Intentional leadership
Leadership is the art of understanding an entity's mission, and the ability to devise a shared vision that can spur a group of people to achieve the unseen. Beyond the known activities and accomplishments of an organization, the crafted vision remains a desire (and a hope) that fuels daily corporate and functional activities.
Although the title of leadership usually comes with the position, few people understand the weight and the responsibilities accompanying their job titles. Beyond the cozy offices and the respect from colleagues, leadership demands a deep understanding of the business, the corporate vision & mission, your functional objectives, and how your routine tasks fit into the bigger picture. It is also imperative to understand the existing and required skill-sets to achieve the corporate expectations. This understanding is the foundation of your real influence within the organization. It also defines the way you hire, groom, value, and treat people.
Intentional leadership is the leader's ability to wake-up everyday with a strong resolve to lead a positive and impactful life. This impact must target people first, both employees under your function, those in the peripherals and all functional stakeholders. For executive managers, this entails positive impact across the heads of functions, the board of directors, and key external stakeholders including customers, suppliers, banks and public officials. This level of leadership calls for deep self-awareness and your ability to value other people's contributions towards corporate goals. You always seem to carry-around a 'magic wand' that identifies people who possess the X-Factor that can make your function and company succeed.
Beyond their talent and charisma, intentional leaders love people. They understand that corporate results come through the aggregate efforts and genius of many people. And it is the authentic love (which can be felt by others) which leads to extraordinary performance and results.
With or without a title, we can all choose everyday to become 'intentional leaders'.