders make you feel safe. Uploaded 19.3.2014. Watched 01.05.2022. Link: Simon Sinek: Why good leaders make you feel safe | TED Talk