Is Leadership an Art, Process, Language, or Calling?
Leadership is a multifaceted concept, and its perspectives have evolved significantly. Whether seen as an art, a process, a language, or a calling, each viewpoint offers a unique lens through which we can understand and appreciate the complexities of leadership. Many times today, leadership trainers will focus on one of these to create a plan, but then they overlook the others, which is a loss for everyone.
This idea of oversimplification has been rampant in the training industry for the last decade or more. However, it often makes the whole process of genuinely understanding a role, topic, or process confusing and makes it difficult to see the bigger picture. I chose only four because it is not overwhelming, but in my mind, they are the four most critical to understanding leadership.
Let’s break down each perspective:
1. Leadership as Art
Arguing that leadership is an art emphasizes its creative and intuitive elements. Much like an artist, a leader must be adaptable, able to see the bigger picture, and capable of molding raw materials — in this case, teams or organizations — into something meaningful. Artistic leaders rely on intuition and emotions to guide their decisions, often challenging conventions to bring innovation.
Key Characteristics:
· Intuition — Draws on past experiences and knowledge and provides quick subconscious insights helping in making decisions, problem-solving, and supporting creative thinking.
· Creativity — Allows the organization to find innovative solutions, fresh perspectives, and the ability to adapt to new challenges.
· Visionary thinking — Allows individuals to set ambitious goals, inspire others, and create a clear roadmap to the future. It drives innovation, motivates teams, and helps navigate complex environments by providing a long-term perspective and direction.
2. Leadership as a Process
Leadership as a process implies a systematic and methodical approach. It’s about a series of actions, methods, and practices a leader engages in overtime to achieve specific outcomes. Transformational leadership or the servant leadership model can be process-based, emphasizing iterative learning, feedback, and continuous improvement.
Key Characteristics:
· Methodical approach — Enhances efficiency and accuracy when well thought out and applied correctly. It should minimize errors, ensure comprehensive coverage, and makes processes easier to replicate or refine.
· Iterative learning: Allows continuous improvement through repeated learning, applying, and refining cycles. It promotes adaptability, encourages experimentation, and helps uncover deeper insights over time.
· Adherence to models or frameworks — Provides structured decision-making and problem-solving guidance. It enhances consistency, reduces ambiguity, and helps consider essential factors.
3. Leadership as a Language
Viewing leadership as a language focuses on the communicative aspects of the role. Leaders must articulate a clear vision, align team members, and inspire action. The words they use, the stories they tell, and the way they listen are crucial for organizational cohesion and moving toward shared goals.
Key Characteristics:
· Articulation of vision — Clarifies goal, motivates teams and fosters alignment towards a common objective if done with input, respect for ideas, and integrity.
· Persuasive communication — Focus is on influencing others’ opinions, actions, and decisions depending on the motivation.
· Active listening — Fosters deeper understanding, strengthens relationships and demonstrates respect for others’ input. It improves communication accuracy, minimizes misunderstandings, and encourages open dialogue leading to more effective problem-solving.
4. Leadership as a Calling
For some, leadership is more than a role — it’s a calling. This perspective sees leadership as a deep-seated drive or purpose an individual feels compelled to pursue. Leaders with a sense of calling often exhibit unwavering commitment and dedication, driven by a belief in a higher purpose or a deep-seated desire to create positive change.
Key Characteristics:
· Passionate commitment — When positive, it fuels motivation, persistence, and a strong work ethic. It allows people to overcome challenges, inspires creativity, and encourages them to go above and beyond. Passionate commitment can also Influence and inspire others, creating a positive ripple effect within the enterprise.
· Drive for positive change — This can lead to innovation, growth, and societal progress. It encourages continuous improvement, inspires new solutions to existing problems, and fosters a culture of adaptability. This mindset can have far-reaching effects, improving the quality of life, business growth, and the overall well-being of all stakeholders.
· Sense of higher purpose — Must provide stakeholders with a deeper understanding and motivation in their actions and mindsets. It increases the resilience of each who identifies with the purpose and enhances the overall well-being of each.
Conclusion:
In reality, leadership can be all of these things simultaneously. The most effective leaders often weave together the artistic, procedural, communicative, and purpose-driven aspects of leadership to inspire, guide, and transform their teams or organizations. By understanding these different perspectives, we can appreciate the rich tapestry of skills and attributes that make up authentic leadership.
However, focusing on only one perspective will limit the leader’s ability to grow, find ways to invest in their people, innovate processes and products, and deal with the chaos that is the norm of business today. The choice is yours.
