Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand the test of adversity, but if you really want to test a man’s character, give him power”. In this quote, Lincoln asserts that the more power individuals are granted, the greater their responsibility to serve, develop, and empower those around them. Ultimately, leadership is not just about what one person can do, but what they can inspire, encourage, and empower others to do. From this information, one can deduce that at its core, leadership is about relationships. When there is trust between a leader and respective followers, growth and development take place. This is especially pertinent in today’s competitive society, one that relies on those with a vision and desire to succeed.
Leadership has various definitions, but the most widely accepted is described by Ronald Greenwood in his journal entry on leadership theory. Greenwood, founder of the Greenwood Leadership Academy, contends that leadership is when “a person, or persons, exercises influence on others towards a goal or common purpose. That goal or common purpose is sometimes not consciously known”. The ideas outlined in this passage correlate to Lincoln’s assertions in the mid-1800s, where the idea of leadership is represented as a collective activity. Throughout my life, whether through athletics or academics, I have often been branded as a leader. What I have not often thought about is how am I a leader?
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Throughout my high school career, I attended several leadership workshops as a representative of my institution. I would sit in the front row of the auditorium as several prominent figures in the local sports community would lecture on the leadership ideology. Of all the orations throughout the course of the two-day program, one man sticks out in particular, Larry McKenzie. McKenzie is an education professional, speaker, coach, and in his words, a ‘life changer’. His celebrated career – whether it be in the locker room, on the basketball court, or in the north Minneapolis community – are inspiring. His messages are unifying and empowering to all those in attendance. When speaking on his purpose, McKenzie asserted that he aimed to inspire individuals to “become champions in life”, teaching them when to speak or listen, when to give or take, and to set goals and dream. When discussing leadership in particular, McKenzie noted that the most important aspect of a leader is one with a vision to succeed. This idea is reinforced by Richard Weingardt in his journal entry on leaving a legacy. Richard Weingardt, a highly celebrated structural engineer who served as a vocal advocate for stronger leadership in government and business, contends that the first key characteristic of a leader is one that has a vision. He asserts that “because all leaders are visionaries, this is the first commandment” (Weingardt, 43). The concepts outlined here are important to consider as Weingardt asserts that those with a clear vision are readily able to pursue their dreams and achieve goals. Ultimately, it is a vision that inspires action and generates energy and a will to make change in the real world.
Author and leadership expert Jon Gordon further supports this claim in his novel, ‘The Power of Positive Leadership’. The novel is comprised of principles, anecdotes, and practical ideas aimed at creating positive leaders that will ultimately generate change in the real world. Throughout the text, Gordon emphasizes that positive leaders share a positive vision. Through an innovative approach, leaders must identify potential solutions and unite their followers to create said solution. Not only does this support Weingardt’s claims, but also reasserts the collective notion of leadership outlined by Greenwood. In addition to a vision, Weingardt further contends that leadership is also comprised of concentration, responsibility, passion, teamwork, motivation, positivity, personal growth, communication, and appreciation of one’s legacy.
When analyzing myself, it is clear – especially to those I lead – that I exhibit most of the 10 commandments outlined above, especially with regard to vision, passion, teamwork, responsibility, and communication. While I may fall short in some areas, my ability to identify those deficiencies and a desire to improve upon them are indicative of my determination for growth. Nonetheless, there is often an internal conflict between the leader we aspire to be and the leader we actually are. While one can determine the characteristics of the leader they aspire to be, it is the opinions of others that largely reflects the actual characteristics of a leader. And these opinions are largely affected by one’s leadership style, which have the power to influence followers. According to leadership critics Khan et al., “Some of the more common styles include autocratic, bureaucratic, and laissez-faire”.
Autocratic is the most common of the leadership styles, whereby the leader retains most of the power. A bureaucratic style follows a specific procedure or policy. And lastly, laissez-faire is often referred to as a ‘hands-off’ approach to leadership in which the leader provides little direction and followers are granted a plethora of freedom. While plenty of leadership styles exist, implementing one that suits my personality was quite a challenge. Until I decided to look beyond myself and study my role model.
LeBron James has had a profound effect on my life. Consequently, it appears logical why I would want to emulate his leadership style. The King, as he is often referred to by analysts and those in the NBA community, implements a participative style, one that encourages teammates to be a part of the decision-making process. Furthermore, through his actions, James demonstrates a consistent desire to hone his craft. Like in anything else, consistency is ‘king’. These two styles compounded together enable James to motivate those around him while gaining their trust. Each day, James is able to extract the best from each member of the team. When individuals perform at their best, the team is poised to win. And winning is a direct byproduct of great leadership.
I have found great success emulating James’ leadership style. Since implementing the tools mentioned above, I have been readily able to encourage growth for those that are part of my team by establishing goals and recognizing and encouraging achievement, much like LeBron James. The research is clear. A democratic-based leadership style, such as the one mentioned above, is not just one way to lead. Personally, I believe that it is the way to lead so as to build a culture and develop personal connections with team members.
Ultimately, leadership is a method of aligning people toward a common vision and empowering group members to achieve established goals. In essence, the very idea of leadership goes well beyond the individual. Throughout writing this piece, I have not only learned how I am a leader, but I have also gained insight into ways I may be lacking and how I can improve. Although I am not an Abraham Lincoln or a LeBron James, I do have the ability to lead and empower those around me.
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