[1.1.1] Leadership is everywhere

[1.1.1] Leadership is everywhere

Leadership is everywhere

Leadership is all around us. You may not realize it, but you are practicing it every day. We constantly try to influence the people around us with the intent to reach our goals or desires. And so do they. We are all participating in this infinite dance, voluntary or unvoluntary. And like dancing we are both leading and following at the same time.
But leadership doesn’t just manifest in our daily actions and words; it also shapes how we:
  • look at relationships: As kids we all had a natural tendency to want to befriend the popular classmate. We looked up to them and wanted to gain their approval. Overcoming or learning to control this preference is one of the early leadership lessons most of us learn in our lives (and some of us never do).
  • rationalise decisions: Sometimes we tend to accept and justify decisions from people we are drawn to over decisions that might make more rational sense to us. Just because we can identify with the individual(s) advocating for it; we feel more drawn to the argument they make. One only has to look at today’s political landscape to find this to be true (regardless on which side of the aisle you find yourself). How often have you found yourself more open to an idea because it was endorsed or presented by someone you support?
  • interpret our surroundings and perceive the world: We often interpret the world through our view of leadership. What do you seek in a leader? What qualities do you look up to? Ask yourself if you are more drawn to leaders with authoritative impulses coming across strong, confident, combative? Or are you more drawn to those with high levels of charisma, who are good with words or even good looking? Or do you have a preference for those leaders who rely on consultation of others, trying to find compromises. Or are you more drawn to those with technical knowledge, who seem to have a strong vision of what ought to be based on their experiences? These preferences influence the way we interpret situations. Where one might look with disdain towards conflict and confrontation for the other that might be having the courage to say what needs to be said. . Try putting aside any judgement or colouring of good vs. bad for now and
As humans we desperately and often unconsciously seek leadership in most aspect of their lives. In the way we run our society, shape our workplaces, engage in sports, build friendships, and raise families. It shapes how we interact, make decisions, grow as individuals, and build our communities. Both historically and culturally, we place significant expectations on leaders across all domains—from government and organizations to our personal lives.
The concept is so fundamental to society that we often take it for granted, yet its impact is profound and far-reaching.
Let’s explore some of these areas where we see leadership manifests most:
We unevenly associate the words and actions..
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Review Marker
  • Military
  • Public office
  • Organisations
  • Influencers
  • Sports
  • Personal life

Leadership in a military setting

Historically we have always associated leadership in the context of military conflict. Millenia of warfare have deeply influenced our understanding of leadership, emphasizing concepts like command, discipline, and strategic decision-making.
In military settings, leadership is often characterized by clear hierarchies, decisive action, the ability to maintain unit cohesion under extreme pressure, deploying battlefield tactics, and understanding more longer term strategies to obtain power and influence. These principles have significantly shaped today’s leadership theories and practices across. You will also recognise much of our current business language is derived from miliary concepts.
Some of the impactful writers such as Sun Tzu, Marcus Aurelius, Machiavelli, and Carl von Clausewitz shared their observations and implications on leadership in timeless classics and are still studied today by modern leaders for inspiration.
Example readings:
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War and Peace,
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Meditations,
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The prince,
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On War
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Reflection Assignment
Take some time to think about the following question and write down your response
What is a historic leader that comes to mind? What makes you remember this person?


Leadership in our public offices

The other obvious example of leadership is found in our public offices. We naturally think of country presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, Lee Kuan Yew, or Xi Jinping or historically of ‘Kings and Queens’ such as Queen Elizabeth, Charlemagne, and Darius the Great.
But also other government officials deserve mentioning. Countless of mayors, judges, and ministers can make it to the list of influential leaders who left their mark on history. Our history is rich of stories of remarkable people that through their leadership have left their mark. From the earliest tribes to our modern democracies; In all of our societies, we have sought leaders to represent us, lead our tribes and countries, set our rules and policies, and make executive decisions.
But over time those expectations differ. Depending on the circumstances we have sought different types of leaders. Think about the war time leaders and how they were different from those in charge in times of peace.
We entrust these leaders, sometimes with immense power and responsibility, expecting them to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, manage economic challenges, and address societal issues. The expectations placed on political leaders are at an all-time high as they balance competing interests while maintaining transparency and accountability in our interconnected world.
While governance structures and power balances vary across different societies—which we'll explore in later chapters—it's crucial to recognize the significant but varying role leadership plays in our public offices.
Example readings:
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Lee Kuan Yew: The Man and His Ideas
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Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
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Reflection: What are some expectations you have from leaders in the public office?


Reflection: Do you think leadership is different in the public office compared to the workspace?


Leadership in organizations

A form of leadership almost all of us have experience with is the leadership we see in our organisations. Whether that is the executive team setting the company vision and strategy, the divisional heads overseeing the deployment of the strategy, team leaders who are motivating and managing their team(s), or individual contributors in the organisation who make their impact through their expertise, soft influence, or results.
Modern organizations plan their leadership succession carefully, by trying to identify leadership potential early on and grooming them for future leadership positions. This careful succession planning often includes coaching and mentoring, leadership development programs, and rotational assignments that expose potential leaders to different aspects of the organization.
However, there's a growing recognition that not everyone identified as having leadership potential necessarily wants to pursue that path. Companies typically compensate managers better than technical experts, which incentivises many individuals into leadership positions—even those who don't naturally aspire to lead—simply to advance their careers. A study conducted by Gallup* found that organisations fail to choose the candidate with the right talent for the job 82% of the time. This trend is concerning as it can lead to ineffective leadership and decreased job satisfaction for both the promoted individual and their team. Gallup reported in 2012 that only 30% of U.S. employees are engaged at work and 13% worldwide report being engaged. Bad managers cost businesses billions of dollars each year, and having too many of them can bring down a company.
The emphasis on management roles as the primary career advancement path often overlooks the value of technical expertise and specialist career tracks. Organizations are slowly beginning to recognize this issue and are creating dual-career ladders that allow for advancement in both management and technical domains.
The most senior of leaders, those in the executive roles also require careful attention.
We expect these leaders to establish vision, foster trust and psychological safety, and inspire their teams toward exceptional results. Today's ‘modern’ workplace admires leaders who blend strategic thinking with emotional intelligence, as employees increasingly seek both guidance and purpose in their work. This evolution reflects a wider shift in organizational culture, where leadership has become more collaborative than hierarchical.
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Only One in 10 People Possess the Talent to Manage
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Report: State of the American Workplace,
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Worldwide, 13% of Employees Are Engaged at Work
Individual contributors
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Reflection: What do you observe in your organisation?


Influential leaders

Another way we can observe leadership is through what we today call ‘influencers’. We can consider influencers to be leaders, even when they have no formal power or role of importance. It is their soft influence that enables them to inspire millions of people.
Historic figures such as the Greek philosophers Aristotle, Socrates and Plato have shaped much of the modern western thinking. Entire societies and empires have been built after the ideals and values proposed by these philosophers.
Other examples include writers such as Shakespeare, who through his writing and theater play, have shaped much of our shared beliefs, narratives and values. He introduced thousands of words and phrases into the English language that are still used today. His universal themes of love, jealousy, power, ambition, and human nature resonate across cultures and time periods. He also left his mark on our understanding
 
Or Ernest Hemingway, a journalist and writer who through his writings influenced our views on our government and institutions and how we find meaning through engaging in dialogue, actions, and even silences. Less know but just as impactful is journalists and activists Amelia Bloomer, who in 1848 was able to voice the discontent of the lack of women rights, especially when it came to clothing conventions.
Similar are the religious figures, who have been able to inspire millions of people through a shared belief. Examples such as Buddha, Mohammad, Christ, Moses, have each influenced religions that until today are followed and considered by millions of people globally.
More modern examples can be found in our current digital influencers. People who can address millions of people through the virtual access of the internet. Figures such as Joe Rogan who influences millions of people through his podcasts, and can sway the perspectives of his listeners. Taylor Swift who has amassed such a following that presidential candidates fear her ability to swing elections. Or Greta Thunberg, as much beloved by some as hated by others, who has mobilized millions of young people globally in the fight against climate change through her direct and uncompromising activism.
The point is clear: throughout history, leaders have wielded influence not through formal positions but through their ability to impacts the thoughts and actions of others through their words.
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Plato and the Tyrant: The Fall of Greece's Greatest Dynasty and the Making of a Philosophic Masterpiece
 
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The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall

F. Leadership in our personal lives

The final area where we see leadership manifest is in our personal lives. Among friends and family, we share, teach, argue, empathize, and parent. We pass on our values and share our beliefs with one another.
Whether that is as a parent setting boundaries and teaching to take responsibility, as siblings sharing experiences or learning to take care of another, the family context provides essential lessons in what it means to lead and follow.
Leadership dynamics naturally emerge in our friendships, social and hobby clubs, and even sports teams. These (in)formal leadership roles have naturally evolved over time and can sometimes feel permanent. Its not uncommon for people to admit that they behave very differently when they are with their family, friends or sports teams. Some of these social dynamics and have grown-in over time. Yet, we most certainly can influence and change them.
And even on a deeper personal level we are trying to understand ourselves, explore our values and beliefs, seek for meaning in our life and and give importance to our existence. All of this to an extend relates to being better individuals, better friends, better parents, better leaders.
 
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Reflection: What do you observe in your organisation?


 

G. Exploring leadership

We universally seek strong, competent leadership and yet frequently express dissatisfaction with those in charge. Despite centuries of leadership studies and development programs, we still haven't perfected the art of developing great leaders. Nearly every newspaper contains criticism of leadership somewhere in its pages. This raises important questions: Are we selecting the wrong people? Is our leadership education flawed? Have our expectations become unrealistic? Or is this tension simply the natural result of competing interests?
These are some of the fundamental questions we will try to explore throughout this book / course.
We want you to reflect on what leadership means, how people have different expectations of leaders, and most of all give you a method to improve yourself and adapt yourself to the challenges you face.
 
The idea of leadership has inflated. Leadership seems to mean everything in the world and beyond. And that's not a bad thing. As our idea of leadership evolves, so do our expectations. Leadership is a social construct and thus is framed by collective/shared view on leadership
 
 
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