Are you a Leader ?

The word "Leader" is one of the most used and abused words today's corporate dictionary.
Many books have been written on it. Many research done. May definitions defined. Some overlapping and some not.

I was talking to a batch of new hires early morning, in their induction program. First day in a nwe company. New work culture. New dynamics. New designations.

In the company I work for, there is a very coveted designation called "Technical Leader". I do acknowledge that this does not sound as sexy as "Chief Architect" or some other similar designations out there in the market/industry.

Still, the title's simplicity does have its charm.

So, obviously a few questions pop-ed up from the audience. All summing up to - "When will I be a technical leader?".

I resisted the temptation to answer the question in the conventional sense, and instead started a group discussion on what leadership means to many in the audience.

Here are snippets of that discussion -

A leader today is looked up on as a mentor, a coach, a guide. A leader is supposed to ask questions that takes you closer to answer. A leader is supposed lead by example.

The leader became a leader by doing things right. After being a leader, is supposed to do right things, than doing things right.

Then the question came - How does one become a leader ? What is the pre-requisite ?
If I go by what I heard

• One has to do things right
• One has to do right things
• One has to coach, mentor, learn from mistakes

I had difficulty in accepting this as the definition of a leader or pre-requisite to become a leader.

In my mind - the only pre-requisite to become a leader is to have followers.

Now, the followers come from relating to them at a level where you understand their thought process, their motivation, their alignment as much as they understand themselves, and then channeling it to a greater alignment or conviction one has.

So, to correct my math - there are TWO pre-requisites to become a leader.

• Have your own conviction
  
• Have followers

There are many fabulous leaders in the history of human kind, who work has been defined and labeled as "evil" in later period. One leaders patriotism is others terrorism.

But which ever side of the story you are on, you got to have your own conviction and you got to have followers. You got to have followers with whom you have related to completely at a thought process level.

There is no good thing or not bad thing. There is no absolute right thing. Every interpretation, is shaped by your conviction.

I urged the team to focus on relating to larger mass, creating a bigger circle of influence and focusing on getting a title with leader in it. It does not make oneself a leader by putting a title against his her name. One becomes a leader when others follow him / her and align to ones conviction. Not everyone has to be leader. Not every leader is a leader in every sphere of his/her life. Even leadership is situational and context based.

So, are you a leader yet ?

Until that time - "Lead, follow or get out of the way"