How Is Leadership Both an Art and a Science

By Neha Jhunjhunwala, Head – Strategic Marketing & Special Projects, Times Professional Learning

Good leaders are few but leveraging skills from multiple fields might be the key in unlocking leadership potential among working professionals

Defined every bit the power to influence people to attain specific outcomes, leadership remains ane of the most complex and fascinating subjects of the 21st century. Despite the phenomenal progress globally in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence, it is essential to increment the 'leaders' quotient across senior-level positions in organisations, institutions and local bodies. It is likewise imperative to seek answers to why some individuals tin lead effortlessly while others struggle to succeed, leading to conclude whether is leadership an art or a scientific discipline?

For many, leadership is purely an art as it involves dealing with people equally there is a human element to it. Yet others believe it is a science because of the progress made in leadership-related studies in the field of psychology. We still don't have definite answers to these questions, because no one proficient leader is the same, whether it was Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, or Martin Luther Rex Jr – their actions depended on their unique socio-cultural contexts. But over the years, researchers, psychologists, neuroscientists, and real-world leaders have demonstrated that there are certain mutual personality traits that tend to testify upwardly across the board and may hold answers to whether leadership is more than of an art or a science.

People Direction

A big part of leadership deals with managing people. In the business concern context, nosotros often hear business heads talking loftily virtually how people are their near valued assets. Yet, the proverb "people quit bosses and non companies" continues to resonate among workers across the earth. This happens because all too often, the strongman type of leadership, which values instilling fright among employees, is thought to be effective. However, at that place is apparent enquiry to propose the opposite. Scientists who examined the encephalon's fear center, or what is known as the amygdala, observed that when it lights up, our pre-frontal cortex stops functioning efficiently. The pre-frontal cortex is the office of the brain that is responsible for executive functions such as proper judgment, good problem solving etc. Hence, leaders who induce fearfulness and anxiety amid their workers are doomed to fail. Instead, we need business leaders who uplift teams, focus on building worker competency, and create good for you work cultures that are free of fear and negativity.

Nifty leaders, whether in business or politics, don't commonly tell people what to do and where they should be, instead, they help everyone to piece of work together to reach a mutual destination, and they empower even those who might non exist the strongest assets in a team. Leaders who excel at people direction know that the essence of squad edifice lies in realising each fellow member's strengths, weaknesses and needs, and they piece of work around them to build a meliorate culture to enable success. Taking care of people is thus the strongest asset a good leader can accept.

Integrity

Being a good leader is often thought to be well-nigh doing whatever information technology takes to get the job washed. In this pursuit, leadership is dislocated with delivering skillful bottom-line fiscal numbers, beingness charismatic, having threatening authority, driving fearfulness, and manipulating employees to get work done, no matter what the cost. But, researchers who have studied leadership mention that swell leaders are judged by their characters, and they inspire others through integrity displayed in their actions and words. People who are highly engaged at the workplace describe their motivation from leaders who lead by example. Hence, standing upwards for what is correct, and existence kind, fair and unselfish, are a few of the practiced qualities that people are likely to value in their leaders.

Managing of Emotions

Scientists who study mirror neurons of the human brain—a sort of social media circuitry network that we have in common with primates—have observed that most human being beings are hard-wired to experience empathy. In a workplace, where large teams of people work in close quarters, leaders must be cognizant of emotions and sentiments, every bit both negative and positive feelings can permeate speedily through groups. Negative emotions of discouragement or low morale tin can spread similar wildfire among teams and hampers their motivation and productivity. Similarly, positive emotions of happiness and motivation tin also exist contagious and drive an energetic vibe amongst teams, creating positive outcomes for a company'due south overall reputation and profitability. Proficient leaders are thus effective managers of emotions because they know that low morale can have a ripple issue on every attribute of an organization, leading to all sorts of undesired outcomes such every bit high attrition rates, lower productivity, bad reputation and much more.

Nurturing Talent

Mentoring protégés is probably i of the most important responsibilities of expert leaders as it would translate in propelling talented personnel into leadership positions. To nurture the ambition and aspirations of young employees, leaders need not re-create a version of themselves, instead, they can provide employees and mentees with opportunities to get their ain person. Leaders must thus work to strike the right balance between providing employees with responsibleness and liberty to accomplish tasks on their ain, with the eventual goal of moulding the leaders of tomorrow.

Based on the attributes listed above and the findings of other eminent researchers in the field, there is a discernible sense that leadership embodies an intersection betwixt fine art and science. While there are definite strategies in place to sympathize leadership traits, each person will deploy them differently. Hence, our all-time bet is to cultivate leaders who can apply the best of both worlds and influence people for the edification of the gild.

In a fast evolving globe that is dependent on technology such equally AI to make a difference, humanistic qualities such as empathy, kindness, and integrity will be important as knowledge and technical power. Therefore, Times Professional person Learning offerings of executive education and leadership programmes are adult to offer the all-time-in-grade blend of theoretical and practical learning that allows professionals to understand and master in-need skills, build globe-course expertise, and be motivated to presume leadership positions in their respective careers.

Disclaimer: Content Produced by Times Professional Learning (TPL)

millsfortaryto93.blogspot.com

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/education/leadership-an-art-or-science/articleshow/89764138.cms

Share this post