What is leadership anyway and why should you care about it?

Leadership is one of the most researched topics in the world of business and with good reason- it can make or break a company's bottom line. It has many distinctive styles, and frameworks and can mean different things to different people but at its core, a leader provides others with direction, structure, and motivation to ensure everyone works together effectively to reach a common objective. This applies from small teams working on a course project to large organizations achieving strategic goals. The interesting thing is that it is not an inherent personality trait but a skill that anyone can develop. The reason you need to care about it is that and it is an essential skill to possess in terms of the impact it will have on your career, life opportunities and lifestyle.

Let's debunk some leadership myths here:

You may have not thought of yourself as a leader yet, but you are a leader in some way because there is something you excel at, and you can show leadership in any position- it's not connected to titles and positions but to influence and impact.

It's not about being extroverted, the loudest voice in the room, assertive or "in charge" - there are so many styles of leadership that there will be one you will naturally gravitate towards - the key is to be able to flex styles when the need arises. Check the suggested resources for more information on leadership styles.

Let's reflect on some leadership skills you may already possess:

• Perhaps you're great at motivating and directing others.
• Have you taken responsibility for the actions and directions of a group or team?
• Are you good at setting objectives?
• Do you take the initiative?
• Do you remain calm in a crisis?
• Do you look for solutions when things go wrong?
• Have you ever helped someone else improve their performance at something?
• Do you have an optimistic attitude to failure?
• Have you ever gone the extra mile at something displaying a can-do attitude?
• Do you take ownership of problems and come up with creative and innovative solutions?
• Do you accept responsibility for mistakes and look for the learning on that experience?
• Can you flex when situations change?
• Are you a good communicator? That means active listening as well as clear verbal communication and public speaking.
• Have you got great emotional intelligence? In other words, are you good at building relationships are you self-aware and can you manage other people's emotions?

The questions above might trigger ideas for you when making applications or in interviews where you need to evidence you have leadership potential. In the meantime, you may have recognised some or even all of these skills in yourself, but don't get too comfy and sit on your laurels - leadership is an organic skill that is constantly being tested and developed.

A challenge!

Why not focus on one aspect of leadership to develop further over the coming weeks, this could involve putting yourself forward for leadership roles in your student union or extracurricular activities?

Does your uni run leadership development, public speaking or mentorship programmes you can engage with? Have you got student membership of industry professional bodies for training and networking opportunities? If your dream company has a leadership framework, do you know about it so you can start reflecting on how to develop those key competencies?

If you are finding it hard to reflect on your leadership skills, ask people whose opinion you value and trust - ask them specific questions about any strengths and weaknesses and be open and positive about any constructive feedback. Use resources available with your career service.

Remember leadership is not something you are born with; it is a skill set anyone can develop. It is one of continuous lifelong development. Think about leaders you admire, either present day or in the past, it could even be someone in your own family or network. What were the skills they showed and developed that helped inspire others and you? What is it about them that draws you to trust and follow them?

Suggested Resources

> Article: Top 10 in demand leadership skills for the future of work infographic
> Video: Simon Sineks What makes a leader great?
> Online assessment: What's your leadership style?
> Article: Leadership and management: prove you are more than an entry-level hire.
> Online resources: Top 10 leadership skills (+examples)
> Report: What leadership development trends are we likely to see in 2025

By Anna Gordon - Certified Business Coaching Psychologist ABP CBCP