Some people believe that leaders are born; others agree that leaders are made. The latter is commonly recognized and should be instilled in employees and workers, giving them the mindset that each person can be a leader in their own little way. After all, everything starts from individual leadership, which inspires a positive individual attitude and behavior towards work and the workplace, thereby improving organizational leadership. Leadership involves four factors that all need to work hand in hand with each other.

The Leader

Who is a leader— is she the CEO, the manager, or the department head? A position may give authority to accomplish specific tasks and instruct a particular set of employees, but this does not fully bestow the position of a leader. A leader is someone who influences other people, carries out an objective, and helps direct an organization for coherence and cohesiveness. A good leader is one who inspires her followers and develops trust and confidence.

Followers

Different leadership styles are required for different people. Leadership should depend on the needs of the employee; for instance, a fresh graduate should be given extra supervision and guidance, and an employee who needs motivation should be provided with it. Leaders should know each of their followers to be able to do provide their needs. A leadership and management training provides necessary skills and techniques in handling different types of followers.

Communication

Communication is vital in leadership, particularly two-way communication. This involves both conveying a message to one’s followers as well as listening to them. Communication is also largely non-verbal; a leader should set a good example through her actions. What is communicated, and what isn’t, can either make or break a leader’s relationship with her followers.

Situation

Leaders should be flexible and adaptable, working efficiently in whatever situation. This involves proper judgment and discernment, and seeing to it that all parties will achieve a win-win situation. A leader’s action should be based on what the situation calls for and what is appropriate for everyone. A good example is confronting an employee—in doing this, a leader has to do it at the perfect time and with the right flow of words, and this is where communication among followers comes to play.

These four factors of leadership are all intertwined and determine how effective a leader is. Leadership is a process that requires giving and taking, a huge amount of discernment and understanding, and flexibility. Leadership should be holistic, and this can be achieved through executive wellness.