Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?

Goffee, R., Jones, G. (2000). “Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?”, Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2000/09/why-should-anyone-be-led-by-you

Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones stated that leaders need vision, energy, authority and strategic direction, additionally, they need 4 other qualities to be an inspirational leader.

1. Reveal Your Weakness

It shows leaders who are aware of and accept his weakness. Showing your weaknesses illustrates that leaders also are human, they are not perfect. This brings some benefits such as establishing collaborate atmosphere, building solidarity between followers and leaders, valuable protection, picking a weakness that can in some ways be considered a strength. Sharing imperfection with followers, signal that followers are needed; otherwise, leaders can be seen as perfect people who can handle everything alone. However, selectiveness is a very important point, some weaknesses can show leader miserable.

2. Become a Sensor

Becoming a sensor means collecting and interpreting soft data. Being sensor is another quality of an inspirational leader, it provides to great sensors, highly accomplished in detecting shifts in climate and ambiance, and easily gauge unexpressed feeling. There is some danger to get precaution because leader risks losing their followers by making a judgment. Therefore sensing capability must always be framed by reality testing.

3. Practice Tough Empathy

It means giving people what they need, not what they want. It brings three important beneficial points to be an inspirational leader. Firstly, it balances respect for the individual and for the task at hand; secondly, the benefit of impelling leaders to the risks; lastly leaders show that they are doing more than just playing. These are significant because they can lead to the increased commitment of others.

4. Dare to Be Different

Last quality of inspirational leaders is that they capitalize on what’s unique about themselves. Even as they are drawing their followers close to them, inspirational leaders signal their separateness such as imagination, loyalty, expertise, even a handshake. These leaders use separateness to motivate others to perform well. It has also some danger, too much focusing on separateness can cause to lose contact with followers.