Leadership can be learned, and even “born leaders” must hone their skills for complete effectiveness. Everyone can lead, yet this can depend on their passion interest, and opportunity as to whether they will lead or follow. Even followers are better if they are leaders to themselves, and choose to commit to the cause of a shared vision with others as inspired by an effective leader.

Leadership draws on the precious personal energy that people reserve for themselves – energy that management can find difficult to tap. This energy manifests itself in commitment, initiative, risk taking and creativity as the person takes ownership of the enterprise or the task.

Kouzes and Posner identify 5 essential practices that characterize effective leaders.

• Model the way
• Inspire a shared vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable others to act
• Encourage the heart