1. Leadership is a vital role in any organization. It involves defining the direction of a team and communicating it to people, motivating, inspiring and empowering them to contribute to achieving organizational success. Furthermore, leadership requires being strategically focused and applying behavioural techniques to build commitment and attain the best work from your people. Leadership involves establishing a clear vision, sharing the knowledge
and methods
to realize that vision, coordinating the conflicting interests
of all members
and stakeholders.
2. Leaders are really different. I would like to share five leadership character traits that set leaders apart:
• Hunger for wisdom: Leaders are learners and they look at same things differently. They have the attitude of constant learning, which keeps them ahead of others and reason behind their success. Most leaders are committed to a lifestyle of lifelong learning.
• Expect the best: Leaders always begins with a picture of the future. They expect the best, and articulate a better tomorrow, that’s why anyone would want to follow them.
• Accept responsibility: The best leaders believe in themselves and they don’t blame others. He/she is willing to accept the outcome and consequences of their actions rather than holding an innocent follow accountable.
• Respond with courage: Courage is where intention moves into action. Typically, every decision a leader makes requires some level of courage. I would like to mention
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell
“At times of change or dealing with uncertainty or in a crisis-- that is when the best leader will shine” (Ellis, 2016). A leader who can work effectively in a complicated, unpredictable situation is a competent leader and he tirelessly works to improve his capabilities (Ledlow & Coppola, 2010). All great leaders are known for communicating effectively what they want to achieve. They are visionaries who have the ability to lead others toward a shared goal (Gibson & Weber, 2015).
"The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind himself in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.” – Walter Lippmann
"Leaders are people who are able to express themselves fully they know who they are, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how to fully deploy their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. They also know what they want, why they want it, and how to communicate what they want to others in order to gain their cooperation and support. Finally they know how to achieve their goals" (Ingram, 2004).
A leader should not run away from responsibility.
The cares for lives, continuation of other's future, and the hope of a more successful generation are rarely the thoughts of anyone. Most individuals are self-centered, careless of others, and seek personal benefit. Although these unfortunate qualities make up the majority of the society that we live in, there are few individuals that make up what we call good leaders. Someone who has a thorough, objective, and complete view of a situation are a good leader. A good leader is also a person who considers and cares for other people's well being. Along with these qualities, a leader never allows any emotion or fears
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more & become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams once said “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, and become more, you are a leader.”
I think a leader is a person who can stand up for what they believe in. They don’t give up. If someone or something discourages they they will take a stand. Or if his/her friends, acquaintances, or anyone in general, they will take a stand in what they believe in. They don’t call people names or betray them behind their backs, they try to stop that. Leaders try their best. They believe everyone can do anything if they at least try. When a leader gets a chance to do good, they will.
Leaders tend to think about” Why.” and not “How.” this is an important lesson I learned from reading the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Good leaders are focused, they care for the total well-being of their group, and make decisions based on the group. As well as, taking charge when no one else wants too or can. The novel shows these qualities throughout its chapters with one of its main characters, Ralph.
Leadership is viewed as a form of art that help motivate a group to reach a goal and/or to be successful in a work environment. Leadership is important in a workplace to give employers a common to accomplish in a timely manner. It push them to be more successful and it motivate other to follow the same footsteps. This help employers to gain more valuable skills for the future.
Philip (2008) has listed 7 common traits in the characteristic of leadership. The characteristics are empathy, consistency, honesty, direction, communication, flexibility and conviction.
The leader that I am today is confident but still inexperienced. I still have plenty to learn in order to be the leader I want to be in the future. I want to be a leader who is always striving for perfection and always keeping an open mind to the possibility of change and new leadership techniques. Nahavandi states (2006), despite our knowledge, there is also much we still do not know. Leadership as we traditionally know it—command and control—does not address the rapid social, cultural, and organizational changes that are occurring globally (Nahavandi, 2006). This is why we need to be always vigilant and open minded to the new theories that are always being introduced in this global society. According to Nahavandi (2006), future leaders must
Countless times leaders operate on instinct that has grown from what they have seen in the past. What leaders see others do sets the stage for what they may do in the future. A leader of sound character will exhibit that character at all times.” (p. 7-13)
Once we decide we have to do something, we can go miles ahead. - Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India)