Many people ask “if everyone will lead, who will follow?” – The question hints towards a big misconception that people carry about leadership. Leadership is not some profile that you reach, designation you are given, or an authority you assume.
On the contrary, leadership is a role that you play irrespective of your profile, designation or authority.And it isone of the roles that you play as a responsible professional – and that too in a selective, situational and discretionary way. Sample this…
- A junior persuading hisSenior Editor to write an epilogue of a magazine’s special issue to give it a feel of completeness, though epilogue was not a part of the original plan…
- A subordinateobserving nonverbal behavior of her boss and spotting emotions of sadness;and then subtly reminding the bossabout herresilience that inspires all her juniors…
- Aperson from other department going out of the way to discuss an idea that could revive your department’s sluggish performance…
Don’t all these acts of interpersonal skills also qualify as leadership?Well! Leadership, indeed, is a role that one plays, and it can be played by anyone of us and all of us.
However, there is a caveat here! There is a very subtle difference between supporting and interfering…or catalyzing and interrupting…or motivating and ‘playing snob’. And what’s worse is that an act of yours is only as good as how it is being perceived by the other person. One word too many or one inapt usage of body language, and perception changes.
So how to lead effectively without being perceived as a ‘self-appointed leader’?In one integrated term, it is all about ‘Social & Emotional Intelligence’. We, at Socialigence, define itasthe “Ability to adapt one’s behavior on the basis of awareness of one’s own emotions and attunement with others’ emotions”.
This all-importantcombination of Social Intelligence & Emotional Intelligence is what helps you decide the right timing, extent and intensity of your leadership intervention by equipping you with self-awareness, empathy, and ability to adapt one’s behavior according to situation.
Remember! Leadership is a part of everyone’s job.
Dr. Sandeep Atre (Founder-Director, Socialigence)
www.socialigence.net