A633.1.2.RB_DellElceCamila

A633.1.2.RB – Leadership Gap

            While evaluating my attitudes toward leaders, I realized that they have changed over time. As a youth, I looked at leaders as individuals of authority and I was told that I must respect their authority regardless of how I felt about their ability to lead. Over time, my attitude towards leaders has evolved. I still look at them as authority figures, but for a different reason. They are people with authority empowered to make a difference. They are empowered to influence and impact change. Additionally, leaders are not considered to be above anybody despite their authority level; instead, they are a support system standing by your side. They are leaders who sometimes stay under their follower’s side to bear the weight needed to keep an organization afloat.

            Taking a starting point with those in authority or leadership positions as held by my grandparents, parents, self and younger generations views regarding leadership; attitudes continue to evolve. Evolution and the perspective of that evolution can vary depending on your role and the responsibilities in your family or your organization. There is not one perspective that prevails. What is apparent is that the access to knowledge and the access to technology have influenced the way leaders lead in a global environment. The reason I believe this has occurred is because, priorities have shifted over time, and today we are in the look out for compassionate, authentic leaders capable of standing the high demands of organizational changes and remain approachable to those around them.

            Without a doubt, the existence of a gap between the qualities of leadership is real. This gap in the quality of leadership is attributed to a lack of emphasis in creating a leadership environment that considers the global environment. As much of the literature suggest, we are increasingly moving into a global environment. With that movement, it is important that we consider a new way of thinking. The leadership skills and techniques used in the prior centuries leading up to the twenty-first century may not be effective today. To do this effectively leaders must learn to be adaptive, strategic, and aware of the changing global environment. We must consider how the world is evolving and adjust our perspective to fit the situation.