Leadership: Definition, Methods, Skills, and the Most Famous Leaders in the World

Any teamwork needs a leader, whether it is a school trip, or volunteer work, up to the management of companies. There is a saying that says: “Every leader is a manager, but not every manager is a leader.” The manager only accomplishes the required work, while the role of the leader goes beyond achieving what is required to influencing and inspiring others.

Leadership has many definitions, including:

• Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to work to achieve a common goal.
• It is the ability to influence people and create a desire for them to accomplish a specific goal.
• It is the ability to make the right decision among the many alternatives that exist.
• It means having a leader who inspires people, so that they can do their best.
• The leader is an inspiration to the team. A leader could be the business manager, or someone in a group with leadership skills that make others want to follow them.

Leadership styles:

There are many styles for the leadership, we will talk about each of them:

1. Autocratic leadership:

This style is sometimes called dictatorial leadership. The leader issues orders and directions, limits authority, takes decisions, and draws plans by themselves only, without giving subordinates any importance or participation; That is, it focuses on achieving the desired goals while neglecting the employees; therefore, leadership here is described as authoritarian. 

2. Democratic leadership:

The democratic leadership style is in contrast to the autocratic leadership. This method depends on the extent to which subordinates accept the authority of the leader, and the democratic leader is interested in human relations based on mutual respect between them and their subordinates, working in a team spirit, and paying attention to motivating them and unleashing their latent energies. 

3. Free leadership:

Free leadership style is called by other names, such as non-interference leadership and permissive leadership, where the role of the leader in this method is secondary, and it is limited to informing the subordinates about the workflow plan and the desired goal to be achieved, then leaving them the freedom to act without any interference in their work, regardless of the results of their work, whether negative or positive 

4. Situational leadership:

This leadership is called the Situational Leadership because it depends on the circumstance or situation, as the leader chooses one of the leadership methods to use according to the current situation. 

5. Reciprocal leadership:

Reciprocal leadership means the exchange of roles between the boss and subordinates, where the boss can be a member of the team in some circumstances, and the subordinate can play the role of leadership in some situations. 

Skills a leader needs:

The manager needs to have certain skills to become a leading manager. The most important of which are:

1. Strategic thinking:

Strategic thinking means having a vision of where we want to be. One of the most important skills a leader needs is to have this vision and know exactly where they want to reach, and work to achieve it.

2. Decision making:

One of the most important skills that a leader must possess is the ability to make the right decisions at the right time, with confidence and firmness without any hesitation, even if these decisions carry some risks.

3. Team spirit:

The leader believes in working with the spirit of the team, and does not consider those who work with them as subordinate to them at all. Rather, they view them as forming one working team with them, and treat them on this basis; That is, they are one team with one goal for which they work together, succeed together and fail together. They believe that success cannot be achieved without the help of others.

4. Teaching and coaching:

A successful leader does not take their experiences to themselves. Rather, they believe in the necessity of preparing new leaders, so we see them keen on the education and the development of their team.

5. Understanding the team members:

The most important skills of a successful leader is to understand the members of their team, and note the tendencies and capabilities of each member and their strengths and weaknesses in order to be able to put the right person in the right place 

6. Problem solving:

Problem solving is an essential leadership skill, especially since we work in dynamic work environments characterized by speed and development. The leader must enjoy emotional stability, maintain their calm, study the problem and then propose the appropriate solution. Whenever the leader is quick to solve problems, they ensure that the crisis does not escalate.

7. Delegating:

One of the skills of the leader is to know when to delegate people, and who to delegate, and to share leadership with their team, so they delegate some work to them, which makes them feel responsible and gives them a taste of leadership, increasing their enthusiasm and motivation.

8. The ability to communicate:

Leadership cannot exist without communication skills and social intelligence. The leader must know how to communicate with their team, build strong relationships and bonds with them, and always leave the door of dialogue open with them for discussion in any matter. In addition, a leader must have a skill in communicating their point of view, as well as public speaking and expressive skills.

9. Listening:

The leader’s ability to listen to what their team members say is one of the most important skills that a successful leader must possess. .

10. Motivating the team:

One of the most important skills of a leader is the ability to influence their team members, understand their psychological side, get close to them, solve their problems, praise their efforts, and motivate them morally and materially, and increase their productivity. 

11. Positivity:

Leadership cannot succeed in an uncomfortable negative atmosphere. In order for a leader to succeed in influencing others, they must create for them a positive and comfortable working environment, with respect, appreciation, credibility, justice, and reward for the diligent.

12. Flexibility:

One of the most important skills for a successful leader is to have flexibility; That is, they accept the changes and the differences of their team members, their temperaments and their backgrounds, smoothly without being rigid. 

13. Trust:

One of the most important skills of a successful leader is to build trust between them and their team members, gain their trust, and make them feel safe and comfortable when talking and dealing with them, and that they cling to them and will not abandon them.

The most famous leaders in the world:

1. Nelson Mandela:

South African politician and activist against apartheid, and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. 

2. Justin Trudeau:

Canadian Prime Minister, one of the successful leaders who has been admired by his people, due to his dynamic personality and views.

3. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a US minister and civil rights activist, who led his people toward a just society, in which people are equal regardless of their skin complexion.

In conclusion:

Leadership is an art and a skill.The essence of leadership is to raise the enthusiasm and motivation of individuals, to give their best. Successful leadership does not use financial temptation only, such as a high salary, or the provision of a luxurious workplace; Rather, it cares about the human aspect of individuals, satisfying their psychological needs before their material ones, encouraging them and instilling a spirit of optimism and positivity in them, which increases their sense of belonging to work, and motivates them to bring out their best.