The leadership we should crave for

Kasesela · 2010-10-08T12:30:58+00:00

Qualities of Great Leaders One question asked endlessly in business, academic, political, and other circles is, Whats the difference between a manager and a leader? The most often quoted answer seems to be, The manager does things right - the leader does the right things. What exactly does that mean - doing the right thing? Does that mean history tells us whether the leader did the right thing? Can someone be a leader even if they end up on the losing side? A leader is one who knows that though the risk of failure may be great, they dont give up on themselves or others. Leaders are people of exceptional character who are capable of bringing others through a crisis. All leaders share certain qualities or characteristics, including: 1. Self-respect and respect for others. If you dont have a healthy self-respect, you wont respect others. If you dont respect others, they will not respect you. You cant lead people who dont respect you. 2. The ability to communicate effectively. Leaders say what they mean and mean exactly what they say. Effective communicators are far more persuasive than those who dont communicate well. 3. Integrity and character. Leaders are not swayed by unsubstantiated opinions or unfounded rumours. Fame, power, or material gain doesnt motivate them. Leaders have integrity, that strength of character that resists assault. 4. Having a vision. A mission (or a purpose), a sense of direction and a clear set of goals. Moreover, they know that their job isnt done when one set of goals is reached. Leaders know that life is a journey. 5. Being grounded. Leaders have a vision of what the world around them ought to be, but they are also pragmatic. Things will not always go smoothly, but leaders understand that and have the presence of mind to deal with that. 6. Courage. Fear is a powerful motivator; it causes many of us to turn away from our goals when our belief in ourselves and our cause isnt strong. Leaders arent fearless leaders make a conscious choice to act in spite of their fear. 7. Persistence, commitment and dedication. Its like they always say: Winners dont quit, and quitters dont win. Nothing worth having comes easily. When setbacks crop up, leaders dont flag because they always have their eyes on the prize. 8. Humility. Leaders arent self-promoting or self-aggrandizing. They dont take all the credit. They give credit to others and refuse it for themselves. 9. A sense of responsibility. Leaders are willing to bear the ultimate responsibility for their undertakings. They dont point the finger of blame when things go awry. 10. Decisiveness. When action is called for, real leaders dont waffle. Knowing that a window of opportunity exists (the time to act is now), they act quickly and effectively, based on the best available information. Most importantly, leaders have these characteristics in balance. Some may tell you there is one characteristic more important than the rest. Theyll say something like, Oh, you have to have that vision thing above all else. Not true - people wont follow someone who has vision without courage or humility, for example. What about you? What do you think are the most important qualities in the leaders who will move forward this country? Who do you consider to be a leader and why? Thanks so much for your time. Modified from the origin by Steve Flick

Thread starter Kasesela
Start date Oct 8, 2010

Kasesela

Member

Oct 8, 2010

Rutashubanyuma

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The leadership we should crave for

Kasesela

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Rutashubanyuma

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