It doesn’t take power or authority to demonstrate leadership. The most effective leadership depends on the ability of an individual to recruit others to a particular course of action through persuasion and negotiation, and not by enforcing compliance because of some authority.
Leadership begins with the portrayal of a vision that connects ‘what is’ with ‘what could be’. People will join the cause when the connection is meaningful and the goal is realistic and achievable. Given a shared vision, leadership delivers a clear direction forward with anticipated difficulties and challenges communicated up-front. People will more readily accept short-term pain in return for longer-term benefit if it’s expected. However, without follow-ups that facilitate engagement and provide encouragement, any demonstration of leadership is just empty posturing.
