From the time that we are children we see leadership in action. A gutsy young child decides that she will be the captain of the kickball game; she stands up proudly and takes control. There is a raw quality to her leading, alliances are made and alliances are broken. If her team wins, the cheers abound. If her team loses it may be the last time she picks the players. Though this is anecdotal and elementary it is perhaps one of the earliest examples that I saw of leadership. Some of those so-called leaders became bullies and some become the popular kids. One thing is certain, based on our experiences over time we begin to see ourselves in each of these 2 extremes. We learn traits of leadership that we carry with us into our careers. …show more content…
9). Don Clark states, “A boss tells others what to do, a leader shows that it can be done” (pg. 9). Throughout the article there is an underlying theme about the differences between managers and leaders, nothing drives that theme home louder than getting in there and showing the team that not only can it be done, but that you can get it done with them. The final element that I identified is to “Encourage the Heart” (pg. 9). I have worked with leaders who do the opposite; they take the glory and share the pain. The team almost always falls apart. Sometimes being a leader has limited external rewards but personal satisfaction.
As I began this class I switched into refining and reflection mode. I want to be able to refine some of my own raw leadership skills into something more cohesive and inspiring. And yet, I want to be able to reflect on how I have lead in the past and how I will lead going forward. The leadership self-assessment has helped me get a pulse on where I am, where I should be and what I need to do to get there. I learned that I may have the personality of a leader but there are some crucial processes I need to learn if I am going to be a consistently good leader. I work for a company that puts an emphasis on strength building. The approach that they follow is Strength Finders. I recently took a self-assessment called, Gallup’s Strength Finders Profile. My managers use the results of my
There are many qualities that come to mind when a person thinks of a good leader. It may not be an actual person that is pictured when term “leader” comes in casual conversation, but instead just a series of characteristics or experiences that might make a person fit to be in charge. Or rather instead there are some that see themselves when they think of authority and power, still even those that imagine what they could become if given the proper training. The emphasis society places on leadership is undoubtedly instilled within the minds of every child from a young age that are urged that having a sense of leadership is the only way to be successful. Despite this, only few are really fit for a position where
When we think of leadership, what comes to mind? Is it the bold, charismatic, and passionate person who takes the group on their back? Or is it really the more quiet and realistic leader who has a compromising attitude? Most people will think of a loud and passionate person who can grab the attention of an audience. But leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Leadership is defined by dictionary.com as the ability to guide or influence others to achieve a common goal. Although the term leader is used in our everyday lives, many people mistake it for close synonyms. Not all leaders have to be the boisterous, bold, and burly people that most people think of them to be. More often than not, a leader will be the commanding one in the group. But there
It is easy to presume that that person is in the position they are in because of money, connections or an extraordinary intellect. We may suppose that any adversity or problems that this type of person has encountered are on another level to those that we face. Perhaps we don't imagine that there were private obstacles to overcome, personality traits that needed adjustment or adaptation, that private insecurities or personal failings had to be surmounted. It is simplest to assume that the role of leadership was cut out for him/her alone. More often than not, one imagines that the "leader" in an individual emerges early on in life, apparent from an early age: a bright child with above average intelligence, active in all walks of life, successful in anything that he puts his/her hand to, popular with peers and admired by elders. But nothing is that simple.
Leadership is a personal skill that has to be developed and improved upon daily, just like an athlete works on his craft. We all come from different walks of life and that is often a factor in the way our leadership styles are shaped. Our differences of race, gender, religion, home environment, and lifestyle all have an effect on the way we are led growing up. It is a skill that is mastered over time, while never being perfected. Like anything else in life, leadership skills are often developed from who we are, where we come from and the people in our life who have taught us their knowledge.
I used to believe a leader was the person who was in the front of the room or the crowd, the one in the news, on the billboard and the one who is the most popular. A leader to me had to be the person with the most authority that was above everybody else like a teacher to a classroom or a chief is to cops. Being put into leadership positions taught me how wrong I had been. A leader can’t get nervous? I was nervous. A leader is always prepared and won’t wing anything. I have learned with my mistakes how important preparation is for social force. A leader is an authoritative role? Nope. Not at all. I don’t believe I’m any better than any of my peers or club member so I don’t see a reason to behave as though I am. Being a leader is being innovative, futuristic, individualistic, open and humble. Through these acquired taste, I have
Leadership is something that people are born with. It is an inherent charm and it doesn’t hide even if you want to hide it. There is a leader amongst us and he or she is the one that leads other people to great things by inspiring and motivating people to do good deeds. Leadership has been described as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. This way a leader can decide what work goes in and goes out. Good leaders in history have left a mark in walks of life. But great leaders, they’re different. Great leaders have the ability to make each and every individual re-think their life decisions and choices by
As a growing debate, the question at hand is whether great leaders are born with specific leadership traits, or if one can be taught certain traits over time. According to (Wikipedia.com) the approach of listing leadership qualities, often termed "trait theory of leadership", assumes certain traits or characteristics will tend to lead to effective leadership. I believe that leadership traits such as honest, competent, initiative, inspiring, hardworking, intelligent, and the ability to lead the masses, are some of the leadership traits one should possess. Within this paper, I will examine the overall concept of leadership traits, while observing the traits that were, or can be associated with successful leaders.
Growing up, my earliest memories of a 'leader' was the game in elementary school called 'follow the leader'. Every kid in the grade desired to be that one person, the one person to lead, even though it was short lived. It gave me the impression that to be a leader you have to be bold, be loud and be brave. However, many years passed, elementary school ended and that game ended as well. Along with my idea of the 'typical' stereotype of a leader.
Through my life I have always been encouraged to figure things out on my own and through trial and error, success or failure, I have always come to the conclusion that teamwork, positivity and, hardwork are the most important attributes to have in any situation or walk of life. I would make a great addition to the Lacrosse family, and I would always work to make the the university a better place for me and my peers. I have always been a positive and motivated individual in every aspect of my life. I have found that this positivity is extremely contagious and, it can help others not only just be happier in general but also perform better in school, work, or any other activity. This attitude is very helpful in adverse situations where having a positive outlook on them helps leads to the perseverance
My idea of leadership is being able to inspire others, motivate, set a vision, communicate, respect others, and of course, lead by example. A leader must have an honest understanding of who they are, what they know, and what they are capable of. To be a successful leader, you have to be able to convince your followers, not just yourself or your superiors, that you are worthy of being followed. In my opinion, this can build confidence in their followers to have faith in you, in order to be able to lead. I strongly believe that good leaders are made rather, and not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders are developed through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and
When I was younger, I thought leadership was authority bestowed to people in positions of power because of their rank. To me, leadership was a word that evoked the image of a staunch and authoritarian CEO or military general inspiring large crowds with rousing speeches. Leaders were a special group of people who wielded the power of leadership with the grace and finesse to make all others stand in awe. However, as I became older and more established in my career, I saw that leadership was not always given to a person because of their rank. I saw that some leaders work hard to reach the higher levels of leadership by learning and adapting themselves rather than trying to change their environment. I learned that although positions provide
I believe organisational skills are essential in being prompt in managing tasks and time efficiently. I love communicating with many students across the year level and by doing this I am able to interact and share knowledge on what I know about various issues affecting our society. My commitment and experience has enabled me to develop my leadership skills, team work and being a role model for my peers. I am very loving and caring and I really believe that even a small step in protecting issues such as the environment and poverty will do so much benefit in the future. I am committed to put my effort in anything we do as part of this committee and assist in working with many different network of schools around Melbourne. I am really enthusiastic
Webster’s Dictionary defines leadership as “the action of leading a group of people or an organization”. That definition does the word no justice as leadership can look like a great many things to different people, and there are equally as many ways to lead. A leader can lead through fear or respect, by word or by action. Numerous leaders have influenced my career and leadership style to this point. Most notably, the Chief of my first Patrol Boat was one of the biggest influences I have experienced in my career. He conveyed confidence, empowered his people, and exuded the charisma to inspire people to want to be better, if nothing else, to not disappoint him. Simultaneously, he demonstrated the ability to hold people accountable, and
When practicing humility in a position of leadership, it is often believed that your skills and talents go unnoticed, that you are underestimated, or that you may end up as a follower. True humility is not looking down on yourself or thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less. A humble leader views themself as a constant learner, rather than someone who thinks they knows it all. They will give other people credit, admit their wrongdoings, and actively listen to feedback. I perceive a humble person to be one who is confident and knowledgeable about their own skills, talents and strengths while maintaining a modest attitude.
Throughout the last few weeks, we’ve discussed numerous ideas and concepts depicting various leadership qualities, and how they apply to a work center or organization. A good leader will be able to effectively use interchangeable combinations of these concepts. As NCOs we strive to be good leaders; authentic and honest leadership is hard to come by. We need to look at ourselves, put ego aside, and take the time to actively work on improving weaknesses. My vision statement is, “To create and promote good, sustainable leadership for our future, and strive to grow airman with the same integrity and followership traits emitted by those before them.” In order to do this, you must truly know yourself. It’s imperative that you are aware of your values, understand your tendencies and favorable leadership styles. I’ve learned that I favor MBE-A, prefer the creator role, and that I fit in the mildly adaptive category. Taking tests such as the ones we did in class will help identify strengths and weaknesses. No test will ever truly pinpoint the person you are, they are tools to point you in the right direction; although some are remarkably accurate. Understanding these roles will allow me to adapt to situations and alter my approach when necessary. Knowing yourself is the baseline to being an effective leader. It will open your eyes and allow you to take charge of your physical, emotional, spiritual and social health. You must start with yourself if you want to positively