What Makes Up A Leader? Part 1 - ETCSINES
This write-up is a platform created to discuss our topic for the week. Let examine What makes up a leader?My approach towards answering this question will be primarily as a first step to limit this article to only a part of what leadership entails. The reach and the depth of leadership has been explored and traversed by a lot of notable and qualified people, i would at best scratch the surface and also play my part in the development of this
concept.
Leadership, Leader and Management are concepts that have being used interchangeably and sometimes confusingly. However there is no doubt that at all times and for all purposesthat it is still talking about leadership.
Asimple definition is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. This leadership definition captures the essentials of being able to inspire others and being prepared to do so. Effective leadership is based upon ideas (whether original or borrowed), but won't happen unless those ideas can be communicated to others in a way that engages them enough to act as the leader wants them to act.
Put even more simply, the leader is the inspiration and director of the action.He or she is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills that makes others want to follow his or her direction. To be effective, a leader certainly has to manage the resources at his or her disposal. But leadership also involves communicating, inspiring and supervising - just to name three of the primary skills a leader hasto have to be successful.
Now I ask the question; Is a Leader Born or Made? While there are people who seem to be naturally endowed with more leadership abilities than others, people can learn to become leaders by improving particular skills. For me improvement of skills has to be through contact with additional and positive information which gives the leader an edge or leverage. e.g. reading of books, listening to audio materials and watching inspirational and educational video clips. Leadership is a winning combination of personal traits and the ability to think and act as a leader,to be a person who directs the activities of others for the good of all. Anyone can be a leader..." History is full of people who, while having no previous leadership experience, have stepped to the fore in crisis situations and persuaded others to follow their suggested course of action. The best estimates offered by research are that leadership is about one-third born and two-thirds made, although having inborn qualities such as being assertive, extroverted, empathic and having the degree of social intelligence that allows a person to accurately size up social situations and understand social processes does make it easier to learn how to be a good leader.
Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John CMaxwell defines leadership, “Aleader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Irrespective of how you define a leader,he or she can prove to be a difference maker between success and failure.
WATCH OUT FOR PART 2 THIS EVENING!!!
Writer: Tola Arawomo
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