Leadership

Leadership: Encouraging a group of which one is a member to get things done and at the same time maintain good relations within the group; organizing group activities and seeing that they happen (Source: VIA Institute on Character) 

The Noel Strengths Academy defines it this way:

  • The strength of leadership is seen in those who can 
    • Encourage others to get things done 
    • Maintain good relationships with those being led 
  • Inspirational, influential 
  • Can organize groups and activities  
  • Achieves results through others 

  • Underuse: Complacency
  • Overuse: Despotism

Key Research:

  • Rank order of Leadership in populations from:
    • US : 7;
    • European:  10
    • Asia: 9
    • Latin America: 10
    • Sub-Saharan Africa: 8
    • Middle east: 10
  • Top 10 (rank order) strengths expressed at work: honesty, judgment, perspective, fairness, perseverance, love of learning, leadership, zest, curiosity, social intelligence.

Tayyab Rashid and Afroze Anjum offer 340 Ways to Use VIA Character Strengths including these four for Leadership:

  1. Lead an activity, assignment or project and actively solicit opinions from group members. Encourage members who rarely speak up to share their opinions.
  2. Mentor a child in your neighborhood who would benefit from your skills. Listen carefully to them without paying attention to the age difference.
  3. Read a biography and/or watch film of your favorite leader and evaluate how he/she inspires you in practical ways. Consider what strengths you share with this figure.
  4. Make a list of possible ways that you could improve your leadership style. Ask people who you have led in the past for their input.

Psychological impact of Leadership

  1. Leadership is a key predictor of success: Research has shown that individuals with high levels of Leadership tend to experience greater success in their personal and professional lives (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).
  2. Leadership is linked to emotional intelligence: Leadership is associated with high levels of emotional intelligence, which is essential for effective relationships and decision-making (Goleman, 1995).
  3. Leadership is a key component of character: Leadership is one of the 24 character strengths identified by the VIA Institute on Character, and it is essential for building and maintaining a positive reputation (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).
  4. Leadership is associated with a sense of purpose: Individuals with high levels of Leadership tend to have a clear sense of purpose and direction, which is essential for achieving their goals (Seligman et al., 2005).
  5. Leadership is linked to resilience: Leadership is associated with resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity and maintain a positive outlook (Tugade & Fredrickson, 2004).
  6. Leadership is a key strength for individuals in positions of power: Leadership is essential for individuals in positions of power, such as CEOs, politicians, and military leaders (Goleman, 1995).
  7. Leadership is associated with a strong sense of responsibility: Individuals with high levels of Leadership tend to take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their team (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).
  8. Leadership is linked to a growth mindset: Leadership is associated with a growth mindset, which is the ability to learn from failure and adapt to new situations (Dweck, 2006).
  9. Leadership is a key strength for individuals in team-based environments: Leadership is essential for individuals working in team-based environments, such as sports teams, business teams, and community organizations (Goleman, 1995).
  10. Leadership can be developed and strengthened: Research has shown that Leadership can be developed and strengthened through practice, such as taking on leadership roles, seeking feedback, and learning from mistakes (Seligman et al., 2005).

Learn more about Leadership

  • We have all changed someone’s life — usually without even realizing it. In this funny talk, Drew Dudley calls on all of us to celebrate leadership as the everyday act of improving each other’s lives.

What makes a great leader? Management theorist Simon Sinek suggests, it’s someone who makes their employees feel secure, who draws staffers into a circle of trust. But creating trust and safety — especially in an uneven economy — means taking on big responsibility.

The world is full of leadership programs, but the best way to learn how to lead might be right under your nose. In this clear, candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years observing truly great leaders at work, and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future.

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership — starting with a golden circle and the question: “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Wright brothers …

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg looks at why a smaller percentage of women than men reach the top of their professions — and offers 3 powerful pieces of advice to women aiming for the C-suite.

Podcasts to feed your Leadership

Articles worth reading:

Meditation for Leadership

Read more on meditation and Leadership:

 

 

 

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