LEADERSHIP OBSERVATIONS
TO BE A LEADER
INTRODUCTION: A leader is defined as ‘a person that holds a dominant or superior position within its field, and is able exercise a high degree of control or influence over others’. But how does one establish the dominance or the influence over others? There are numerous quotes and advice about the attributes of a leader – ‘a leader is one who demonstrates what’s possible’(M. Yarnell); ‘a true leader is someone is humble enough to admit their own mistakes’, ‘leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way’(J. C. Maxwell). But the exact make-up of a leader has yet to be established, giving insight into the innate complexity of such an individual. Having spent a few months observing and studying various leaders and reading books specific to the topic, I have compiled a list of traits most commonly stated to set the leaders apart from the managers, traits I intend to make my own.
1. HAVE A VISION “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality” – Warren Bennis Widely regarded as the pioneer of leadership studies, Warren Bennis believes that leaders transform a vision into reality. Yet how does one do that unless one has a vision? Simple answer – one doesn’t. A vision may be as lofty as world peace, or as modest as monetary gains. What is important is having a goal to be attained; it is what separates the leaders from the followers. Leaders have a big picture in mind, something they wish to attain and must always
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 can be defined as the ability of a company 's management to make sound decisions and inspire others to perform well (Investopedia, 2014). From the beginning of time, in the middle of all the major changes and historical events there where effective and motivated leaders having a wide sphere of influence and inspiring other groups of people to be creative and efficient. A leader is defined as a person or thing that holds a dominant or superior position within its field, and is able to exercise a high degree of control or influence over others (businessdictionary,2014).Leaders have always played a major role in the evolution of technology as well as in forming the very lifestyle of today’s society. Effective leaders are able to set and achieve challenging goals, to take swift and decisive action even in difficult situations, to outperform their competition, to take calculated risks and to persevere in the face of
"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).
Leadership is multidimensional. There is no straightforward way to describe what a leader is or explain who makes a great leader. The description will be shaped by the purpose of the work being done and the followers one achieves. Dye (2010) states that leadership is a “living phenomenon” (p. 14) and supports the need to provide personalization to the leadership style. There is much discussion on the development of a leader. Some believe that you are a natural born leader who fine-tunes those skills through “persistence and perseverance of failures and successes” (Blanken, 2013, para. 5). Others, like Blanken (2013), feel that exposures early in life begin the development of leadership traits, and “education, jobs, and life experiences then shape the leader’s philosophy and psychology” (para. 7). A dominant style might be apparent in a leader; however, the adaptability in leadership approaches allows the leader to be focused on
Leaders need to have an objective their professional goal and possess the skills and education to help their
Throughout time the question of “ Are leaders born or made?” continues to be debated. This question has been part of several myths that try to explain what makes a person a leader. According to the trait approach theory, it sets a benchmark for what certain traits an individual must possess in order to make them a leader. Before leadership traits were considered innate. However, as time has progressed research has indicated that situations differentiate leaders from non-leaders. Therefore, an individual does not possess certain traits, rather it is the relationship between the person and its society that make him/her leader. All leaders must have a set of skills that help them lead subordinates to reach an overall vision. A vision must originate from both the leader and its followers, and it is the leader's job to articulate the vision. Furthermore, leaders demonstrate the capacity to lead their followers and
Leaders, worldwide are judged by their ability to conduct themselves appropriately as well as manage a team. A leader with vision and passion can positively influence persons by injecting enthusiasm and energy. “Today leaders are expected to guide, motivate,
Throughout my short life, I have come to realize that a leader does not necessarily, although they may, maintain a defined position of leadership. A leader is one who will rise to the challenge even when the odds in opposition. A leader will tackle any barrier that stands in the way of the goal. A leader is willing to be hated and face criticism for doing what is right. Leaders come in all different forms, but a leader is the one who is always willing to make the difficult decisions.
Imagine you’re going on a hike through the woods, and after an hour or two you’re ready to head back, but as you look around at all your friends you realize no one knows how to get back. Being a leader means coming forward and taking charge, and figuring out the safest and fastest way to get you and your friends back home to safety. Many leaders have many different behaviors and ways that they lead. Many times my friends turn to me to make decisions about what we will do, where we will go, or simply where we will eat. My actions toward the situation define my leadership skills.
The literal definition of a leader is “the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country” but to others, it can mean so much more than that, they don't just lead a country, they protect their people and do everything in their power to make things better for them. Examples of leaders are King Arthur, Martin Luther King Jr., Pope Francis, Nelson Mandela and etc. Max Weber discusses three things that a leader should have and those things are: Rational grounds, Traditional grounds, and Charismatic grounds. There are many people who exhibit all of these things that make them a great leader, but a good example of a leader who possesses all of these things is Gilgamesh, the King of
By definition, leadership is the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group. But can we really sum up “leadership” in a single sentence? Recently, an article was run in Business News Daily (2015) that listed 30 ways to define leadership. In those 30, there were many quotes by CEOs, COOs, Founders, and company Presidents. Common attributes like “behavior”, “ability”, “vision”, and “followership” were mentioned. So it goes without saying that if these prominent individuals can figure it out, why can’t those below them? Thankfully, most do, and some will even rise to the top like those previously mentioned. The key point to all of this though is that it takes more than just one characteristic to make a leader. Throughout this piece, I’d like to explore the aspects that make up a Leader, how I fit the role of a leader, and what I’ve learned throughout this course in leadership.
Many people in life wish to be a leader – someone who others can follow and who others
In order for a leader to be a leader he/she must begin with the assumption that you are the one who matters most. As a leader you have to possess that level of confidence in yourself that you are capable of leading yourself “before you can lead others”. And when you develop this belief then you are better able of affirmative influence “on others”.
It is said that staff will see their managers as leaders, and role models that they want to emulate, if they have these traits:
For decade’s individuals, companies, and organizations have spent an unprecedented amount of money on researching, molding, modeling and working to define what a leader is and what characteristics make successful leaders. Despite all the research, there is not a quick answer or even full agreement as to what makes an individual an effective leader. The definition of a leader is “someone who can influence others and who has managerial authority.” (Robbins, Decenzo, Coulter, 2015. P.370)