Did you say leader?

As I worked for several years in leadership and legal roles at a few large international companies, I had an opportunity to meet and work with many leaders from many different parts of the world. What I have learnt over time is that real leadership has little to do with one's title or role as it has to do more with one's attitude.

When I think of a leader today, I think of anyone who is willing and able to accept to to step up to what needs doing. This is something that applies to all contexts and can often be seen very clearly during emergencies. When Covid hit, for instance, we all got to appreciate the great leadership skills displayed everyday by many nurses, rescuers, doctors and so on, regardless of their seniority and experience. Faced with a challenge (actually often multiple new challenges and little clear guidance from above), they just took ownership of problems and strived to make the right decisions in the interest of people they were there to serve. They perhaps did not have any position of authority but nonetheless stepped up to deliver work that we all needed. They perhaps never attended a leadership training, yet they simply enacted and embodied leadership in their actions.

Leadership is not authority, it is not a badge you acquire and keep for life, I see it more as an attitude and like a muscle. We can certainly train it by developing certain skills (communication, listening, etc.) but then it will only show if and when we use it and raise up to a task or a challenge. We may even sometimes give it for granted but we surely can tell when it is lacking.

Posted by Giuseppe on 21/03/2025