What is the point of leadership? A good question, and one which is maybe not asked too often. Maybe not often enough. Why do we lead?
On one level the answer might seem obvious – we lead to increase the effectiveness and success of our organisation. I suppose that is a given. Yet surely management could do that. Surely making sure everyone does their job properly, with a proper management structure, could do just that. So what is it that sets leadership apart as an activity.
In my (as yet uneducated) mind, it seems to be about people, and the importance that is placed on the development of those peoples’ aspirations, goals and dreams. If I manage, I care only that the job gets done. If I lead, I care how the job gets done, and I care about the impact on the people doing it. In education, that is every member of staff, and every pupil.
Of course, and this is a question for another day, does that mean that one is always better than another.
