Leadership Defined
An introduction to leadership
Leadership is about achieving more by engaging people.
Neil Jurd OBE explains what leadership is, using the definition he explains in his best-selling ‘The Leadership Book’.
Neil discusses how leaders can achieve extraordinary results by engaging others intellectually and emotionally in pursuit of a clear and compelling purpose.
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What's this video about?
In this talk Neil Jurd explores the essential aspects of effective leadership. He emphasises that leadership at all levels can drive positive change, creating motivated and productive teams. Contrary to the common perception that leadership is complex, Neil states that anyone willing to put in the effort can be a leader.
Neil offers a simple definition: “Leaders achieve things far beyond what they could do alone, by engaging others intellectually and emotionally in pursuit of a clear and compelling purpose.” He breaks this down into three key components:
Firstly he explains that leaders accomplish far more with others than what they would achieve alone, highlighting that leaders create an impact when they choosing to lead by involving others. He references quotes from Mother Teresa and Ronald Reagan, which further emphasise this importance of involving other people as a leader.
Neil then describes the need to engage others intellectually and emotionally, quoting Field Marshall Slim when he said “Leadership is just plain you”. He explains effective engagement to be rooted in authentic personal connections rather than in authority.
Finally, he discusses pursuing a clear and compelling purpose. Neil states that a well-defined, compelling purpose fuels the team. He encourages leaders to devote significant consideration to defining and communicating this purpose to ensure it is both clear and motivating.
Neil concludes that effective leadership involves a few simple but powerful actions: working collaboratively, engaging others authentically, and maintaining a clear direction. He ends his talk encouraging leaders to reflect on how applying this information to the way they lead would visibly impact their teams.
