Both being a leader and creating leaders are crucial aspects of effective leadership. While being a leader is essential for providing direction, making decisions, and setting a vision, creating leaders is equally important for ensuring long-term success and organizational sustainability.
A strong leader inspires and motivates a team, but the ability to develop and empower others to become leaders fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and adaptability. Creating leaders involves mentoring, coaching, and nurturing the skills and talents of team members, enabling them to take on leadership roles themselves. This not only distributes responsibilities but also builds a resilient and dynamic organization capable of navigating challenges and changes.
A leader who focuses on creating leaders invests in the growth and development of their team, promoting a sense of ownership and accountability. This approach not only strengthens the team but also contributes to the leader's legacy, as the impact is felt beyond their leadership tenure.
The synergy between being a leader and creating leaders is paramount for sustained success, as it ensures a robust organizational culture that can thrive in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities.
Leading and creating leaders are the responsibility and duty of an effective leader. Creaking leaders is part of leadership. For instance, a leader creates a vision and drives it to realization. This can only happen in collaboration with others. The leader shares his/her vision, and the employees (the led) carry the vision to reality. without the employees, there can never be realized visions however good the vision. For example, the servant leadership style principles involve healing, listening, mentorship, collaboration, and building community which eventually results in making leaders. Another key pillar is the significant importance it places on the growth of people whose emphasis is holistic growth.
Furthermore, an effective leader is concerned about the life of the institution beyond their tenure. Therefore, it is their noble duty to create leaders to succeed them. One of the ways leaders create leaders is through succession planning and growth and development. Succession planning becomes their daily routine as they collaborate, mentor, delegate, and train in a quest to develop, create, and nurture leaders.
Leadership depending on the environment could be hard or easy. Harf or easy, leaders got to be created through training, mentorship, and nurturing.
The question of whether it is more important to be a leader or to create and empower a leader is subjective and depends on the context and goals of an organization or a group. Both aspects are essential for the overall success and sustainability of a team or institution. However, the emphasis on one over the other may vary based on the situation.
From an academic perspective, let's explore both aspects:
Being a Leader: Importance: Being a leader is crucial as it involves setting a vision, making strategic decisions, and providing direction to the team. A strong leader can inspire and motivate others, foster innovation, and navigate challenges effectively. Challenges: Leadership comes with its own set of challenges, such as making tough decisions, handling conflicts, managing diverse personalities, and dealing with external pressures. It requires a combination of interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence.
Creating and Empowering a Leader: Importance: Developing and empowering leaders within an organization is equally important. This approach focuses on cultivating a culture of leadership at all levels, encouraging individuals to take initiative, and providing them with opportunities for growth and skill development. Challenges: Empowering leaders involves creating a supportive environment, identifying and nurturing talent, and ensuring that individuals have the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles. It requires a commitment to mentorship, training programs, and a culture that values leadership potential.
Academic Perspective:
In academia, there is often a recognition of the importance of both aspects. Leadership theories and courses may explore the qualities and skills required for effective leadership, including transformational leadership, situational leadership, and ethical leadership.
Academic institutions also emphasize the development of leadership skills among students. They may offer programs, workshops, and extracurricular activities that aim to empower individuals to become future leaders in their respective fields.
in the end, both being a leader and creating/empowering leaders are essential components for the success of any organization. The challenge lies in finding the right balance based on the organizational context, goals, and the individuals involved. Effective leadership often involves a combination of leading by example and creating an environment that fosters leadership qualities in others.