Studying Psychology is Essential for Successful Leadership

Leadership is an important role that directs an organization’s human capital and talents towards constant improvement and advancement for better gains; therefore, the role is critical for realizing organizational strategic objectives. Leadership is a process, a process through which, if established properly, the interaction and the relationship between the leader and the follower will not only be well-defined, but also cemented and maintained in such a way that it may stand the test of time in various situations. Leadership is both art and science. It is art, as it deals with human and humanity – for whom the arts of communication, persuasion, and influence amongst others are used; and it is science, because, in order to apply those arts successfully, one would need the science of Psychology, i.e., to know how the human mind and brain works, how and why they behave in a particular manner, how their personality is shaped, and how their mentality can be affected or influenced. It is due to the complexity of human being that Psychology is at the core of leadership. For you as a leader or leader to be, it is crucial to acquire some knowledge on Psychology as it has far-reaching benefits – from protecting self and the team from burnout, depression, anxiety, absenteeism – to upholding high performance, spirit of collaboration, and partnership – to managing conflict, interactional relations, and change – all are a few examples to consider. Leaders must have diverse skills and knowledge to manage today’s ever-changing landscape, and that includes principles of Psychology; therefore, supported by literature review, this paper provides a detailed study on why knowledge of Psychology is essential for successful leadership.