How to Show Leadership [6 Ways]

Leadership

May 5

There's no universal definition of leadership. McKinsey says it's a set of behaviors and mindsets that direct people to work together, while Steve Jobs pointed out innovation as the differentiator between a leader and a follower. If you ask Bill Gates, he'll say leadership means empowering others.

John F. Kennedy says learning is indispensable in leadership, whereas Donald McGannon calls leadership an action rather than a position. We could go on, but you get the point.

Leadership, in its essence, isn't one thing. It's a pattern of choices, sometimes bold, sometimes subtle, that signal to others: this is a direction worth following. Although the actual definition of leadership may differ across individuals and cultures, the crux is still rooted in the ability to guide and inspire others toward a common goal or mission.

Below, we use this core concept to explain how to show leadership.

6 Ways to Show Leadership

Regardless of your role or the scope of work, here are some ways to show leadership in your capacity.

1. Lead With Vision, Not Just Tasks

Anyone can manage a to-do list. Leaders create clarity around the why behind the work and paint a compelling picture of the future so that others can see themselves in it.

How do you put this into practice, though? Don't just assign responsibilities to your team. Instead, explain how every role contributes to a larger purpose. Speak out outcomes and not just operations.

Sataya Nadella did this wonderfully in his role at Microsoft. He shifted the company's culture from know-it-all to learn-it-all. Nadella made the growth mindset the stepping stone for success, immersing it in everything from the company's executives speeches to its recruitment processes.

As a result, he was able to lead his company toward a culture of constant learning, which is just what a tech giant needs in a rapidly advancing world.

2. Listen, Listen, and Listen

There's a common misconception that leadership is a monologue. However, it's more of a practice of deep and active listening, where you engage in a dialogue with your team members and seek out their perspectives. Harvard Business Review also regards listening as one of the four major skills leaders should master.

Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said that a genuine leader doesn't search for consensus but molds it. Look at what he achieved with this approach. He listened deeply to the members of his community and leveraged their ideas and perspectives to create a unified vision and a powerful movement for change.

3. Take a People-First Approach

At the heart of leadership is one simple truth: people follow people, not positions. It's not titles that inspire trust but the person behind the title.

People remember how you made them feel far longer than they remember what you said, so effective leadership involves centering your strategy around people and not just policies or procedures. In conversation with the Wharton School of Business, General Electric shares that this people-first approach is what makes their leadership development system so successful.

Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO, also emulated this approach. She wrote letters to her executives' parents to express her gratitude and let them know what their children were doing at the company. Her humanistic approach to leadership not only increased employee workplace satisfaction but also got her an in-house approval rating of 75% from 1,800 anonymous employee reviews.

4. Be Inclusive of Everyone

Too often, organizations rely on the same few voices in every meeting and every decision. In many cases, certain demographics are overrepresented, while others may feel excluded or unheard. However, real innovation happens when diverse perspectives collide.

When a quiet person who is also in the minority in the organization feels safe enough to speak up, that's when you know you've made it as a leader. Don't wait for people to claim space. Instead, invite them into it by rotating who leads meetings and deliberately asking for input from underrepresented voices.

Rosalind Brewer, former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance and one of the only two Black women leading a Fortune 500 company at that time, has long advocated for structural inclusion. At Sam's Club, she made supplier diversity a measurable goal and shifted internal leadership development to reflect the communities the company served. Her results spoke for themselves: smarter strategies and sustained growth.

5. Model the Behavior You Expect

If all the historical leaders that you know of didn't follow what they preached, would they be as well-remembered or esteemed today? No.

People follow your example, and leaders who demonstrate accountability and ethical behavior build trust. It could be something as simple as showing up on time. If you want your employees to be punctual, it only makes sense for you to be on time, too.

As a leader, everything you do eventually becomes a cultural norm. So, your actions and decisions should always be based on the standards you want to set for your team.

An example of this comes from Angela Merkel. During her time as German Chancellor, she was known for her modesty and discipline. She refused luxury perks and insisted on living in her old apartment. The consistency between values and action won her respect across political lines.

Pew Research Center also found that Merkel enjoyed more confidence from the global public compared to other top leaders like Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Nicholas Sarkozy, and Emmanuel Macron. Plus, she received high confidence ratings from Germans during her tenure.

6. Stay Adaptable

Whether you're in politics or the corporate world, the environment is always changing. Being rigid in the face of new data or feedback is a liability rather than a strength. So, it's imperative that you embrace a learning mindset and adapt to new circumstances.

A contrasting view of this comes from Nokia and Encyclopaedia Britannica. The former resisted adapting to smartphones and eventually lost its market share, while the latter shifted from print to online publications and is still relevant due to its timely adaptability. Leaders in both organizations were behind this decline and success.

Conclusion

To sum up, leadership is a strategic blend of leading, empowering, inspiring, and listening to others. When you possess these qualities, you not only guide your followers toward a common goal but also create a progress-centric culture that results in the success and sustainability of your organization.

Sources:

Sheri Jacobs https://sherijacobs.com