Leadership Traits in Today's World

A big component of the leadership model we're trying to promote / encourage / model for our students (and mentors) is not leadership by title and job description which is what so many student "leadership programs" do, but a less tangible role of leadership in which the individual title is less important than what is being achieved as a group.

This article by Justin Menkes: A New Definition of Leadership for a Newly Transformed World captures some key aspects of that model:

The heart of leadership is realizing potential — in yourself as a leader, and in the people you lead. In the traditional paradigm of leadership, leaders would have an impact on their people, who would in turn perform. Yet to be an effective leader today, achieving this unidirectional flow is no longer sufficient. Today’s business environment demands a new leadership paradigm: one centered on a fluid, virtuous cycle of exchange and growth between leaders and the people they lead....

So -- high hopes for this one based on the first few paragraphs.  However, now that I've read it, it's more of a reflection/observation of what characteristics make a good leader, not how you encourage those traits in others.  Extremely insightful at a personal level, but not necessarily helpful for others.


A few good observations at the end, though...

Real leadership is recursive: it’s a continuous process that starts with a leader and is echoed in that leader’s people. My research has shown that the best leaders work with the people they lead to seek their mutual maximum potential together: they co-create their success.
...
We are all born with an innate urge for triumph, but are not born aware of this need or how to meet it. It is up to a leader to create a work environment in which every employee can experience the deep satisfaction of triumphing in pursuit of a worthy goal.

The most critical responsibility leaders have is to help their people flip the switch of engagement toward realizing their potential as human beings. When leaders create a context for people to realize their potential, they create a virtuous cycle that elicits people’s best selves — the selves that induce the gratification we all feel when we overcome significant challenges and realize our potential.

Sounds like a lot of work, a lot of responsibility...  No wonder not many people try major leadership projects!