- Introduction
- Introverts cannot be leaders
- Leaders are infallible
- One is a born leader
- Leaders possess the best education
- Position determines leadership
- Leadership cannot be taught
- There are only a limited number of leadership styles
Introduction
Leadership serves several functions that are vital for the success of an organization or individual. The ability to inspire, manage, develop, and influence a variety of people you work with lies at the heart of successful leadership. Our Future Leaders Programme offered by the National University of Singapore deals with important concepts and the development of vital skills for you to succeed as a leader. Like most others, the skill of leading and being a capable leader is not free from myths and misconceptions. We will talk about some of them here. Read on.
Introverts cannot be leaders
It is commonly expected of leaders to be exuberant, outgoing, and highly sociable. These character traits are associated with leadership which is untrue. Truth is, leadership comes in many forms and styles, and there is no standardized personality to become a leader. Introversion is often associated with a lack of confidence which is also not true. From Mark Zuckerberg to Warren Buffet, many leaders in the world are, in fact, introverts.
Calm and reflective introverts are as much of a leader as assertive and vocal extroverts. In fact, introverts often possess characteristics that others more sociable than themselves lack- the art of listening to others. Introversion can benefit teams with decisions being made after critical thought and reflection, which are key qualities of introverted leaders. In fact, it is just wrong to put introverts even into the boxes mentioned above. One’s personality trait is nowhere linked to one’s skill sets, talents, and achievements; therefore, introverts have nothing in particular that makes them any different from other charismatic leaders.
Leaders are infallible
Potentially perfect decision-makers like technology and machinery are fallible. It is folly to think that a certain human being isn’t. Leaders are as much capable of making mistakes as any other human being. Leaders also go through tough patches in life, may be recipients of mental and physical exhaustion or simply miscalculate judgments. Apology is considered a sign of frailty by many of us. It is important to understand that mistakes are a part of being human, and acknowledging mistakes and growing with them is the right thing to do.
One is a born leader
To quote American football coach Vince Lombardi, “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.”
The secret ingredient to becoming a leader is not one’s birthright. Some of us believe that some people are just born that way with the perfect personality and charisma that makes them stand out among other people. Whilst this may be true for a handful, most of us inculcate these skills with time and experience. Working on oneself and nurturing one’s strengths and vision is hard work, and no force out of one’s control like one’s birth can define a leader. The “either you have it in you, or you don’t” is another myth about leadership that needs to be done away with.
Leaders possess the best education
Authority in the hierarchy or an expensive education cannot be formal yardsticks to measure the abilities of an individual. The effectiveness of a person in leading others cannot be determined by the number of academic achievements they hold alone. These factors may help a leader assess and navigate situations with their previous learnings, but we cannot say that a good leader needs to possess premier qualifications.
Position determines leadership
It is commonly believed that a great leader, one who runs an organization, has received many accolades and achieved a lot in life. This may not always be true. In fact, almost anyone in a workplace can take up responsibility and leadership from time to time regardless of their designation, in their own line of work in their own personal ways. An entry-level employee who does their job well strives towards and sets goals whilst also helping fellow colleagues can be as much of a leader as his boss. The knowledge that a leader has to be high up in the organization strata is a misconception. One does not need authority.
Leaders cannot be taught
It is commonly said that leaders cannot be taught, and they know the way. Sadly, this is just another myth about leadership that we need to debunk. The idea that charisma, oratory, confidence, and so on cannot be taught is false. These do not hold up as most of us learn and acquire most of what we know, and none of us have the perfect tools to solve a certain set of problems. Every new problem may demand newer skills from us, and we learn them as and when the need arises. A leader also then, naturally, does not possess the perfect skills for the perfect results all the time. They are, therefore, as teachable as anybody else. A leader is a learner, just like the rest.
There are only a limited number of leadership styles
Leadership is not only about one skill; this is true. It is rather about working in harmony with many skills and qualities one possesses. Every leader is unique and has their own approach to problem-solving and navigating through situations. There is no one size that fits all leaders, and being a leader is a unique experience for each individual. Many resources and experts talk about key qualities that one must inculcate in order to become a leader, but apart from that, there is no set path to follow or a secret sauce to becoming a leader. Every leader, every team, and scenario is a different experience.
It is important to challenge these myths in order to refrain from limiting ourselves with preconceived notions. Buying into myths about leadership hinders an individual from truly exploring and attaining one’s true potential, which could lead to great contributions to one’s organization or the world at large (who knows!).
