Chapter 1: Understanding Leadership

In today's landscape, various leadership models abound. Are you a genuine leader or merely an imitation? Have you grasped the essence of true leadership growth?

According to the VIA Institute on Character, "social intelligence" encompasses the ability to recognize one's own motives and emotions, as well as those of others. It involves understanding how to navigate various social contexts and what drives people's actions. Interestingly, my own assessment revealed that social intelligence ranks lowest among my 24 character strengths. While this places it in the "lesser strength" category, I don't find it alarming—it's simply not one of my standout traits.

Numerous frameworks and classifications exist regarding leadership styles. After attending a recent professional development session, I walked away with a newfound leadership style, identified strengths, a conflict resolution strategy, and a novel framework that had previously seemed elusive, reserved for those with a specific mindset from a commercial consulting firm. While I gained valuable insights from this experience and appreciated my organization’s commitment to my growth, I remain cautious about overly prescriptive leadership formulas, as they might lead to imitation rather than authenticity.

Reflecting on my lower social intelligence, I recognize that there are times when I struggle in social settings. I won't shy away from admitting that I'm often like a leaf, swaying with the breeze. When I completed the VIA strengths survey, a comment about my lack of empathy weighed heavily on me. I often wonder how different my results would have been had someone acknowledged my honesty instead. Perhaps I would have realized that I am indeed attuned to others' feelings. How can any leadership formula account for such subjective influences?

Another point to consider is that VIA identifies humor as one of my key strengths, despite the possibility that others might disagree. There are moments when my self-perception doesn’t align with how others view me. Currently, I can imagine people questioning why I consider humor a strength while I appear less than jovial. Will anyone express this to me? Or will I continue to believe I’m humorous, while those around me think otherwise? When perceived leadership strengths diverge from reality, confusion can arise.

I previously mentioned "replica leadership." To me, this concept represents a style of leadership built from neatly arranged components—one that appears polished but lacks authenticity. Such leadership operates within strict confines, fragile and unable to withstand pressure. While reflection and self-awareness are undoubtedly valuable, it is decisive action that defines a leader, and it is confidence and competence that elevate a leader to greatness. Replicas may look nice on display, but they remain static, confined to their safe spaces.

The structured leadership tools I acquired from professional development can indeed facilitate growth and transformation. If I engage in discussions about my strengths and areas for improvement over the next few months—using shared language, practicing new skills, taking risks, learning from setbacks, and evaluating my progress—I believe I will evolve as a leader. I aspire for my colleagues and me to leverage our newfound awareness to address challenging topics, encourage ongoing learning, and foster deeper connections.

However, if we fail to act, much of what we learned may fade into the background of our busy lives. Leadership development is a continuous cycle of observation, practice, feedback, and reflection. It requires a structured approach, meaningful evaluations, and ambitious expectations.

Leaders are cultivated through experience—through the grit of real-life challenges and the joy of triumphing over adversity. My aspiration for those who aim to lead is to remain hungry—not just for personal gain. While it's true that great leaders exude confidence and competence, the ultimate goal should not be to outshine others by amassing power and wealth.

Exceptional leaders strive to instill confidence and competence in others. They uplift introverted individuals like me, making us feel empowered. Teams that are confident and competent drive results, creating a contagious synergy that fosters growth. Leadership transcends formulas; leaders are not mere automatons. Different situations call for varied approaches—sometimes a shepherd, other times a captain. When crises arise, it matters less what your default leadership style is; what truly counts is your ability to navigate through the chaos while uplifting those around you.

The first video, "If You're Looking For a Formula to Succeed, Start Here | John Maxwell," emphasizes the importance of finding one’s unique path to leadership and success rather than relying solely on established formulas.

Chapter 2: The Role of Authenticity in Leadership

The second video, "98 | Leadership Formula | The New Leadership Principles," challenges conventional wisdom about leadership frameworks and advocates for a more personalized approach to leadership development.