Function of leadership vs. style of leadership

Quoting from the book, Beyond Entrepreneurship:

Effective corporate leadership consists of two parts: leadership function and leadership style.

The function of leadership – the number-one responsibility of a leader – is to catalyze a clear and shared vision for the company and to secure commitment of and vigorous pursuit of that vision. This is a universal requirement of leadership, and no matter what your style, you must perform this function.

In contrast, the style of leadership is unique to each individual. There are seven elements of leadership style: authenticity, decisiveness, focus, personal touch, hard/soft people skills, communication, and an “ever forward” mentality.

This breakdown of leadership really resonates with me. I think many times leaders (including myself) can get lost in the importance of the style of their leadership, and focus less on the true function of what leadership entails. At Dragon Army I work hard at “crystalizing a shared vision for the company…and the vigorous pursuit of that vision” through our Vision, Tenets, and Values (VTV).

Being a great leader is a journey. I certainly don’t feel like I’m a great leader yet, which is why I am constantly reading and studying the practice of leadership in order to consistently improve.