{"id":14102,"date":"2012-09-06T16:10:27","date_gmt":"2012-09-06T23:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=14102"},"modified":"2012-09-13T11:46:09","modified_gmt":"2012-09-13T18:46:09","slug":"how-to-show-leadership-when-you-dont-have-reporting-responsibilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/how-to-show-leadership-when-you-dont-have-reporting-responsibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"How to show Leadership when you don\u2019t have reporting responsibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A lot of people equate leadership to having managerial or supervisory responsibilities. In reality, a leader and a manager are very different. A manager copes with complexity and brings order and predictability to a situation, whereas a leader shows how to cope with rapid changes. This is not to say that a good manager cannot be a good leader, but it\u2019s just that management and leadership are two \u00a0different beasts. Quoting John P. Kotter \u2013 on a high level:<\/p>\n

- Management involves planning and budgeting. Leadership involves setting direction.
\n- Management involves organizing and staffing. Leadership involves aligning people.
\n- Management provides control and solves problems. Leadership provides motivation.<\/p>\n

In short, demonstrating leadership (or even practicing it ) does not require you to have people reporting to you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To demonstrate leadership you can show examples where you have embraced changes and motivated others to do the same in the global world, taken calculated risks to seize opportunities; set the right direction for your team helping them work more efficiently; created alignment among people.<\/p>\n

Currently, I am working with an applicant who has demonstrated excellent leadership skills throughout his career spanning six years as a financial consultant at a renowned Financial Services Business Unit in India. During his first \u00a0six \u00a0months, this bright candidate volunteered to take up a challenging project which no experienced manager was willing to take up due to the associated risks ( stringent operation time-window, no established model to emulate etc.). By accepting the challenge and making it a highly successful project, he demonstrated true leadership qualities of taking a calculated risks and setting a clear direction for people even though he held no reporting responsibilities .<\/p>\n

A successful <\/strong>applicant who I recently worked with and who has recently been accepted by the prestigious LBS <\/strong>in MiF program doesn\u2019t have people reporting to him but is still an outstanding leader. He has demonstrated his leadership skills by convincing others of his innovative ideas. He worked tirelessly to prove to the traditionally conservative Swiss bank that adopting modern technology will benefit their customers and bring new business to them. He then executed these ideas with a team on and this bank is reaping the benefits. ($$)<\/p>\n

Another applicant I have worked with for his INSEAD <\/strong>essays took up the challenge of planning & execution of a project to deliver textile goods at nearly twice the usual rate of production . He overcame the hurdles of communication, planning, cultural gap, shortage of time and team members\u2019 \u2018pessimism and motivated \u00a0them to work extra hours by adapting to their culture and observing fasts in the month of Ramadan. Thus, he achieved the target deadline successfully by showing leadership qualities of motivating people, showing cultural adaptability , and leading in crisis. Again \u2013 this guy did not have people reporting to him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leadership\u00a0 also is also about\u00a0 providing people\u00a0\u00a0 motivation through different ways :by\u00a0 recognizing and rewarding success,\u00a0 stirring in them\u00a0 a sense of belonging and self -esteem, training and mentoring them to balance long term and short term goals, and\u00a0 leading them\u00a0 in crisis. Thus, leaders show the qualities of charisma, initiative, decisiveness, discipline, empathy, supportiveness, and selflessness.<\/p>\n

Take Away<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that\u00a0 you have a better understanding of what\u00a0 leadership is, you can look back and look for times when you had demonstrated one or more<\/strong> (note you don\u2019t need to demonstrate all) of these qualities in your professional career. You may also look for instances in your personal life , if you have strong leadership experiences to share.<\/p>\n

How should you think about your leadership essay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Challenge : <\/strong>Think of a situation\u00a0 when you or your team faced a challenge. Then <\/strong>begin your story with that\u00a0 challenge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/p>\n