What is a Leader?

Ok we all know leaders, the enthusiastic go-getters, but there are actually many types of leaders. I have met many people and have traveled to many different places and have noticed this. There are many different elements that make up different types of leaders and they are all based on 5 factors:

The 5 Factors:
Impose Context
As a leader, your role is to cut out the clutter and impose context by concentrating people's attention on what matters most. This means providing a clear sense of direction; outlining what the key goals are; and distinguishing between the day-to-day actions that are important and those that are not.

Have Conviction
Leaders believe in what they are doing. It is this deep personal conviction and the ability to communicate it to others that vests them with their authority, attracts energy and mitigates uncertainty. Having a clear view of what you aim to achieve will help guide your decisions, inspire people to follow you, overcome obstacles, give you the courage to stand your ground and build confidence in your people.

Make and Take Risks
Leaders break rules - it's their job. As a leader you must make and take risks by understanding what opportunities exist, or can be created, and then converting them into results. Doing so allows you to: pre-empt otherwise hidden risks that might damage the enterprise; take advantage of windows for success in the present or future; create new, better ways of doing things; and develop yourself and others through exposure to new situations.

Generate Critical Mass
As a leader, you must generate critical mass by turning knowledge into action and influencing people in a way that: channels their energy into the appropriate activities; mobilizes them to work together in a coordinated way; creates a culture of human development; and makes things happen.

Challenge and Change
Leaders do not rest on their laurels. As a leader, you must challenge and change the status quo by experimenting and creating excitement in order to grab people's attention, energize your followers, take competitors by surprise and jolt your people out of accepting things as they are.

These 5 factors are vital to developing yourself as a leader. The are what distinguish you from everyone else in the group. Even if you already are a leader, work on these 5 factors and see where you need improvement.