Leadership is a hot topic. The interest that organisations have in it seems to grow year-on-year. Some say that that’s because there’s now a new generation of leaders. No doubt, that is a contributing factor. By itself, however, it can’t explain the sudden increase. There has to be more to it than new blood.

The real problem is that those who are supposed to be leading are failing to do so. Oh sure, they believe that they’re leading, however when they turn around, they are surprised to find that no one is there. It’s only then that they begin to wonder how long it’s been since their retinue left.

Leadership is measured by the extent to which people follow someone else because they want to. That last phrase is critical. People have to want to follow you. If they don’t do so out of choice, then you’re not leading. It’s as simple as that. And what has happened over the years is that as people have become savvier in their organisations, they’ve come to realise this. So that means that if you want to be followed, then you have to lead.

There’s an old saying: What goes around; comes around. If you keep your clothes long enough, then that style will come back into fashion and, providing you’ve kept yourself in good condition for your year, then you’ll only need to remove the moth balls, dust off the collars, and hey presto, you have a complete new wardrobe.

The same thing is true of “new” ideas concerning leadership. The same ones have been around since time immemorial. Each iteration amounts to what was researched, published and taught the last time and the time before that. It’s just that on this occasion it’s called something else – something that fits the terminology of the day; something that makes it sound new.

One of the primary reasons why you don’t recognise these “new” ideas for what they are is that you’re hoping that this one – the one you’ve just come across – really is new. You’re assuming that it is what it claims to be. The truth of the matter, however, is that if you, those who have gone before you and your successors were to listen to and put into practice all that you’ve already been taught about leadership, then there would no need to read articles like this one or to buy books on the topic.

There’s a very good reason, however, why this hasn’t happened: History has taught us that history teaches us nothing; and so rather than learning anything from “lessons learned” you, like nearly everyone else, have discarded what you have “learned” for something which appears to be more effective.

The result from all this is that the number of theories that scholars and management consultants will create in the coming years about leadership will increase. You’ll have more options on how to do exactly the same thing this year, than you did last year.

So, for the record, here’s how to be an effective leader: Lead. Lead. Give those that you want to lead a very good reason to follow you. If you can do that, then you won’t have to worry about it ever again.