G. Balasubramanian | Chairperson, Board of Advisors, ICSL | Editor-in-Chief, The Progressive School
One wonders often – what leadership really means? The root of the word ‘leader’ is from the Anglo-Saxon noun “lead” meaning –a path, road, way or the course of a ship at sea. It is a word that relates to a journey.
A leader therefore is pathfinder. He designs the course of a journey or blazes the trail for his followers. Therefore, anyone who heads a team of people is not necessarily a leader.
A leader is characterized by certain basic characteristics such as:
Personal Mastery
Self-confidence
Imagination
Initiative
Enterprise
Enthusiasm
Charisma
Team spirit
Decision making skills
Emotional intelligence
Honesty
Tolerance
Ability to guide others
High ethical standards
A leader is expected to add value to the work he does. In most cases, we do not distinguish between -Leaders and Managers.
John Adair, Professor on Leadership, observes:
Leaders differ from managers. One can be a leader without managing and one can be a manager without leading
Leadership and management are qualitatively different and mutually exclusive
Bennis and Nanus in their book on Management and Leadership (1995) observe:
“Managers are people who get things right and leaders are people who do the right thing.”
The leader has both a role and an attribute. Let us examine and find out which of the above attributes of leadership we possess with us. What are the strong attributes of our leadership profile? What steps we can take to strengthen that profile?
Reflecting on the etymology of the word "leader" and its roots in the concept of guiding a journey is truly enlightening. It underscores the essence of leadership as not just a position of authority, but as a responsibility to chart a course and navigate a path forward. This perspective holds particular significance for leaders in educational settings, including international boarding schools in Dehradun, where shaping the journey of students' growth and development is paramount. By embracing the notion of leadership as a journey, leaders in Dehradun's boarding schools can strive to create nurturing and enriching environments that empower students to reach their fullest potential. This understanding of leadership as a journey invites reflection and inspires leaders to embark on a…