Leadership is more than a position or title. Leadership is about behaviour, attitude and relationship.
Leadership is more than a position or title. Leadership is about behaviour, attitude and relationship.
It’s about being an example of the “above the line” approach to work and life, seen at all levels of an organisation, and in society in general. It’s about living to the values that you believe in, whether they are company or personal.
It’s seen in the actions of a person who takes charge in a situation, but also in the way people behave that is admired and followed by others at all times.
If you put a group of people in a room and pose a question or a challenge, these leaders are soon apparent. They are the ones who bring the group together and facilitate the way forward. They may not be the ones with the solution, but they enable the team members to find a solution.
Leaders come to the fore, whether they have been bestowed the role, or not. Those who aren’t in an official leadership position, but still influence others, are the accidental leaders.
In every business, these “accidental leaders” often have a greater influence over the team than many “official” or “positional” leaders. The workers look to their every move, to guide their own response and actions.
They therefore model the behaviour of the group. They influence the culture.
So, who are these leaders? How do you identify them?
They are the workers whom others look to for guidance, either through advice, or just by following their example. They show confidence in their own ability but are not trying to impress others. They are self assured, and self aware.
They are not necessarily the most outspoken person in the group, but when they speak, everyone listens.
They are the people that are admired because they do things for the right reason.
Sit and observe a group and you will quickly see who they are.
The accidental leaders are:
- Authentic; they live by their values and standards.
- Trustworthy; they can be relied on to do what they commit to do.
- Honest; they speak out with integrity on things that matter to them, or are important to the team.
They don’t:
- Engage in gossip
- Try to impress by saying the “right thing” for their own benefit.
- Pretend to be someone that they’re not.
Consequently, they are:
- Trusted,
- Respected,
- Looked upon as an example to others, by everyone at all levels.
If you are in an official leadership position, ensuring that these “unofficial leaders” have a clear understanding of the teams and organisation’s purpose and the “why”, as well as the importance that they have within the team, will enable you to work closely with them and ensure that the team is thriving.
Ensuring that you agree the acceptable behaviour for the team with them, ensures that the team culture will be developed in a positive way.
