The Dimensions Of Leadership

In chapter twelve of the leaders guide denning goes over some very important dimensions of leadership. Every leader needs to have a certain guide line which they follow to be successful, there are core values which need to be upheld every time someone takes on the role of a leader. Being a leader is a big responsibility, as a leader you are in charge of a team of individuals that look up to you to make the right decisions which will guide the team to success. In chapter 12 there were three particular dimensions which I know I will use in the future and reflect on these techniques to guide me on the right path to being a better leader. In my opinion the three keys to being a leader are connecting with your group, being free of your ego and being a leader which has feeling.

Leadership that connects is supplied by a leader which is interactive, a leader that connects has their own agenda but they are also interested in seeking the opinions of others. A leader that can connect with their group on different levels has many advantages; once a leader is connecting with their team they can learn from their view points. Seeing solutions for different obstacles through the eyes of all of your team members can have a very successful effect on a project and on the moral as a group in general. When a leader is able to connect in an effective way they are also able to connect to an audience and get their point across. Being able to get your point across and effectively convey a message to your audience is what being a leader is about.

Leader ship that is free of ego, this is a leader which is trying to make a difference in the team. This type of leader is not looking for a return, better yet their goal is to give to the team and make things run as smooth as possible. A leader who is not concerned with their ego is even willing to suffer through loss or humiliation to attain the goal of the team, this is a selfless person who tries to make everything around them better. As Denning states we have seen leaders like this in the past who have accomplished great things; leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela would be amongst this list of ego free leadership.

Our third dimension and I believe the most important dimension which is leadership that has feeling. We have all been moved by leaders who believe in their cause, this is important as a leader because a leader must be able to motivate an audience. I believe that there are many leaders that complete their job without passion, they finish their task because they have to not because they want to. Many times people are driven to finish a task because they are driven by a paycheck; I feel that this type of leader does not put in any feeling to what they are doing. A leader that completes task by pouring their heart and soul into a project is a leader which can create something special. These types of leaders are not motivated by money, what pushes these types of leaders is the fact that they know they are working towards something that might make a difference.

The three dimensions of leadership which I mentioned above are in my opinion are some of the core characteristics of great leaders. Leaders that have made a difference in this world know how to connect to an audience, they are free of their egos and they lead with feeling. I think that if I incorporate these three dimensions into my own leadership skills I can someday make a difference in the way things are done. Every leader who cares about their team and their work wants to make an impact. If I can add some of these leadership dimensions to my vast repertoire of leadership skills than I think I can be a great leader someday.