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The Qualities of a Good Leader

Categories: Leadership

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Published: Mar 13, 2024

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Effective communication, strong decision-making skills, inspiration and motivation, adaptability.

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Characteristics of a Good Leader Argumentative Essay

What makes a good leader of a country.

A leader can be defined as someone who leads others. According to Greer, “a leader can be someone who is in charge or commands others in an organization or a country” (30). Leadership cannot be based solely on an individual’s responsibility. It is important to add that a leader is not just about politics.

Thus, leaders can be found in every sector including sports, entertainment, and corporate sector among other areas. The argument about leadership focus on: what are the right qualities? What should the leaders do to strengthen these qualities? How are these qualities developed? This paper seeks to argue the qualities that ultimately define a good leader in a country.

To answer the question on what makes a good leader appropriate, it is important to acknowledge that traditional qualities that have defined a good leader such as aptitude, strength, determination, and vision are not sufficient in today’s world. In this changing world, a leader- in addition to the listed qualities- needs a high degree of emotional intelligence.

A look at history can reveal a number of highly skilled and intelligent leaders who took over leadership of their country only for them to perform dismally. Therefore, it can be concluded that finding the right leader is an art and science. Notably, “although leaders may share general qualities, each leader has a personal style of doing things. Some leaders are passive and analytical while others are very proactive and confrontational” (Daft and Lane 52).

Another important thing to acknowledge is that a leader, especially in a country or state, will often face different situations that will often require different approaches. While pursuing diplomacy, the leader will be required to be a sensitive negotiator; while consoling victims of a disaster, the leader will need to show empathy and comfort; when dealing with state enemies, the leader is needed to have a forceful authority.

The general conclusion, in my opinion, is that, to be leader, intelligence, hard work, and vision are important aspects to consider. However, even with all these, a leader should have the emotional intelligence to be successful and sustain the leadership status that is made possible by the primary characteristics listed.

There are various aspects of emotional intelligence that are critical to good leadership. According to Goleman, “they include self-awareness, enthusiasm and responsiveness. Others include group skills and self-regulation” (21). Researchers have carried out studies in the corporate world, and the results have shown that emotional intelligence is often what distinguishes the outstanding leader.

The first component I analyze is the aspect of self-awareness. This refers to the ability to have a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, motivational factors. To be self aware means that one is honest with his or herself. It also implies that the individual is neither critical of others nor unrealistic.

Further, individuals who are self aware can predict how different emotions will affect them and the performance of their work. For example, a leader who has self awareness may know that interviews with the press often make him or her nervous. Therefore, it is prudent to avoid such interviews and choose other methods of communication.

The same self awareness can be applied when it comes to ideals and values in which an individual believes. It has often been said that a leader who does not believe in anything will fall for anything. Therefore, the leader with self-awareness will be able to turn down an investor’s request to set up a big industry in the country if that investment will hurt the environment.

Weak leaders who lack self awareness will accept to do something, but after two or three years down the line, they will rescind their decision. It can be noted that people who have self awareness are coherent and articulate. They are able to speak openly and precisely tackle the areas they are addressing. They are also able to describe themselves accurately (Northouse 154).

The other component of emotional intelligence is self regulation. From the onset, it is important to acknowledge that emotions are part human life. Although humans cannot do away with emotions, it is possible to control and manage them.

Self regulation is the ability to manage and control one’s feelings in order to make one free from distractions. In this case, individuals should also be able to direct these feelings to a useful channel. For example, a leader may witness a shambolic presentation by members of his cabinet to a key investor.

With the disappointment, the leader may feel the urge to kick a chair or bang the table which will bring a negative side of him to the investors. Therefore, self-regulation is the ability to apologize to the investor and carefully select the words that will authoritatively, yet humbly explain to the members of the cabinet the areas that will need to be corrected. Another example is when the leader of a country faces a threat of attack from another country.

In such a delicate matter, one wrong move can cost the country in many ways. However, if the leader maintains calmness, does not panic, and can prepare the relevant stakeholders to deal with the problem, then the effect is different, and the damage can be controlled.

Self-regulation is also a strong pillar of integrity. Thornton noted, “on many occasions, people with integrity are often caught in decisions that lack integrity” (p.13). Although such leaders have integrity, they lack self-regulation, which often enhances integrity. An example is a leader who is faced with a crisis and has no solution for the crisis.

In the heat of things, the leaders may decide to apply a solution that is outside the law. Thus, although the action may have been intended to help the country, lack of self regulation may lead the leader to undermine his own integrity. The third aspect of emotional intelligence is motivation. It is almost an unwritten rule that a good leader should have motivation. In this context, motivation refers to the urge to achieve.

A motivated leader is one who is never contented with the status quo. They are always striving to do better things and doing them differently. Such leaders often raise the performance bar, and they keep track of the scores. In this case, a good example is Thomas Sankara, the slain leader of Burkina Faso from Africa. Sankara became the leader of Burkina Faso at a time when the country was reliant on donor funds.

Uncomfortable, with the status quo, he led his countrymen on an overdrive to practice farming to a level that had hitherto been unseen. The country was for the first time able to feed all its population without the aid from foreign countries. The same leader introduced a government policy requiring all top government officials to stop the usage of the extravagant Mercedes Benzes. Instead, government officials were encouraged to use the modest Volkswagen vehicles so as to save money for increment of teacher’s salaries.

The fourth component of emotional integrity is empathy. The uniqueness of this component is that, unlike the aforementioned components, this component is very easy to identify and recognize. However, the modern world will rarely reward a leader in business or politics on account of empathy. In this case, the conventional understanding of empathy is to be able to take other peoples’ feelings and give them priority as if they were one’s own.

In this context, empathy refers to the ability of the leader to consider the interests of all stakeholders when making decisions. The last component is the idea of social skills. The two components are related as they are concerned with the ability to establish meaningful relationships with other people. A leader is always leading and managing people. Thus, a good leader should be able to get along with these people.

From the discussion, it is clear that, to lead a country, a great team is what will deliver great leadership. However, in every country, there is a leader. Some are led by a monarch, others by dictators, or others like the United States by a democratically elected leader. In monarchs and dictatorships, leaderships will tend to be highly concentrated around an individual.

On the other hand, democracies allow power to be decentralized to other institutions like the parliament, judiciary and the executive. The common denominator is that, whether the power is decentralized or centralized, the leader or leaders of the country need to possess certain qualities to lead the country effectively. The argument put forward is that, apart from the conventional qualities, a good leader of a country should possess the quality of emotional intelligence.

Works Cited

Daft, Richard, and Patricia Lane. The Leadership Experience . Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2008. Print.

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ . London: Bloomsbury, 1996. Print.

Greer, Eddie. “Dare To Lead: Continuous Learning Creates The Best Leaders.” Professional Safety, 56.6 (2011): 30-31. Print.

Northouse, Peter. Leadership: Theory and Practice . Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2010. Print.

Thornton, Grant. What makes a good leader? 2008. Web. www.grant-thornton.co.uk/pdf/20-leadership-report.pdf

Qualities That Make You a Good Leader
Intelligence in What Makes a Leader? by D. Goleman
Individual Presentation and Plan: Developing Self-Awareness
Political Firsts: Hiram Rhodes Revels and Romualdo Pacheco
Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards
Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy: Partners or Opponents?
Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia
A Critical Evaluation of Criteria for a Successful Presidency from a Citizen’s Perspective
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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Leadership Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author: Richard Pircher

As a college student, you must write essays on a regular basis since the latter is one of the most common types of home assignments. All this means is that in order to get good grades and be successful with writing the papers, you need to have a sound understanding of the structure. Additionally, what you should never neglect is the variety of essay types. Indeed, your essay will significantly differ from one type to another: description essay will most likely have a structure that is slightly different from an argumentative one.

What you may have already encountered in your academic life is the work on a leadership essay. Although it sounds pretty complicated and vague, it is mostly possible to master an essay on leadership. Below is a guide for you to get an insight into this particular essay type.

What is a good leadership essay?

A good leadership essay is the one in which the essay writer has fully covered the topic of leadership and understood its core ideas. More specifically, to end up with a flawless leadership essay, you will need to indicate what makes a person a good leader. For achieving the latter, you will most likely need to conduct research and trace how a particular person reaches his or her goals. In other words, the task is to discover which actions the person undertakes, what their followers say about him or her, and how the person organizes the work. So, a leadership essay implies providing real-life success examples and further revealing them.

Above all, a good leadership essay is the one that follows a precise, clear, comprehensive structure. Structuring your essay about leadership in the most coherent way leads to a win-win situation: you have fewer troubles and barriers to writing a brilliant essay, and your teacher is able to comprehend the essay easily. This guide is what you will need to refer to to get an insight into how the flawless structure for a leadership essay looks like and how it will let you take a benefit.

How to write a Leadership essay?

To write a leadership essay that stands out, you first need to brainstorm all the ideas that you have and come up with a topic for your essay. If you are struggling with this step, you may think of some of the most influential people, read about them, and find out what makes them unique. Or, you can pick any topic which is mentioned at the end of this article. After you have chosen an issue, it is time to structure your essay appropriately.

As you already know, an essay constitutes three essential sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Below is the more detailed description of each of the parts.

Introduction

Of course, your leadership essay introduction will always vary depending on the topic of the essay. However, you can always begin by stating your vision of leadership regardless of the topic. Additionally, to motivate the reader and instantly catch his or her attention, you may use a quote of a famous leader, or simply a quote which you find relevant to the topic. Be aware that you should avoid outlining the essence and the role of the leadership in your introduction; leave it for the body paragraphs.

What you may also do in your leadership essay is ask a question, which will most likely intrigue the leader. Or it will at least give your reader an overview of what you will dwell on in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

You will need to divide the main body into 3-5 paragraphs to make the structure more comprehensive. What you have to do at this point is give your reader a sound understanding of your ideas. Therefore, try to fit each idea in a single body paragraph so that you do not confuse your reader. Do not hesitate to indicate your examples to strengthen your arguments. For instance, you may explain a fact that makes a particular person you are writing about a real leader.

Also, always stick to your thesis statement and don’t forget that the body paragraphs should reveal the parts of your thesis statement.

As you may already know, you need to restate your opinion and briefly summarize all the points from the main body in conclusion. For instance, if you wrote your essay on qualities of an effective leader, state the most fundamental qualities and indicate why they matter the most. Besides, try not to copy what you have already written in the body – it is better to restate your opinion using different words. And, of course, beware adding any new and extra information; indicate only those points that you have already outlined in the text. Finally, keep in mind that it is always favorable to keep your concluding remarks short.

Leadership Essay Examples

Writing a leadership essay requires some research and time. In case you feel the necessity to go through an essay example, below is a leadership essay sample you can refer to.

Is leadership an inborn or an acquired feature?

Is everyone capable of becoming a leader, or is this ability innate? A lot of researchers have been struggling to answer this question. One assumption about leadership implies that the leader is the person who possesses particular characteristics. Another assumption claims that leaders are capable of acquiring specific features over their life span. As the evidence shows, leaders own many features that distinguish them among others and make more and more people become their followers. These might be cognitive abilities, psychological traits, professional qualities, and a lot more, and all of them will be either acquired or innate. Based on the importance of leadership qualities, such as commitment, stress resistance, and the ability to make quality decisions, it is reasonable to claim that leaders are made, not born.

One can deem commitment as one of the top fundamental qualities of the leader. In essence, such a feature indicates that a person is passionate about the common goal, strives to be a team player, and makes every effort to reach a shared goal. As the history shows, none of the successful companies was uncoordinated by an influential, committed leader: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft – all of these companies are examples of dominant teams led by a dedicated leader. A committed leader also inspires his or her team to achieve common goals and put more effort into the shared activity. Besides, commitment is unlikely to be an innate feature; it instead comes with experience. This is so, since commitment implies dedicating oneself to the shared task, and one can reach it only via learning and continuous self-improvement.

Stress resistance is another incredibly important feature that every good leader should possess. This is because only a stress-resistant leader has sufficient capabilities to overcome any complexity and not let the anxiety and stress prevent him or her from making proper decisions. Besides, such a leader will most likely have a positive influence on the team, as long as leading by example will motivate the team members to attain the same emotional stability. What is so far familiar about stress resistance as an effective leader’s feature is that it can be either innate or attained. However, although some researchers admit that emotional stability is something one is born with, it is not entirely true; many people still put a great effort into self-improvement, changing the attitude to unfortunate situations, and so on. Therefore, being resistant to stress can be mostly attributed to a personality.

An ability to make high-quality decisions most likely determines the chances for an enterprise’s success. In particular, such quality is incredibly fundamental for a company of any size and professional orientation. Additionally, it is one of the top tasks of a good leader to make final decisions. What he or she should do implies brainstorming, discussing various opinions in the group, making forecasts, analyzing all the pros and cons. However, the leader is the one to make a final decision. Thereby, he is in charge of researching the market, discovering all the hidden truths, and analyzing the organization’s potential and capabilities to result in the most effective decision. As it flows logically from the latter, an ability to make sound quality decisions is purely a professional quality. This leads to the conclusion that one has to work hard to become a genuine leader and master the skill of making effective decisions.

Overall, the leader may possess a multitude of different skills and master them perfectly. However, what has so far become transparent is that any leader, regardless of which team he leads, must possess three essential qualities. These qualities are commitment to the common goal, ability to handle and resist stress, and, finally, an ability to make effective decisions. All of the three qualities are most likely to be acquired over a lifetime. The statement below leads to the conclusion that even though some qualities can be innate, most are not the ones that leaders are born with. Hence, this answers an essential question: leadership feature is acquired, and not necessarily inborn.

20 leadership essay topics

When coming up with your next leadership essay topic, it is imperative to brainstorm ideas and think of what leadership might be related to. If you are struggling with a topic of the importance of leadership essay or any relevant type of essay, you may quickly take a look at some of the possible topics we prepared for you:

What are the main qualities of the leader?
Successful Time Management as a feature of an effective leader
The role that rhetoric plays in leadership
The most exceptional leader in the history of the 20-th century
The role of female leadership
What are the challenges of the leader of the 21-st century?
How college helps students develop leadership skills?
Qualities of the leader that motivate people to follow them
Top things to avoid doing to become a team leader
Examples of effective and ineffective leadership in the history
Top techniques for developing leadership skills
The interconnection of creativity and leadership
Is a university’s role fundamental in developing leadership skills?
Dictatorship as an anti-example of leadership
Liberal vs Authoritative leadership: which one works better?
The influence of the leader’s role model on the followers’ mindset
Main difficulties that the new leader may face in a new team
Leadership of today vs leadership of the past: what has changed?
Reasons why I want to become a member if the leadership program
The role of cognitive abilities for the leader

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Ethical Research Paper Topics

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Feb 15, 2023

Essays on Leadership for Students | 200 - 500 Word Essays

Are you writing an essay about leadership? Check out these examples!

Leadership is often defined as "the action of inspiring others to act in concert to achieve a particular goal." It signifies the harmony in actions that lead to a common objective. A genuine leader not only exudes confidence but also paves the way for their followers towards triumph. Over the years, various leadership styles have been identified and discussed by psychologists.

Qualities such as intelligence, adaptability, extroversion, innate self-awareness, and social competence often emerge as the hallmarks of impactful leaders. There's a consensus that these traits mold an individual into an effective leader. Interestingly, some theories suggest that extraordinary situations can thrust an ordinary individual into the spotlight, bestowing upon them the mantle of leadership. It's also believed that leadership isn't a static trait but an evolving journey. It underscores the belief that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can hone their leadership abilities.

True leadership goes beyond merely advocating for a cause. It involves taking responsibility, igniting motivation in others, and differentiating oneself from just being a 'boss'. A leader's essence lies in their ability to inspire and propel people towards grand visions, whereas a manager typically focuses on oversight and operational aspects.

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay falls under the category of student application essays and serves to provide student admissions officers with insight into your past leadership experiences. Despite appearing to be very specific, this type of essay acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can vary significantly depending on the individual and the context.

If you find yourself in need of further insights or a unique angle for your leadership essay, consider exploring an expert essay-writing tool designed to assist students in crafting compelling narratives by analyzing vast data and generating fresh ideas within minutes. In this article, we'll also delve into various leadership essay examples to offer a clearer understanding of the genre and inspire your writing journey.

4 Examples of Leadership Essays

Qualities of a good leader, introduction.

Confidence is the most important attribute first of all. One of the most important qualities in a leader is confidence in one's own abilities. A lack of self-assurance is fatal to a person's leadership potential. If you want others to follow you, you need to exude self-assurance. It's imperative for a leader to have faith in his own judgment and actions. How can people want to follow him if he doesn't even know what he's doing?

Every effective leader knows that they need to be an inspiration to their followers. A leader needs to set an example for his team. In addition, he ought to inspire them whenever feasible. A leader must also maintain optimism in trying times.

What qualities a good leader must have?

Leadership is the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a common goal. A leader must possess several qualities to be effective, including:

Communication skills: A leader must be able to communicate their vision and goals clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. This requires excellent listening skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt to different communication styles.

Emotional intelligence: A leader must be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. This includes being able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, and handling conflicts in a constructive manner.

Visionary: A leader must have a clear and inspiring vision of the future, and be able to articulate this vision in a way that motivates others to work towards it.

Strategic thinking: A leader must be able to think critically and creatively to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans and strategies to achieve their goals.

Flexibility: A leader must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to new ideas and perspectives. This requires the ability to embrace change, be innovative, and continuously learn and grow.

Integrity: A leader must have strong ethics and values, and be willing to make difficult decisions that are consistent with their beliefs. This requires honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Decisiveness: A leader must be able to make tough decisions quickly, without undue hesitation or procrastination. This requires courage and the ability to take calculated risks.

Empowerment: A leader must be able to delegate responsibilities, give team members the resources they need to succeed, and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among their team.

Conclusion

These qualities are essential for effective leadership, and when combined with hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence, can help leaders to achieve great things.

How one can be a Great Leader?

Leadership is the act of performing the duties of a leader. In the business world, for instance, it is essential to have someone in charge of a team to ensure everything runs well. Effective leadership is essential for any group that wants to maximize its prospects of success.

Leadership Comes from Experience

As we've shown, leadership can be innate in some cases but is more often learned through practice and exposure. Sometimes the best traits of a leader must be learned over a lengthy period of time, so that one can become a notable one, proving that leadership is not always about a person's innate qualities. Leaders should continuously be on the lookout for opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Nobody can disagree that experience is a key component of leadership. Numerous examples exist to back up this claim, such as:

Instance 1:

Our school's head boy or girl has traditionally been an older student who has been around for a while and thus has a better grasp of the ins and outs of school politics.

Instance 2:

When there is a vacancy for a team leader, it is common practice for the employee who has consistently put in the most effort and attention to the office job to receive a higher number of votes than their coworkers.

“The best teacher for a leader is evaluated experience.” - John C. Maxwell

How one can be a Great Leader/Skills to be a Great Leader?

Effective leadership is a skill that develops through time. Developing into a leader with all the qualities that are needed takes a lot of hard work and potential. Being a prominent leader calls for a wide variety of traits. Some of these characteristics are addressed in further detail below:

One should be a Good Communicator

To be an effective leader, one must be able to convey his thoughts clearly to his/her/its subordinates.

Should have Confidence

The individual should have faith in what he says and does.

Give Credit to other Team Members too

A leader not only needs to impose his viewpoints and opinions instead he must also hear to the suggestions of other members of the team and offer them credit if their concept is appropriate.

Good Bond with the Team

A leader's ability to command respect from his team members depends on his ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with them.

Leads with Responsibility

A leader needs to be completely committed to his position. It's important that he takes on responsibility so that he can effectively deal with the various challenges he will inevitably face.

Any group or organization needs a leader above all else. Leadership development takes time and effort. One needs to have lived through a lot to be an effective leader. It's not enough to simply have years of experience in the field; one must also have the traits that make one an effective leader. You can't be a great leader unless you possess certain traits.

What makes a Good Leader?

Trying one's hand as a leader appears easy when viewed through this lens. Is that so tough? Of course not; leading is difficult, and not everyone aspires to be a leader. The vast majority of us have settled into well-established careers where we report to superiors and make a living. Still, not everyone is content to go along with the crowd. They become leaders in whatever field they pursue. A leader is an example to followers and will prioritize the needs of those around them.

Some Unique Qualities of a Leader

Many individuals resort to their leaders to vent their frustrations, therefore it's important for them to be good listeners.

A leader ought to be completely forthright; they can't play favorites or give anyone preferential treatment. One of the most essential qualities of a strong leader is the ability to make decisions with integrity.

They need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what makes an individual stand out or become a leader. It's their expertise in addition to other distinguishing traits. Their awareness of current events and the results of recent studies is essential. In many ways, this is helpful, and it's the leader's responsibility to stay current.

Since some might not understand them, they should utilize straightforward, easily comprehended language. Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively at all times. In reality, what sets them apart is their exceptional communication skills. Adolf Hitler was such a gifted orator that his followers believed every word he said.

No matter how you're feeling or what's going on in the world, if you listen to a leader, they may make you feel energized. Since leaders are in charge of inspiring confidence in their followers, they can't afford to be wary or unsure of themselves. People tend to blindly follow their leaders.

Whether you're a leader or a doctor, you should devote yourself completely to your chosen field. Everything we do is for the benefit of others; engineers, for example, spend much of their time designing and constructing buildings for other people. So, take pride in what you do, and if you possess the aforementioned traits, you are also a leader who doesn't have to rely on others to succeed. No matter what you do, aspiring to leadership positions will always benefit others.

What is Leadership in Management and what are the weaknesses and strengths of a Leader?

Simply said, leadership is acting as a supervisor or manager of a group. Different mental pictures pop up when we hear the word "leadership" used in conversation. One might think of a political leader, team leader, corporate leader, school leader, etc. Leaders facilitate order and efficiency in the workplace. Teamwork and success are fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders utilize their managerial abilities to establish courses and guide their teams to success.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership

Able to express oneself more clearly

Growth of character.

Self-awareness.

Possession of teamwork skills.

Gain assurance in yourself.

Weaknesses:

Acting favorably toward one's teammates.

Having no faith in the leader.

Thinks they're better than everyone else, but act hypocritically.

Not living up to the promised standard.

Insufficient morals.

Leadership and Management

Management and leadership are inextricably linked to one another. Leadership and management are both vital to the efficient operation of an organization; but, they accomplish very different things in the process. Leadership is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an effective manager. The terms management and leadership are synonymous with one another. In this manner, we are able to draw the conclusion that a manager who demonstrates the traits of a successful leader is, in fact, a manager who is effective.

Leadership in School

Leadership is essential in nearly every group, as we've seen above. That group includes one's educational institution. Every school needs an outstanding figure to serve as its head of school. Class monitor, assembly captain, cultural leader, etc. are all examples of leadership roles that can be taken on at school, but this raises the question of what makes a person a successful school leader.

Any student hoping to be chosen as a student body leader will need to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. He or she needs to be a consistent student who pays attention in class and does well in extracurricular activities. For the simple reason that no intelligent and hardworking kid would ever be considered for leadership. Student leaders are most often selected from among those who participate fully in all activities.

Leadership in Organization

Leadership in an organization, also known as organizational leadership, is the process of establishing long-term objectives that further the company's mission and help it reach its ultimate destination. This is a classic illustration of how Bill Gates often works with his team: they agree on a strategy, and Gates implements it. To the same extent, it is the responsibility of the leader in each given organization to determine what it is that the group is trying to accomplish.

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in politics, also known as political leadership, is the process of becoming actively involved in a political party in the role of a party leader. Knowledge of political processes, their outcomes, and the political agenda is central to the idea of political leadership.

An effective leader can be developed in anyone who has the determination and drives to do so. Both the strengths and the areas for improvement should be nurtured. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the political arena, leadership is always necessary. Therefore, one can exercise leadership anywhere they like inside their own organization.

What are the types of Leadership?

The ability to lead is a rare trait that not everyone possesses. The ability to do so is a gift, so count your blessings if you possess it. It's recommended that you hone it even more so that you can propel your career forward and serve as an example to people around you. However, it is crucial to grasp the various leadership styles before you go ahead and polish your skills.

Types of Leadership Styles

Democratic Leadership

In this style of management, subordinates are given a voice in decision-making. Although the subordinates' efforts are highlighted, the leader is ultimately held responsible for the group's actions. Many people find this type of leadership to be effective.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others to adopt new behaviors and ways of thinking in order to improve their own performance and that of their teams and organizations. A transformational leader is someone who encourages their team to strive for greater things and works to boost morale and output.

Team Leadership

A good leader fully incorporates his team into the task at hand. Members of the team are motivated to reach their goals and advance in their careers thanks to the leadership of the group.

Strategic Leadership

It requires a chief executive who doesn't restrict himself to brainstorming sessions with his superiors. He contributes on every level of the team. He is well-liked for his ability to unite the need for fresh ideas with the necessity of grounding them in reality.

Autocratic Leadership

The leader in a command and control structure is the center of attention. The chief executive has absolute power in this setting. He decides things on his own, without polling his staff. He relays this information to his staff and stresses the importance of swift action. The buck stops with him, and he alone must answer for his actions. Not much room for negotiation exists. It's no secret that this method of leading has its detractors.

Visionary Leadership

This kind of leader appreciates the abilities and requirements of his team members. He describes his ideal outcome and the teamwork that will be necessary to attain it.

Coaching Leadership

Leaders who coach their teams do so regularly in an effort to raise output. He inspires his employees to do better and works to keep them motivated. This approach to leadership has been much praised.

Facilitative Leadership

With occasional guidance, a facilitative leader ensures that the process runs smoothly for his team. As a precaution in case his team is ineffective. If the team is highly effective, the leader will take a hands-off approach.

Cross-Cultural Leadership

The leadership of this type is necessary when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. Because of the wide variety of cultures represented in the workforce across the United States, many managers and executives hold cross-cultural positions.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

The members of the team are given responsibility in this style of management. They are free to choose how they spend their time at work, with minimal oversight from the boss. It's not a good way to lead, according to experts.

Transactional Leadership

An interactive approach is integral to this kind of leadership. When team members successfully implement their leader's ideas and choices, they are rewarded with immediate, material benefits.

Charismatic Leadership

In order to bring out the best in his followers, this kind of leader makes the effort to change their attitudes, values, and actions.

This article should dispel the notion that leadership qualities can't be further subdivided. It should also assist you in pinpointing your own personal brand of leadership so you can perfect it over time.

Final Words

In conclusion, leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves various qualities and skills. Effective leaders possess traits such as integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are able to navigate challenges, make difficult decisions, and lead their team toward success. Leadership also involves continuous learning and self-improvement, as leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and remain relevant. Effective leadership can have a positive impact on both individuals and organizations, fostering growth and creating a culture of success.

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Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Students are often asked to write an essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Introduction.

A good leader is crucial for any successful team or organization. Several qualities define a good leader, such as honesty, confidence, and the ability to delegate.

Honesty is a key quality of a good leader. They should always be truthful and transparent with their team, fostering an environment of trust.

Confidence is another important quality. A confident leader inspires others, boosting the team’s morale and encouraging them to give their best.

A good leader knows how to delegate tasks effectively. They trust their team members and assign tasks based on their skills and strengths.

In conclusion, a good leader is honest, confident, and knows how to delegate. These qualities help to create a successful team.

250 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Leadership is a dynamic blend of various traits and skills. The qualities of a good leader are multifaceted, ranging from interpersonal skills to strategic thinking.

Emotional Intelligence

A good leader possesses high emotional intelligence, which includes empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to manage emotions. This allows them to understand and respond to the needs and feelings of their team, fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

Decisiveness and Vision

Leaders must be decisive, making informed decisions swiftly. Coupled with decisiveness, a compelling vision is essential. A leader who provides a clear, inspiring, and shared vision can effectively guide their team towards achieving common goals.

Integrity is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Leaders with integrity inspire trust, promoting a culture of honesty and accountability. They uphold ethical standards, setting a positive example for their team.

Adaptability

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is crucial. A good leader is flexible, open to new ideas, and capable of navigating uncertainty. They are not rigid, but rather evolve with the changing needs of their team and organization.

In essence, a good leader is emotionally intelligent, decisive, visionary, integrity-driven, and adaptable. These qualities allow them to inspire and guide their team, fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and success. While these traits are not exhaustive, they provide a comprehensive framework for effective leadership.

500 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Leadership is a multifaceted concept that has been studied and analyzed extensively. A good leader is not defined by a single quality, but by a combination of several attributes that enable them to guide, inspire, and influence others effectively. Understanding these qualities can help individuals develop their leadership skills and contribute to their teams, organizations, or societies more effectively.

One of the most important qualities of a good leader is emotional intelligence. This involves the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Leaders with high emotional intelligence can empathize with their team members, which helps in building trust and fostering a positive working environment. They are also better equipped to handle stress, conflict, and change.

Integrity is another crucial quality of a good leader. Leaders with integrity adhere to a set of ethical principles, which guides their decisions and actions. They are honest, transparent, and consistent, which earns them the respect and trust of their followers. Integrity also involves taking responsibility for one’s actions and being accountable for the outcomes, whether they are successful or not.

Good leaders are visionary. They have a clear, inspiring, and ambitious vision for the future. They are able to articulate this vision in a way that is compelling and engaging, inspiring others to share in it. Visionary leaders are also strategic thinkers, able to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, and plan accordingly.

Resilience is a key quality of a good leader. The path to success is often fraught with setbacks and failures. Resilient leaders are able to navigate these challenges with grace and tenacity, learning from their mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth. They also help their team members to develop resilience, fostering a culture of perseverance and adaptability.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is a fundamental quality of a good leader. Leaders must be able to convey their ideas and expectations clearly and persuasively. They must also be good listeners, open to feedback and different perspectives. Good communication fosters understanding, collaboration, and mutual respect within a team.

In conclusion, the qualities of a good leader are diverse and interconnected. Emotional intelligence, integrity, visionary thinking, resilience, and effective communication are all crucial. However, it is important to note that leadership is not a static concept. It evolves with time and context, and so too should our understanding of what makes a good leader. As future leaders, it is our responsibility to continually develop these qualities within ourselves and strive to embody them in our actions and interactions.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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What Makes A Good Leader: Essay Hints

Table of Contents

In this essay, you need to discuss the essential qualities needed for becoming an effective leader. In fact, different situations require different types of leadership styles, so it may be hard to choose the qualities that define good leaders admired by people from bad ones.

Besides, there are common misconceptions about their role. In this article, we will try to answer the question of “what makes a good leader essay” and give you some recommendations about the aspects you should focus on.

Essay structure and key points to cover

Wondering what the best way to approach an essay on leadership qualities is? Leadership essays can be written in the expository style and structured to include different subtopics:

Discussion of major leadership theories.
Personality traits defining great leaders.
Leadership styles and how they work.
Leadership principles and core values.
Examples of leaders in different spheres of society.
People you consider to be leaders in your life.
Leadership skills you have.

It’s important to demonstrate an original personal understanding of leadership concept and provide impressive illustrative examples taken from today’s real life or history. That’s the best thing to do when reviewing various leadership qualities.

What are the qualities of a good leader: essay ideas

When we take an in-depth look at history, we see countless leadership qualities that were adopted by both good and bad leaders. When writing what are the qualities of a good leader essay, you should focus on the characteristics and strengths of a leader, and how they help influence and motivate other people along with achieving own goals.

These are emotional and behavioral characteristics of well-known leaders that helped them succeed:

Vision – effective leaders have exciting ideas, they usually are forward-looking, and have excellent strategic planning skills.
Communication – communicating ideas clearly and concisely is essential to ensure teamwork towards the same goal.
Integrity – they are honest and can always tell the truth in any situation.
Confidence – they dare to take risks to achieve their goals and never give up.
Responsiveness – good leaders value their team, listen to people they lead, and quickly change their behavior to match different situations.
Determination – good leaders are passionate about what they do and can motivate people by demonstrating their own commitment.
Empathy is the most important skill which allows to create strong bonds of trust and build successful teams.

Tips on writing a winning essay on leadership

When working on what makes a good leader essay, students should follow certain basic steps.

Research relevant sources on the internet to get a better understanding of the concept, read a lot, and make notes of interesting ideas which can be used in your paper.
Brainstorm ideas to write about, formulate a strong thesis statement and create a detailed working outline. Organize information in a logical order.
Start writing a draft with an introduction. Engage readers with a hook – provocative question, anecdote, stunning fact, convincing statistics. Introduce a subject, providing relevant background information. End introductory paragraph with a specific thesis that sums up your ideas.
Devote separate body paragraphs to specific points supporting the main argument. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, presenting key points, give detailed explanations, and provide additional evidence and examples. Include appropriate citations with proper referencing. Sum up and demonstrate how each paragraph contributes to the logical argument.
Create a convincing conclusion to wrap up the paper’s key points.
Revise the first draft , make improvements in content, logic, and sentence structure. Edit to improve word choice and clarity.
Proofread the final version – fix minor errors and typos. Create references list and check the formatting of the entire paper.

The use of a leadership essay sample

Still not sure that you can write a good leader essay that will impress your readers? Read biographies of famous people who played crucial roles in human history, created big successful businesses, managed large corporations to learn which qualities contributed to their success.

Besides, you may want to check out some good paper examples.

Find out how powerful papers on this topic are structured and what interesting points they cover. Use essay samples as templates or models to follow.

See this short sample paragraph which discusses one of the leadership qualities for inspiration.

Empathy, an ability to recognize other’s feelings and perspectives and understand other people’s needs is crucial in leadership. Being empathetic means you can step into another person’s world and this character trait is essential for success due to several reasons. It’s impossible to effectively lead people you don’t understand. You can effectively motivate and influence someone if you know their feelings. Empathy is one of the keys to successful leadership because it helps build relationships with people they lead and create an environment of open communication. Luckily, empathy is natural for humans and we can even learn to be more empathetic and demonstrate this ability to people around us.

No time to write your essay on leadership? We’ve got plenty of time here! Our writers strive to help you out. Click the button faster and get yourself a perfect essay with no struggle!

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Leadership Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on leadership.

First of all, Leadership refers to the quality of leading people. Probably, it is one of the most important aspects of life. Above all, Leadership has led to the progress of human civilization . Without good Leadership, no organization or group can succeed. Furthermore, not everyone has this quality. This is because effective Leadership requires certain important characteristics.

Qualities of a Good Leader

First of all, confidence is the most quality. A leader must have strong self-confidence. A person lacking in confidence can never be a good leader. A person must be confident enough to ensure others follow him. The leader must have confidence in his decisions and actions. If he is unsure, then how can people have the desire to follow him.

A good leader must certainly inspire others. A leader must be a role model for his followers. Furthermore, he must motivate them whenever possible. Also, in difficult situations, a leader must not lose hope. How can a leader inspire people if he himself is hopeless?

Honesty is another notable quality of a leader. Honesty and Integrity are important to earn the love of followers. Above all, honesty is essential to win the trust of the people. Probably, every Leadership which loses trust is bound to fail. People will not work with full effort due to an immoral leader.

Good communication is a must for a good leader. This is because poor communication means the wrong message to followers. Furthermore, good communication will increase the rate of work. Also, the chances of mistakes by followers will reduce.

Another important quality is decision making. Above all, if a leader makes poor decisions then other qualities will not matter. Furthermore, good decision making ensures the success of the entire group. If the leader makes poor decisions, then the efforts of followers won’t matter.

A good leader must be an excellent innovator. He must display a creative attitude in his work. Most noteworthy, innovation is a guarantee of survival of a group or innovation. Without creative thinking, progress is not possible.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Real-Life Examples of Good Leadership

Mahatma Gandhi was an excellent example of a good leader. He was a staunch believer in non-violence. With his brilliant Leadership skills, he made the British leave India. Probably, this was the most unique independence struggle. This is because Gandhi got freedom without any violence.

Abraham Lincoln was another notable leader. Most noteworthy, he ended the slavery system in the United States. Consequently, he made many enemies. However, he was a man of massive self-confidence. His struggle against slavery certainly became an inspiration.

Sir Winston Churchill was a great patriotic Englishman. Most noteworthy, he led Britain in the 2nd World War. Furthermore, he was extremely inspirational. He inspired Britain to fight against Nazi Germany. His great communication motivated the entire country at a time of hopelessness.

To conclude, Leadership is required in probably every sphere of life. Good leadership is the door to success. In contrast, bad leadership is a guarantee of failure. Consequently, good leaders are what make the world go round.

FAQs on Leadership

Q.1 Which is the most important quality for being a good leader? A.1 The most important quality for being a good leader is self-confidence.

Q.2 Why Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader? A.2 Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader because he inspired Britain to fight in 2nd World War. Furthermore, his excellent communication also raised the motivation of his people.

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Essays About Effective Leadership: Top 6 Examples and Prompts

Effective leadership is an essential trait that all people should strive to develop; here are 6 examples and topic ideas essays about effective leadership .

Many qualities make an inspiring and effective leader, such as vision, focus, and motivation. Like other skills, effective leadership can be innate or learned and practiced. When writing about leadership, include the strengths of an effective leader and how these qualities positively impact their team. You can also discuss weaknesses that can make a poor leader and how to combat these issues.

Here are 6 examples and 10 essay prompts to get you started on your next essay.

1. What Makes an Effective Leader? by Tony Gill

2. a guide to becoming an effective leader by yashi srivastava , 3. leadership: 5 practices of effective leaders by yvette gyles, 4. 6 characteristics of an effective leader by lauren landry, 5. six leadership lessons by order of the peaky blinders by andrew denton mbe, 6. leadership and the quest for certainty by keith grint, 1. what is effective leadership, 2. what does effective leadership look like in the corporate industry, 3. what to avoid to become an effective leader, 4. habits of an effective leader, 5. studying the mindsets of effective leaders, 6. effective leadership and its benefits to an organization, 7. indicators of strong and effective leadership, 8. poor leadership vs. effective leadership, 9. real-life examples of effective leadership, 10. how perception creates effective leadership.

“Work at using leadership styles that do not come naturally, styles that you find difficult. By becoming a well-rounded leader, it is easier to adapt your leadership technique for different situations.”

Gill uses a research-based approach to answer the central question of his essay. He looks at various sources that tackle the topic of effective leadership and stitch them together to make a comprehensive guide to effective leadership.

“Leadership is not a mystical quality, and anyone can become a more effective leader by developing some important skills.”

The author, Yashi Srivastava, defines what differentiates leaders from managers first. Then, she provides some dos and don’ts of an effective leader and how people could apply them in different situations.

“Whereas as leaders, we need to be concerned about creativity and innovation, making positive changes, and seeking to challenge and push boundaries.”

Gyles specializes in leadership training for companies, so her approach to the essay is geared more toward company leaders. Nevertheless, it’s highly educational for all those interested in learning effective leadership meant for dealing with various people and guiding people to a direction or goal.

“Effective leaders don’t avoid the hard truths. Instead, they take responsibility for their decisions, maintain optimism, and focus on charting a new course of action.”

Landry’s essay focuses on her six top characteristics of an effective leader. Some of these characteristics are what you’d expect to see in an essay like this. Entries like transparency are less common but equally important in practicing effective leadership.

“Rolling your sleeves up with everyone else not only sets an example, it makes people want to follow you.”

Fiction mirrors life, and it’s one of the best sources to learn lessons that are otherwise too complex or vague to see in real life. Despite his penchant for crime and violence, Thomas Shelby is undeniably one of the most influential leaders on TV. This essay details the leadership skills used by a 1920s gangster character and how you can use them in modern life to become an effective and inspiring leader.

“Leadership is often associated with certainty; indeed, it is sometimes reduced to the decision-making process such that anything which smacks of uncertainty is categorized as weakness or a failure of leadership.”

Grint’s essay on leadership explores the factors around leaders’ certainty or confidence. Of course, not all leaders have a clear answer to a problem, which is fine. The important thing is that they have a mindset to look for solutions and a modicum of honesty about their lack of uncertainty.

10 Essay Prompts on Effective Leadership

It’s your turn to express and explore your view of effective leadership. Use these prompts to work out your approach or steps to effective leadership. Here are ten prompts about effective leadership to help you get started on your essay.

Defining effective leadership is one way to explore your understanding of the idea. Remember that your definition of effective leadership could vastly differ from the other essays you’ve read. It’s also a great starting point for new people who want to warm up to the habit of writing essays about leadership.

Essay writing tip: If you’re new to writing essays, consider simplifying your essay. Try shortening it down to a five-paragraph essay .

Essays about effective leadership prompts: What does effective leadership look like in the corporate industry?

You can find many leaders in the corporate industry, but some are more effective than others. Use this prompt to work out how you envision effective leadership in the corporate world. You can also apply the same idea to other fields, like at school, among friends or peer groups, or in the family. Consider carefully the field or organization you’d like to use for the essay.

You may have personal experience with a person who could have been an effective leader if not for their bad habits. You might have been that person and realized how your bad habits had held you back from practicing effective leadership. This is your chance to write about your experience, whether via observing someone else or through personal growth.

Practicing effective leadership goes beyond having direction and a vision for the organization. Becoming an effective leader also takes time and patience. Use this prompt to discuss the habits of great leaders and how these habits make them effective in their leadership.

Get into the mind of a leader and explore how such a person might become more effective in their leadership. This topic may involve discussing various people, whether real-life persons or fictional characters. Research how they think, handle their role and manage the people they lead.

Understanding the benefits of effective leadership is one of the best ways to drive someone to practice and adopt it. Use this prompt to detail how an effective leader boosts morale, productivity, motivation, communication quality, and confidence in the people they lead. It applies to all organizations, like businesses, teams, and networks.

How do you know whether a person’s leadership style and approach are effective or not? Use this essay topic to discover the different methods of measuring effective leadership. Read about the different measurements and indicators of leadership used in corporations and organizations.

Leaders can be good, mediocre, or bad in their leadership approaches and styles. This essay prompt will push you to compare bad leadership and effective leadership. You can also add methods of improving one’s leadership style to become more effective.

You can find a lot of excellent leaders throughout history. This idea focuses on discussing different leaders, their leadership styles, and levels of effectiveness.

Interpersonal skills are vital to great leadership. Perception of others’ feelings and thoughts can help you become an even better and more effective leader. Discuss how intuitiveness positively affects one’s leadership style.

Check out our list of great essay writing topics for students for more topics to improve your writing.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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10 Lessons From History About What Makes a Truly Great Leader

Winston Churchill As Prime Minister 1940-1945

W ith the 2020 presidential election approaching, America is bracing to choose its next leader in a time of incredible change and upheaval. How can we recognize the kind of person we’ll need to lead us through these turbulent times? What are the qualities that a truly great American president needs? What can this person, regardless of political affiliation, learn from leaders of the past?

Many of the greatest leaders in history have been workaholics—Churchill is perhaps the most famous, though Margaret Thatcher, Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, and Marshal Ivan Konev are other examples. Churchill melded his life entirely around his job during the Second World War, taking only eight days’ proper holiday in the whole six years of conflict, six of those spent fishing in Canada and two swimming in Florida, but even on the latter trip he was attended by his red ministerial boxes and he read all the newspapers. Similarly, he was able to work almost throughout his two major bouts of pneumonia during the war. Energy is an almost demonic attribute, hard to characterize, and takes many forms. Churchill was undoubtedly energetic, and yet he often did not get out of bed until noon—and that was for a hot bath—although he had been hard working on his papers since before breakfast. “Concentration was one of the keys to his character,” recalled James Stuart, Winston Churchill’s chief whip. “It was not always obvious, but he never really thought of anything else but the job in hand.”

Ability to plan—and Adapt

A leader’s ability to plan meticulously is important, despite Moltke’s dictum that few plans last beyond the initial contact with the enemy. “Plans are worthless,” agreed Eisenhower. “Planning is everything.” It is often forgotten that one of the most successful war plans in modern history—Hitler’s blitzkrieg against the West that succeeded in knocking out France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Holland in six weeks in May and June 1940—was not the original one. When the first set of plans fell into Allied hands by accident only days before the assault was due to be launched, Erich von Manstein drew up a new one. It was this plan B that featured the famous sickle-cut maneuver, in which concentrated armor cut the Allies off from their supply bases, the Maginot Line was skirted, the mountainous Ardennes forest—hitherto thought impassable—was used as a conduit, and the Germans broke through at Sedan in six days and reached the Channel coast at Abbeville in only ten. Few plan Bs in history have been so successful.

A Great Memory

For planning in particular and for leadership in general a good memory is useful, or failing that an excellent filing system. Churchill had a photographic memory, and not just for music-hall songs and Shakespeare. He would spend up to thirty hours memorizing his speeches and constantly practice them to make them word perfect, and would even make up ones he was not about to give but might be called upon to deliver sometime in the future. On occasion he would regale his entourage with speeches he would have given if he had been in the House of Commons at different periods of history. For a superb filing system one could hardly do better than Napoleon, who also had an excellent memory and who used his chief of staff, Marshal Berthier, to ensure that even in a carriage rattling along at full pace they were able to place geographically every unit in his army and send and receive messages as aides-de-camps rode up to the windows, grasp orders thrust through the windows, and rode off again to deliver them.

Although impossible to quantify or predict, leaders need to be lucky as well as brilliant. Before he appointed anyone to the marshalate, Napoleon also wanted to know whether his generals were lucky, and luck undoubtedly does play a large part in war leadership. The role of chance and contingency in history is worthy of an entire book in itself and undermines the Whig, Marxist, and Determinist theories of history in which mankind’s progress through time are set on any definable tramlines.

Understanding Public Sentiment

A great leader has to appreciate the political and economic terrain over which he is to campaign. Franklin Roosevelt might have wanted to bring the United States into World War Two earlier than he eventually did—such was the isolationist sentiment at the time—but in the 1940 election he still had to make his promise in Boston to American parents that ‘your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars,’ in order to retain the White House and face the storm that was to come. A leader has to be a realist, albeit one who appreciates the precise moment when it is possible to change public sentiment. In the event of course there was nothing foreign about the war that the Japanese unleashed on America in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. FDR had kept to the letter of his campaign promise.

In this area, Abraham Lincoln was also a supreme war leader, easily the equal of any of the nine in this book. His almost preternatural sense of what the Union would be able to accept politically, and when it would accept it, of what he could ask for and what he simply could not at any particular time, and his willingness to ride political storms, do necessary deals, sack underperforming or disloyal generals, and employ oratory of the Periclean quality of the Gettysburg Address and the two inaugural speeches, makes him second to none as a war leader in the American pantheon.

“Well-timed Unreasonableness”

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world,” wrote George Bernard Shaw in Man and Superman, “the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” A talent for well-timed unreasonableness is another attribute of the great leader. Queen Elizabeth I refused to name her successor despite continuous prompting from her Privy Council, thus protecting her country from the danger of civil war. She also refused to ratify the Treaty of Edinburgh early in her reign, despite the pleadings of her closest counsellor Lord Burghley, until the threat posed by the dukes of Guise had finally diminished. Elizabeth I had many of the attributes of a great war leader, in her oratory, in her determination and as a fine picker of men.

Steady Nerves

Having steady nerves in a crisis cannot be underestimated, but can be learned. Basil Liddell Hart wrote in his 1944 book Thoughts on War that “the two qualities of mental initiative and a strong personality, or determination, go a long way towards the power of command in war—they are, indeed, the hallmark of the Great Captains.” Although Stalin had something approaching a mental breakdown when he heard about Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, retiring to his dacha for days as the Red Army and Air Force were pounded on every front, by mid-October, when the Germans were at the gates of Moscow, his nerves had steadied enough for him to stay and fight it out. Charles de Gaulle’s behavior on August 25, 1944, when he attended the service of liberation in Notre-Dame while bullets were being fired within the cathedral itself, also showed rock-steady nerves. Margaret Thatcher during the Falklands crisis and after the IRA assassination attempt on her in October 1984, and Churchill throughout World War Two should similarly complete self-control in crisis moment, just as Napoleon had when his army retreated during the early stages of the Battle of Marengo. Such calm under pressure is the very quintessence of leadership.

Inspiring Persistence

In October 1944 Patton defined leadership as a capacity for “telling somebody who thinks he is beaten that he is not beaten.” As wars are won by the victor of the last battle, the capacity for inspiring the losers of the penultimate battle is key. Here, the sheer doggedness of George Washington stands out supreme, alongside that of Churchill in 1940. Aside from the evacuation from Brooklyn across the East River in August 1776—where a weird combination of low mist and adverse wind direction somehow prevented the Royal Navy from scooping up a force that was down to only nine thousand—Washington enjoyed few successes in 1775 and 1776. As Churchill said of Dunkirk, “Wars are not won by evacuations,” but, also like Dunkirk, the sheer fact of survival and escape was in itself a victory for the American revolutionaries. Simply surviving the hardships of Valley Forge through the winter kept the cause alive and could not have been achieved without George Washington’s shining leadership by personal example. What Liddell Hart was to call “mental initiative and strong personality, or determination” was personified by Washington in that freezing winter of 1776–77, and in all the other leaders in this book. Except through heredity, one does not become a leader in the first place unless one has a strong personality.

Understanding the psychology of others is an important part of leadership. Today it seems to be assumed that in order to lead one’s people one needs to have sprung from them, but that is not the case. Many of those who have exuded leadership ability hail from the leisured or moneyed class of their countries—Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Churchill, both Roosevelts, and John F. Kennedy among a long list of them—yet they all had a strong sense of what motivated soldiers and citizens who hailed from backgrounds far further down the social scale. A capacity to empathize is far more important than one’s class background. Churchill was born in a palace the grandson of a duke, went to one of the top schools in the country, and never took a bus in his life, but he could speak directly to the needs of what he called the cottage home. When commanding in the trenches of the Great War, he put his earlier campaigning experience to good use in always trying to ensure the men had their creature comforts, such as beer, fresh bread, and a good postal service to connect them with their families.

Political Awareness

Leaders must have a sixth sense for politics, such as in the importance of having a feel for the coup d’œil, a sense of timing, an aptitude for observation, the gift of working out what is genuinely important as opposed to merely diversionary, a faculty for predicting an opponent’s likely behavior in differing scenarios. Of course opportunism can never be underestimated. “A statesman must,” in Otto von Bismarck’s phrase, “wait and listen until he hears the steps of God sounding through events; then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.”

Sometimes, of course, having all these qualities is still not enough. Napoleon had a staggering number of impressive leadership qualities. He was able to compartmentalize his mind, plan meticulously with a well-trained staff under Marshal Alexandre Berthier, appreciate terrain and guess what was on the other side of the hill, time his attacks perfectly, exhibit steady nerves to his entourage, encourage esprit de corps, publish inspirational proclamations, control the news cycle, adapt to modern tactical concepts, ask the right questions, and show utter ruthlessness when necessary. His charisma was not artificially created, and until the end he enjoyed remarkable runs of good luck. Above all, perhaps, he was single-minded in spotting the moment when he could exploit a numerical advantage at the decisive point on the battlefield. Napoleon had all of these important leadership traits, but he still made the terrible error at Maloyaroslavets on October 25, 1812, of choosing the wrong direction by which to take his army out of Russia. However generous the sprites and fairies are when they gather around the great leader’s cradle with their gifts, there always seems to be a malicious one present to snatch back one gift from the cornucopia.

If you want to know what will move hearts and command multitudes today and in the future, there is only one thing to do: Study the past. In May 1953 Churchill said, “Study history. Study history. In history lie all the secrets of statecraft,” and the same is true of statecraft’s vital subsection, war leadership. If there is one quality that all the great war leaders possessed, it is that which Lord St. Vincent ascribed to Horatio Nelson. St. Vincent did not much like his fellow admiral personally, but he readily admitted that Nelson “possessed the magic art of infusing his own spirit into others.” Great leaders are able to make soldiers and civilians believe that they are part of a purpose that matters more than even their continued existence on the planet, and that the leader’s spirit is infused into them. Whether it is a ‘magic art’ or ‘sinister genius’ can be decided by moralists, but in it lies the secret of successful leadership.

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Great Leader Essay

Leadership is not a notion but a quality in itself. It is easy to be the boss and give orders but equally difficult to be a part of the process and lead it. As a leader, you should know the pros and cons of each of your team members and simultaneously ensure that your team keeps on growing. And remember, as a leader, it becomes your job to maintain unity in your team and ensure that your team is guided by mutual respect. Here are a few sample essays on great leader.

100 Words Essay on Great Leader

A good leader is very much needed in this world . The greatest quality that any leader can have is vision, the ability to see the future of their organisation or team, its capability, and what it will take to achieve that position. The ability to convey the vision to others holds the same importance as having a vision. This means maintaining a positive view of the organisation, helping team members stay focused, motivated, and engaged, and remembering the field they are working in. A good leader should also have critical thinking towards his work and be mindful about the opinion of their own team members.

200 Words Essay on Great Leader

Based on several qualities such as determination, perseverance, charisma, over time, we have found that several leaders have taken over a place in the hearts of the people by not only sympathising with them but empathising as well. Unless and until you put yourself into the shoes of others, you won't be able to relate to their situation. Thus, the situation itself would remain unaddressed and the problem unsolved. Mahatma Gandhi didn't lead India to its freedom by wearing his lawyer's cloak and enjoying the money that he earned. He understood that to make people do what you want, you must step in their shoes and that is exactly what he did.

Nelson Mandela knew that there had to be someone who would raise their voice to address the discrimination against Blacks, and he took the responsibility into his own hands. The position you stand in doesn't give you the qualities of a great leader, but the qualities you imbibe and the way you implement decisions are what is needed.

A good leader must undoubtedly motivate their supporters. A leader must serve as an example for his subordinates. Additionally, they ought to inspire them whenever possible. A leader must also maintain hope in trying times.

500 Words Essay on Great Leader

Let us delve deeper into the details of a few great leaders of all times who have not only inspired us to date but will keep on doing so in future as well.

Gandhi | Let us begin the journey with Mahatma Gandhi or Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi, whose knowledge and great endeavours led India to its long-desired freedom. What makes him different from others is his fight using non-violent methods and how these methods themselves were quite persuasive in favour of India. His resilience, determination and willpower sustained him through all thick and thin. The Civil Disobedience movement, the Dandi March and the Non- cooperation movement are examples of his efforts. Despite being a popular leader, he excelled in academics as well. And thus, knowledge combined with empathy earned him the title of 'Father of the Nation' .

Nelson Mandela | Next on the list is the African leader Nelson Mandela, whose 'Long walk to Freedom' is not unknown to the world. Mandela's fight and determination had also led him behind bars, yet not even for a second did his determination dwindle. Mandela appealed to the masses, not because he was a philanthropist or a politician, but because he understood their needs and issues and addressed them with utmost sincerity. His long struggle against apartheid earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Mandela did not just fight evil from the outside and had first-hand experience with it.

Martin Luther King Jr. | Martin Luther King Jr. did not just have a dream but had the vision of putting it into reality, which is what he worked for. Like Gandhi's beliefs and ideals, Martin Luther King Jr. was a Civil Rights Activist who envisioned an equal world and thus fought for the rights of African-Americans. His vision was not blurred, and his resilience was not unstable. Though America is still struggling with these anti-black sentiments, the percentage has declined to a very low level. Luther's dream is slowly and gradually taking the shape of reality.

Lincoln | The 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln , cannot be left off the list. His fight against slavery and his leadership in the Civil war all have been successful to get America a united front. Lincoln's name has often come coupled with democracy because he gave this idea for the world to follow to date.

Mother Teresa | In this list, next comes the name of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa , whose selflessness, empathy and dedication won over the hearts of everyone. Mother Teresa worked for the vulnerable, the orphans and those whose own families had been denied help. She has been called 'Mother' because of her pure love and dedication towards all.

Though not elaborated upon, many other leaders have inspired the world. Napoleon Bonaparte, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Julius Caesar, and Dalai Lama are other prominent names of world-renowned leaders.

Qualities Of Great Leaders

The one thing that makes great leaders amazing is that they want their people to grow into better people, which makes them better employees. They encourage employees to participate in discussions, submit their ideas, and learn new skills.

Great leaders are very clear with their vision and incredibly focused on achieving that vision. They know how to make decisions at the right time and move towards the goal.

Great leaders indirectly create loyal customers by creating an environment for employers to shine. A great leader who understands sharing of ideas, collaboration and transparency will automatically create a culture for employees where they will be able to please the customers.

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What Does Leadership Mean to You Essay: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the essence of leadership through personal reflections and key insights in this comprehensive essay on what does leadership mean to you.

Leadership is a term that we often hear, but what does it really mean? When we talk about leadership, we aren't just referring to someone who holds a position of authority. True leadership goes beyond titles and hierarchies; it's about influence, inspiration, and guiding others toward a shared vision. In this article, we'll explore the concept of leadership in-depth, focusing on what leadership means to your essay. We'll break down the key components of leadership, highlight important qualities of a leader, and answer some frequently asked questions about leadership. So, let's dive in!

Understanding Leadership

Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. This can be achieved through various means, such as inspiration, persuasion, and setting an example. Leadership is not limited to a specific context; it can be seen in various settings, including businesses, communities, schools, and even within families.

Key Components of Leadership

Influence: Leadership is fundamentally about influencing others. This influence can be direct or indirect and can manifest through communication, actions, or the leader's presence.
Vision: A leader has a clear vision of what they want to achieve. They can see the big picture and communicate it effectively to their team.
Integrity: Ethical behavior and integrity are at the heart of effective leadership. Leaders lead by example, setting high standards for themselves and their team.
Empathy: Understanding and addressing the emotional and psychological needs of team members is crucial. Empathetic leaders build trust and create a supportive work environment.
Adaptability: Leaders must be flexible and open to change. They need to navigate uncertainties and adjust their strategies as needed.

Qualities of a Good Leader

To understand what does leadership mean to you essay, it’s essential to recognize the qualities that define a good leader. Here are some of the most important ones:

Effective Communication: Leaders must communicate clearly and persuasively. This involves both speaking and listening skills.
Decision-Making Skills: Good leaders make informed decisions, often under pressure, and stand by them.
Accountability: Leaders take responsibility for their actions and the outcomes of their decisions.
Inspirational: A leader inspires and motivates their team to achieve their best.
Problem-Solving Skills: Leaders are adept at identifying problems and finding effective solutions.

The Impact of Leadership

Leadership has a profound impact on organizations and communities. According to a study by Gallup, companies with effective leadership experience 21% greater profitability. Furthermore, teams with strong leadership see a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity. These statistics highlight the tangible benefits of good leadership.

Personal Perspective: What Does Leadership Mean to You?

When writing about what does leadership mean to you essay, it's crucial to incorporate personal reflections. Here's a structured approach to expressing your thoughts:

My Leadership Journey

Reflecting on my experiences, leadership to me means being a beacon of support and guidance. It's about stepping up during challenging times and showing the way forward with confidence and empathy.

Lessons Learned

Throughout my journey, I’ve learned several important lessons about leadership:

Lead by Example: Your actions speak louder than words. Demonstrate the behavior you want to see in others.
Value Each Team Member: Recognize the unique strengths of each individual and leverage them to achieve collective success.
Stay Humble: Acknowledge your mistakes and be open to feedback. This builds trust and respect within the team.

Personal Definition of Leadership

Leadership, to me, is about creating a positive impact on others. It's about helping people realize their potential and working together towards common goals. It's not just about being in charge but about serving others and making a difference in their lives.

FAQs About Leadership

What are the different styles of leadership.

There are several leadership styles, including:

Autocratic: Centralized decision-making with little input from team members.
Democratic: Involves team members in decision-making processes.
Transformational: Inspires and motivates team members to exceed expectations.
Transactional: Focuses on structured tasks and rewards for performance.
Laissez-Faire: Provides team members with freedom to make decisions.

How can I develop leadership skills?

Developing leadership skills involves:

Continuous Learning: Attend workshops, read books, and seek mentorship.
Practice: Take on leadership roles in various settings to gain experience.
Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your strengths and areas for improvement.
Feedback: Seek constructive feedback from peers and mentors.

Why is emotional intelligence important in leadership?

Emotional intelligence is crucial because it helps leaders understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of others. This leads to better communication, conflict resolution, and overall team dynamics.

Bullet Points: Key Takeaways

Leadership is about influence, vision, integrity, empathy, and adaptability.
Effective leaders possess qualities such as effective communication, decision-making skills, accountability, inspiration, and problem-solving abilities.
Good leadership significantly impacts organizational success, leading to higher profitability and productivity.
Personal experiences and reflections are essential in understanding what leadership means to you.
Different leadership styles suit different contexts, and developing leadership skills requires continuous learning and practice.
Emotional intelligence plays a vital role in effective leadership.

Integrating Facts and Stats

Companies with effective leadership experience 21% greater profitability (Gallup).
Teams with strong leadership see a 41% reduction in absenteeism and a 17% increase in productivity (Gallup).
A study by Harvard Business Review found that 58% of companies with a clear leadership development program saw improved employee engagement and retention.

In conclusion, understanding what does leadership mean to you essay is a multifaceted exploration of personal beliefs, experiences, and the qualities that define effective leadership. Leadership is not just about holding a position of power; it's about inspiring and guiding others, creating a vision, and fostering an environment of trust and collaboration. By reflecting on personal experiences and integrating key qualities and facts about leadership, you can craft a compelling essay that highlights the true essence of leadership.

So, what does leadership mean to you? Take the time to reflect, understand your perspective, and share your insights. Leadership is a journey, and your unique experiences and reflections are what make your understanding of it truly valuable.

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What Makes a Great Leader?

What makes a great leader? A frequently asked question that has been researched and answered in countless ways over time. Where leadership was once mostly top-down and authoritarian , we now live in a day and age where leaders prioritize the needs of their followers and lead with qualities such as empathy, encouragement and accountability.

There is of course not one right answer to what makes a great leader , as this greatly depends on the group of followers and the situation . It is not just the personal characteristics of the leader that are decisive; those of the followers are too. In addition, the situation is determinative and the leadership style depends on this.

Situational Leadership

In the 1970s management consultants Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard specified and further developed the concept of Situational Leadership . They indicated that the effectiveness of the leadership style is dependent on the situation, and what determines the situation are both the maturity of the employees and their attitudes.

Hersey and Blanchard therefore distinguish between four levels of maturity, or leadership approaches, that can be placed in their Situational Leadership Model:

S1. Directing: a lot of direction by the leader and little support; low competence and low motivation.
S2. Coaching: a lot of direction by the leader and a lot of support; low competence and high motivation.
S3. Supporting: little direction by the leader and a lot of support; high competence and low motivation.
S4. Delegating: little direction by the leader and little support; high competence and high motivation.

Situational Leadership Model - Toolshero

Figure 1. Situational Leadership Model by Blanchard and Hersey

Successful leaders will have to adapt their situational leadership styles to the various situations and the suitability of their followers or employees.

Path Goal Theory

Another leadership theory that assumes that leaders are flexible and can adapt their leadership style to the situation, is the Path Goal Theory . Management experts Robert J. House and Terence R. Mitchell , who developed this theory, also distinguish between 4 leadership styles:

Directive leadership: the leader knows exactly what must be done and how. Employees get close supervision.
Supportive leadership: the leader pays a lot of attention to the needs and well-being of the employees. Employees get the support they need.
Achievement-oriented leadership: the leader trusts the ability of the employees and sets challenging goals, expecting achievement. Employees work independently and have problem-solving capacities.
Participative leadership: the leader works closely with the employees and includes their ideas and opinion. Employees are highly involved and have specialist knowledge.

Path-Goal Theory of Leadership model - toolshero

Figure 2. Path-Goal Theory of Leadership Model by House and Mitchell

The Path-Goal Theory ensures that leaders can improve the output of their organisation by influencing their employees and guiding them to their goal. They know what motivates their employees and adjust their leadership style accordingly.

Theory X and Theory Y

One more leadership theory that aligns with the idea of adapting leadership styles according to followers or employees, is the Theory X and Theory Y by management professor Douglas McGregor . McGregor argues that the style of leadership depends on the manager’s perception of people and their capabilities.

Theory X starts from the assumption that people are naturally lazy, want to avoid work as much as possible, do not wish to take responsibility, have no ambition and prefer to be supervised. Theory Y management assumes that people are inherently happy to work, they want to exert themselves in the decision making process and they are motivated to pursue objectives and reach a higher level.

So, in addition to their preference for a certain leadership style and the work that has to be done, a leader or manager will either opt for Theory X or Theory Y. These two theories are however not based on a single truth. Additionally, Theory X managers and Theory Y managers often see their perceptions of people confirmed. Therefore, a good manager must realize that leadership affects employee behaviour.

Adaptive Leadership

All in all, the above theories show that one of the key qualities of a good leader is adaptability. The importance of which is confirmed in research by Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky at Harvard University. They developed the Adaptive Leadership theory, which focuses on 4 dimensions that help leaders to better prepare for and adapt to unpredictable business environments:

1. Navigating business environments

Adaptive leaders should embrace uncertainty and encourage the organisation to look for new approaches.

2. Leading with empathy

Adaptive leaders create a group attitude instead of an atmosphere of divide and conquer. They understand alternative perspectives and ideas and are able to share them with others by looking at the organisation through the eyes of others.

3. Learning through self-correction and reflection

Adaptive leaders encourage experimentation. Some experiments will fail, but those failures can serve as lessons for the future.

4. Creating win-win solutions

Dimensions of Adaptive Leadership - Toolshero

Figure 3. The Four Dimensions of Adaptive Leadership

Improving Your Leadership

It is clear that there are different leadership styles and approaches to choose from as a leader. What makes a great leader, depends on several factors, like the group and the situation. Therefore, adaptability is an essential quality. But there are many other qualities and skills you can consider when it comes to great leadership, like:

Communication skills
Problem-solving skills
Emotional intelligence skills
Authenticity
Self-discipline
Influence skills

Have a look on our platform to learn more about the different styles, qualities and skills in leadership . Becoming a Toolshero member gives you unlimited access to an extensive database with practical knowledge to improve your leadership skills, at an affordable price . You pick and choose, according to your needs.

It can furthermore be useful to explore your own leadership style in order to maximize it, as well as learn practical leadership skills in a course format to become a better leader. Have a look at the online courses below to see what works for you. Wishing you much success, growth & fulfilment on your leadership journey!

Resources to dive deeper:

What’s Your Leadership Style? – Course and Certificate
Leadership Mastery | Self-Discipline & Influence Skills – Course and Certificate
Mastering Adaptive Leadership – Course and Certificate
Practical Leadership Skills – Course and Certificate
The Emotionally Intelligent Leader – Course and Certificate

How to cite this article: Baas, S. L. (2024). What Makes a Great Leader? . Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/blog/what-makes-a-great-leader/

Original publication date: 05/29/2024 | Last update: 05/29/2024

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Sheryl Lynn Baas

Sheryl Lynn Baas is our Communications Manager at Toolshero and you might recognize her from our learning videos. Sheryl’s academic background is in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology and she is the founder of the Sheryl Lynn Foundation, a non-profit for children and education in the Philippines. She’s a jack-of-all-trades and furthermore shares her gifts as a spiritual coach , presenter and DJ. Fun fact: she is former Miss Netherlands 2006.

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Anyone Can Learn to Be a Better Leader

Monique Valcour

You just have to put in the work.

Occupying a leadership position is not the same thing as leading. To lead, you must be able to connect, motivate, and inspire a sense of ownership of shared objectives. Heightening your capacity to lead others requires being able to see how you think and act, and how your behavior affects others. Leading well requires a continuous journey of personal development. Yet people in leadership roles often eschew the long and challenging work of deepening self-insight in favor of chasing after management “tools”— preferably the “quick ’n’ easy” kind, such as personality type assessments that reduce employees to a few simplistic behavioral tendencies. Tools can be handy aids to good leadership. But none of them can take the place of fearless introspection, feedback seeking, and committed efforts to behavioral change for greater effectiveness and increased positive impact on others.

When you’re an individual contributor, your ability to use your technical expertise to deliver results is paramount. Once you’ve advanced into a leadership role, however, the toolkit that you relied on to deliver individual results rarely equips you to succeed through others. Beware of falling into the logical trap of “if I can do this work well, I should be able to lead a team of people who do this work.” This would be true if leading others were akin to operating a more powerful version of the same machinery you operated previously. But it’s not; machinery doesn’t perform better or worse based on what it thinks about you and how you make it feel, while humans do .

MV Monique Valcour is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and management professor. She helps clients create and sustain fulfilling and high-performance jobs, careers, workplaces, and lives. moniquevalcour

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Leadership Essay: Qualities of a Good Leader Essay & Paragraph

A leader is one who leads the people. Leadership requires certain qualities. What qualities make someone a good leader? Here are a bunch of essays & Paragraphs about the Qualities of a Good Leader for students and examinees, which shed light on this question.

Qualities of A Good Leader Essay & Paragraph - allparagraph.com

Leadership Essay for Students, 1300 Words

By: Haque | For advanced students | 15-02-’23

Introduction

Traits of effective leaders.

Effective leaders possess certain traits that allow them to inspire, guide, and motivate others towards a common goal. While there are many different traits that can contribute to effective leadership, the following are some of the most important:

A. Visionary: Effective leaders have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and are able to articulate that vision to others. They are able to inspire and motivate others to work towards that vision, and are able to adapt and adjust the vision as circumstances change.

B. Good communication skills: Effective leaders are able to communicate clearly and persuasively with others. They are able to listen actively to others, give feedback constructively, and communicate their ideas effectively.

C. Emotional intelligence: Effective leaders are aware of their own emotions and are able to manage them effectively. They are also able to read and respond to the emotions of others, building strong relationships and inspiring trust and confidence.

D. Adaptability: Effective leaders are able to adapt to changing circumstances and are able to pivot and adjust their plans as needed. They are able to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems.

E. Decisiveness: Effective leaders are able to make decisions quickly and confidently, even in the face of uncertainty or ambiguity. They are able to weigh the risks and benefits of different options and choose the best course of action.

Different Styles of Leadership

There are many different styles of leadership, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The following are some of the most common styles of leadership:

A. Autocratic: Autocratic leaders make decisions without seeking input from others. They are often seen as authoritarian and controlling, but can be effective in situations where a quick decision is needed.

B. Democratic: Democratic leaders seek input and feedback from others before making decisions. They value collaboration and teamwork, and are often able to build strong relationships with their followers.

C. Laissez-faire: Laissez-faire leaders give their followers a great deal of autonomy and freedom. They provide little guidance or direction, instead letting their followers make their own decisions. While this can be effective in situations where followers are highly skilled and motivated, it can lead to a lack of direction and focus in other situations.

D. Transformational: Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their followers to achieve a common goal. They are able to communicate a compelling vision and build strong relationships with their followers, fostering a sense of loyalty and commitment.

E. Servant: Servant leaders prioritize the needs of their followers over their own needs. They are able to build strong relationships with their followers by providing support, guidance, and mentorship.

Each style of leadership has its own advantages and disadvantages, and effective leaders are able to adapt their style to the situation at hand.

The Role of Leadership in Organizations

Effective leadership is essential for the success of any organization. The following are some of the ways in which leaders contribute to the success of their organizations:

A. Setting a clear direction: Leaders are responsible for setting the direction and goals of the organization. They are able to articulate a compelling vision and communicate it to their followers, providing direction and focus.

B. Fostering a positive organizational culture: Leaders are able to shape the culture of their organization, creating a positive and supportive environment in which employees can thrive. They are able to build a sense of teamwork and collaboration, and foster a culture of innovation and creativity.

C. Developing and empowering employees: Leaders are able to develop and empower their employees, providing them with the tools and resources they need to be successful. They are able to provide feedback and mentorship, and to create opportunities for growth and development.

D. Building strong relationships with stakeholders: Leaders are able to build strong relationships with stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and investors. They are able to communicate effectively with these stakeholders, building trust and confidence and creating a sense of shared purpose.

Effective leadership is essential for the success of any organization, and leaders who are able to set a clear direction, foster a positive culture, develop and empower employees, and build strong relationships with stakeholders are able to create sustainable and successful organizations.

Challenges of Leadership

Leaders face a number of challenges in their roles, including the following:

A. Navigating change: Leaders are often responsible for leading their organizations through periods of change, such as mergers, acquisitions, or reorganizations. They must be able to navigate these changes effectively, communicating the reasons behind the change and helping employees to adapt to the new situation.

B. Managing conflicts: Leaders must be able to manage conflicts that arise within their organizations, whether between employees or between different departments. They must be able to listen to different perspectives and find a way to resolve conflicts in a way that is fair and effective.

C. Maintaining ethical standards: Leaders must be able to maintain high ethical standards in their organizations, ensuring that employees behave in an ethical and responsible manner. They must be able to make difficult decisions and stand up for what is right, even when it is not the easiest or most popular choice.

D. Motivating and retaining employees: Leaders must be able to motivate and retain their employees, creating a positive and supportive work environment that encourages growth and development. They must be able to provide feedback and recognition, and to create opportunities for employees to take on new challenges and responsibilities.

E. Dealing with uncertainty: Leaders must be able to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity, making decisions in situations where there is no clear answer. They must be able to weigh the risks and benefits of different options, and to make decisions that are in the best interests of their organizations and stakeholders.

Effective leaders are able to navigate these challenges, finding creative solutions to difficult problems and inspiring their followers to achieve their goals. They must be able to stay focused and resilient in the face of adversity, and to maintain their own physical and emotional well-being so that they can continue to lead effectively.

Effective leadership is essential for the success of any organization. Effective leaders are able to set a clear direction, foster a positive culture, develop and empower employees, and build strong relationships with stakeholders. However, leadership is not without its challenges, and leaders must be able to navigate change, manage conflicts, maintain ethical standards, motivate and retain employees, and deal with uncertainty.

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Rather, effective leaders are able to adapt their style to the situation at hand, drawing on different approaches as needed to achieve their goals.

Ultimately, effective leadership is about creating positive change, whether that is within an organization, a community, or society as a whole. Effective leaders are able to inspire and motivate their followers, creating a sense of shared purpose and a commitment to a common goal. With effective leadership, organizations can achieve great things and make a positive impact on the world.

Qualities of A Good Leader Essay, 350 Words

By: Haque | For class 9-10/SSC | 25-06-’22

A leader is someone who leads. Generally, by the word ‘leader’ we understand a political leader.

Everybody cannot be a good leader. It is said that a great leader is born, not made. The statement is debatable. But one thing is certain: A great leader must have certain qualities that make him great. And such great qualities rarely develop in a man. It requires a proper environment and the call of time.

Some of the important qualities of an ideal leader have been described below:

A good leader must have the ability to take the correct decision at the perfect moment. There are times when one has to make a decision instantly. Without the ability to identify the correct moment and proper decision, no one can be a good leader.
A leader has to be determined. He should have the determination to follow his decision unwaveringly.
A leader must have full command over his followers. Without being able to convince his followers to follow his decision, he cannot be a successful leader.
An ideal leader invariably has the speaking ability. A strong, forceful, and convincing speech can make people follow him without any doubt.
A leader must be compassionate to his followers.
A leader should be well-informed about the strengths and weaknesses of his team and should take corrective measures to overcome those weaknesses.
A leader should be honest to himself as well as to his followers.
A leader should be truthful. Everybody hates a liar. So, no liar can be a good leader and earn the respect of his followers.
A good leader should be sincere in his effort. Without sincerity, he will not be convincing to people.
Courage is one thing a good leader must-have. Without having courage a person cannot command the respect of his followers.

There are many other virtues and qualities a person needs to have to be a good leader. Some of them are courtesy, perseverance, good behavior, moral character, punctuality, patriotism, sacrificing attitude, and so on. To be a great leader a person has to try to acquire these qualities.

Qualities of A Good Leader Paragraph, 150 Words

By: Haque | For class 7-8 | 25-06-’22

The one who leads is called a leader, whether he is a political leader or a leader of an ideological movement. But we usually mean a political leader by the word ‘leader’. Not everyone can be a good leader. To be a good leader, one must possess certain qualities that take him to the forefront of the people. First, a good leader must have the ability to make the right decisions at the right moment. Second, a good leader will be a determined person. He is firm in his decision. Third, a leader must have the ability to influence his followers. Fourth, a good leader is an eloquent speaker. Because the ability to deliver a good speech helps a lot to be successful in leadership. In addition to these, a good leader is endowed with many other qualities such as courage, honesty, courtesy, keeping promises, punctuality, patriotism, selfless attitude etc.

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In 35 years, I’ve seen a host of business leaders – the good ones all shared these qualities

If you have a question for Helena Morrissey about work, pay or family, please email [email protected]

I once received a very unexpected phone call from an editor at Fortune magazine, Pattie Sellers. Pattie had interviewed me a couple of years earlier at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference in Los Angeles and had followed the progress of the 30% Club (an organisation I founded which has increased representation of women on UK corporate boards).

“Helena, we are naming you one of Fortune’s ‘World’s 50 Greatest Leaders’!” she exclaimed.

Just a week or so later, a colleague snapped at me in a meeting, “Show some leadership, Helena.”

The juxtaposition gave me pause for thought. Was I a great leader, or a terrible leader – or both? What was it about my leadership style that could prompt such plaudits and criticism? And was it possible to adapt so I could lead well every day, whatever the circumstances or task at hand?

The thinking around “leadership” has shifted enormously since I first started my career over 35 years ago.

There were great books on the topic published back then (I am a fan of Tom Peters’ Thriving On Chaos , 1987, for example), but in most companies no one really gave it much thought.

The boss was the person who told everyone what to do, and everyone was slightly scared of them.

Organisations had a clear pyramid power structure. Variations in personality meant that some leaders were more coercive, others more empathetic, but leading in a corporate context largely meant setting out a plan and telling workers to achieve it.

Power is now much more diffuse through any organisation. Whenever I talk to aspiring young professionals or students I remind them that they can lead at any level. Leadership today is as much an attitude of mind as a span of control.

And we don’t have to be “bossy” to be an effective leader.

There are now at least 18 different recognised styles of leadership (this is not an exhaustive list – I am sure you will think of others).

There is a time and a place for most of these leadership approaches, although without a doubt “softer” skills are considered to be increasingly valuable in today’s leaders. Real power now emanates from being able to inspire, not force. With less awe for authority, people need to believe that what they are being asked to do is worthwhile before they, in turn, commit.

To sustain success over time, a leader needs to blend the various styles or flex their approach. When my colleague lost patience with me, he wanted to see a more authoritative/autocratic leader; my usual style is more affiliative/creative/democratic.

And yes, that approach is more often associated with women. The debate continues over whether there are gender differences in leadership, but in my experience – including observing other female leaders – women do tend to lead in a more inclusive way. They may place more emphasis on culture, for example, and on creating buy-in to a vision. That may mean women are less likely to be perceived as “true” leaders because many people still think of leadership qualities in masculine terms.

Can we become better leaders? Absolutely. The starting point is self-awareness, understanding where we excel and identifying blind spots, so we can play to our strengths and consciously address the gaps.

I recommend taking the CliftonStrengths finder test – you have to buy an assessment, but it can help you understand what you naturally do best and how to develop your specific talents into strengths and become a leader. As the name suggests, it is strengths-based; there are no less than 34 themes. Building on yours can make you into a real leader in a way that trying to address your weaknesses never can.

The tests suggest I am a “strategic” leader. I can “sort through the clutter and find the best route”. I am good under pressure and love challenges. I am also a “developer”; I encourage a growth mindset. And I am an “activator” – I want to press on with solving a problem.

But I am not a “deliberative” leader. I will study things I am interested in, but am vulnerable to making mistakes if I am not.

This is my blind spot. I have learned to hire colleagues who love detail. We complement each other. It’s not always easy to work alongside people who have a very different mindset – but it’s critical. I once had a senior colleague whose interventions made me inwardly groan. He would shoot down every idea. But instead of brushing his concerns aside, I learnt to explore them and establish if it was just his natural risk-averse approach or if there was a legitimate reason to abandon or go slow. I ignored him at my peril.

I am often asked if some personalities make better leaders. We have all seen children – or been them – who are “natural leaders”. I became a “Brownie Sixer” (leader of a group of Brownies, pre-Girl Guides) almost from the moment I joined the Brownies. I was seven years old.

Some people enjoy leading, while others naturally shy away, seeing themselves as less inclined or capable of leadership. But at this point in my career I really have seen all types of people succeed as leaders, with very different personalities, backgrounds and ways of working with others.

They are men and women, old and young, privileged and much less so, extroverted and introverted (yes, you can be a great and introverted leader!). They do share some key traits: they are self-aware, committed, and have an inquiring mind. But personality-wise they cover the whole gamut.

So if you want to be a leader, and a good one, remember it’s a skill that you can develop – and keep on developing throughout your life and career.

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In 35 years, I've seen a host of business leaders – the good ones all shared these qualities

Published February 5, 2024
10 Minute Read

Purpose in Leadership: Why & How

Photo of woman smiling because she's found her purpose in leadership and understands why purpose-driven leadership is important

What Is Purpose-Driven Leadership?

As news headlines proliferate about what today’s employees want from work and how much organizations can expect from their people, purpose is emerging as a critical success factor. Purpose in leadership supports improved individual and organizational outcomes.

Purpose-driven leadership means helping employees find personal meaning in their work and fostering a deeply committed workforce that thrives on shared goals and aspirations. Purpose-driven leaders model value-based decision-making, take time to learn what truly matters to their employees, connect work to a greater objective, and help employees understand their organization’s mission and find ways to personally connect to it.

But purpose, just like organizational culture change, doesn’t thrive without intentional effort. To create a sustainable culture of purpose-driven leadership, managers must embody and promote a sense of purpose in their leadership, daily operations, and decision-making.

Why Is Purpose-Driven Leadership Important?

Understanding the role of purpose in leadership.

Purpose-driven leadership helps create a shared sense of direction, alignment, and commitment and fosters greater performance, persistence, and belonging at the organization. In fact, purpose is often one of the main drivers of employee engagement and satisfaction. Our research with emerging leaders around the globe suggests that purpose is one of the greatest predictors of whether young professionals pursue leadership positions and, for those in a leadership role, whether leaders feel empowered to make a difference. Purpose-driven leaders are more likely to develop and maintain strong relationships with their direct reports and are better equipped to navigate leadership challenges.

Articulating a clear, inspiring vision that resonates with direct reports and colleagues is key for purpose-driven leadership. Purpose-driven leaders also create space for alignment of goals and values between individual employees and the overall organization. When employees understand why they’re carrying out their work, they care more about what they accomplish.

Though critical for all employees, value alignment is especially key for younger generations in the workforce. At a time where Gen Z and Millennials are at the heart of the Great Reshuffling, organizational mission and vision can be an important deciding factor in recruitment and retention — especially among younger workers — in the post-pandemic world. Finding purpose in day-to-day work also helps employees persist, even through challenging tasks.

Purpose Is Universal, But Not Uniform

6 things that drive a sense of purpose.

While the desire for purpose is a fundamental human need, what employees value is not. Research suggests that purpose can arise from a range of sources, such as:

Utility: Work is practically relevant to our goals and aspirations, either now or in the future.
Personal Development: Work facilitates opportunities for self-growth, developing either skillsets or mindsets in personally meaningful ways.
Impact: Work empowers us to make a tangible and positive difference in the world, contributing to the greater good of society, our communities, or those close to us.
Identity Reinforcement: Work reinforces our sense of self, aligning with the core elements of who we are.
Intrinsic Interest: Work is inherently fun and energizing, offering enjoyable experiences that naturally appeal to our interests.
External Rewards: Work leads to a desirable payoff, from a paycheck to a promotion.

As varied as the unique experiences that individuals bring to work are the ways they find meaning in it. Take, for instance, being asked to help start a new employee resource group at an organization. One person may jump at the opportunity because it helps display leadership potential (utility) and is accompanied by an additional stipend (external). Another might agree because they see themselves as someone who advocates for wellbeing (identity) and want to support work colleagues (prosocial). Both employees may be taking the same purpose-driven action, but they have different reasons for doing so. Without exploring their unique drivers, leaders simply cannot know why employees choose to engage at work.

6 Things That Drive a Sense of Purpose Infographic

Each Finding Their Own Meaning Is Critical

Why is it important to know what your employees value? Because telling them where to find meaning can backfire. In one study , researchers conducted a series of experiments teaching college students a new mental math technique. They found that telling students why the approach was valuable undermined how well they applied it and how interested they were in using it in the future. Importantly, this impacted the least confident students the most.

Consider a parallel at work. If a sales director tells his regional leads exactly why they should care about a new system for tracking leads, there’s a stronger chance that buy-in and performance will suffer if those reasons don’t personally matter to the employees. If employees have an opportunity to identify why the system is useful to them and make connections for themselves, by contrast, they’re likely to use the program more frequently and effectively. You want each person to be able to determine for themselves why and how their work connects to purpose, rather than dictating to them why it’ll be valuable. When your employees have autonomy to find their own meaning, a culture of purpose is easier to cultivate.

To be clear, this doesn’t imply that leaders should avoid sharing their own reasons why work is meaningful. Modeling conversations about purposeful leadership can help employees find their own meanings. The critical piece is to allow individuals the freedom and permission to consider and discuss their own purpose, so their reasons feel relevant and personal to them.

Implementing Purpose-Driven Leadership at Your Organization

2 keys for cultivating greater purpose in leadership.

It’s one thing to say that purpose is important, and another to create a culture of purpose-driven leadership at your organization. While few people disagree that purpose in leadership is important, it’s not ubiquitous. If leading with purpose was easy or intuitive, everyone would be doing it.

So, how can managers embrace and embody purpose in leadership and their everyday work? Here are 2 essential keys to cultivating an environment where managers and employees can connect and find purpose in leadership and in their daily work.

1. Weave Organizational Mission, Vision & Values Into Your Communications.

Remember that employees have to know the organization’s overarching purpose before they can make connections to it for themselves. Values may drive your organization’s decision-making at the most senior levels, but they’re easy for employees to overlook in the midst of projects, deadlines, and day-to-day activities. So, it’s important to speak often about your organization’s mission, vision, and values to give employees ample opportunities to connect and align their own values to their tasks and projects.

Make purpose more salient for them by effectively and intentionally communicating the vision , mission, and values of the organization — and by reinforcing these again and again over time.

To try more purpose-driven leadership: Model finding connections between organizational values and your team’s (or your own) projects whenever possible. Some specific practices to try :

Seek out opportunities to build purpose alignment into existing structures at work, such as during annual reviews or all-staff meetings. Invite your senior leadership team to provide examples of leading with purpose (both personal and organizational) in public settings, company-wide communications, quarterly retreats, and team meetings. Personal, specific, and meaningful stories are most effective at signaling a commitment to purpose and catalyzing greater buy-in and alignment. Make a point of bringing powerful real-life experiences to the forefront; sharing examples of helping others or bettering a community at large through corporate social responsibility efforts can be particularly helpful.
Consider asking colleagues directly what parts of the organizational mission resonate most for each of them. You can open the door for deeper exploration by modeling; simply take 5 minutes to think about or list your personal values, current work activities, and note the specific, meaningful connections you see between them. Share as much of this as you like and use it as a discussion-starter to learn more about what matters most to others. When new employees onboard or move into bigger roles, intentionally engage them in team meetings or one-on-one conversations about how their work might fit into the bigger organizational picture.
At the beginning and/or end of projects, build in time for team members to reflect on how the project contributes to the organization’s overall business objectives and mission. This can be part of the conversations for setting team norms up front, or used as an exercise during an after-action review or “lessons learned” session after the fact.

When weaving organizational purpose and mission into conversations, remember that employees need dedicated time to reflect on the connections for themselves. By building in intentional opportunities to find meaning, purpose-driven leaders signal to employees that finding purpose at work is a valued part of the organizational culture.

Access Our Webinar!

Watch our webinar, Why Organizations Should Encourage Leadership Purpose , to learn how managers who help their teams find personal meaning and connection foster purpose-driven leadership, leading to increased productivity, employee engagement, and retention.

2. Understand What Drives Your Team Members.

The more you know your employees — and create opportunities for them to connect with one another and the larger organization — the easier it is to help reinforce their sense of purpose. Seek to understand the perspectives of your direct reports through a lens of showing compassion and respect for their diverse identities, as each individual brings a different set of experiences and aspirations to work.

Compassionate leadership means being aware of the feelings, thoughts, and needs of others. Compassion enables leaders to understand and respond to the unique needs, perspectives, and emotions of their teams, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment. Beyond the obvious feel-good value of showing compassion, our researchers have found that managers who practice empathy toward those they are responsible for are viewed as better performers by their bosses. It’s a “win” for all involved.

Purpose-driven leaders also understand and leverage the power of identity. This involves both creating an environment where team members feel psychologically safe at work to share their personal experiences and understanding the way that employees view themselves with respect to work. For instance, our research suggests that simply identifying as a leader is associated with greater confidence and engagement in the workplace and can be cultivated by support from others.

To try more purpose-driven leadership: Help employees recognize and embrace the many different reasons they might find meaning at work. Some specific practices to try:

Share your own reasons that you find your work meaningful, providing examples of several different sources of purpose. Speak in the first person (using I , we , my , our , etc.), and encourage them to do the same. Include details and examples to help build more specific and meaningful connections and invite them to share their personal “why” with one another (and you).
Make space for whatever they share about their perspectives and experiences, remembering that purpose is universal — but not uniform. Normalize that there is no “right” way to find meaning at work. As conversations unfold, actively listen for what matters most to your employees. You may want to keep notes for yourself on what you learn about each person’s purpose so you can refer back later, especially if you manage a large team.
Use this information to help make work more personally relevant for each individual. Importantly, after gaining a better understanding of what drives each of your employees, keep that top-of-mind going forward when interacting with them, assigning tasks, and planning growth and development opportunities for them. That way, you’re motivating employees in a tailored and personalized way.

By working from an understanding of what is individually meaningful to each of your team members, showing compassion for their experiences and identities, and using this information to tailor your interactions, work assignments, and development plans for them going forward, you signal support for employee wellbeing and create an environment where employees feel valued, respected, engaged, and eager to contribute — ultimately driving your team and organization forward.

A Closing Word on Purpose in Leadership

Organizations with a focus on purpose in leadership — with managers who help direct reports find meaning in their work and connect their personal values to the organization’s — have a better chance of attracting, engaging, and retaining talent and enabling the enterprise to meet business objectives more effectively.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Equip your people managers with the mindsets and skillsets required for purpose-driven leadership. Partner with us to create a customized learning journey for your leaders using our research-backed modules. Available leadership topics include Authentic Leadership , Collaboration & Teamwork, Emotional Intelligence, Listening to Understand, Psychological Safety, Self-Awareness, Wellbeing, and more.

PDF & Print-Friendly Version

Stephanie is a researcher with a background in developmental and educational psychology. Her research at CCL focused primarily on promoting equitable and inclusive organizational cultures, exploring collective leadership through networks, and enhancing motivation and empowerment for leaders across their professional journeys.

Paige designs and facilitates custom leadership development solutions, specializing in wellbeing , senior team performance, organizational change, innovation, talent, and culture. Before joining us, she developed a course on leadership adaptability for the US Army War College, worked as a senior consultant and vice president of an international consulting and assessments company, and served 4 years as a university professor and department chair.

Based on Research by

Jean develops, oversees, and helps implement programs, projects, and processes that support the vision and the short- and long-term plans of the global Leadership Research and Analytics group. She’s published more than 100 pieces on leadership, assessment, and feedback — in the form of peer-reviewed articles, popular-press articles, book chapters, and books — and has presented over 70 papers at professional conferences such as the Academy of Management and the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists.

Bill’s research at CCL focused on examining what leaders, particularly first-time managers, can do to be successful in their work and life, and to avoid derailment. He’s the author of Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders and co-author of the guidebook Developing Political Savvy .

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10 Ways to Become a Better Leader

Learn how to be a good leader to improve your team's engagement and success.

Anyone can sit in a corner office and delegate tasks, but there is more to effective leadership than that. Effective leaders have major impacts on not only the team members they manage, but also their company as a whole. Employees who work under great leaders tend to be happier, more productive and more connected to their organization. And this has a ripple effect that reaches your business’s bottom line.

Not everyone is a natural-born leader. However, there are strategies you can use to improve your leadership. Similarly, there are a handful of mistakes to avoid if you want to be a good leader.

Assessing whether you’re a good or bad leader

Business News Daily spoke with CEOs, directors and leadership experts to learn what good leadership strategies are and how you can incorporate them in your own organization.

“I think a great leader is one who makes those around them better,” Dana Brownlee, founder of Professionalism Matters, told Business News Daily. “There are many litmus tests for a great leader, but I really look to those around them: Are they growing, becoming better leaders themselves, motivated, etc.?”

If you look around and see your team members have become disengaged or stagnant in their work, it may be time to reassess and reform your strategies. According to Brownlee, the following behaviors are signs you may have a poor leadership strategy:

No one on your team has criticized one of your ideas in the past month.
You spend more time planning your own career progression than that of your team members.
You haven’t had at least three completely non-work-related conversations with a team member weekly.
Different team members would provide different answers if asked your top three priorities for the year.
Team members are afraid to fail.

More than half of new leaders fail within their first 18 months. You can avoid becoming part of this staggering statistic by incorporating good leadership strategies that motivate your team members to accomplish their goals.

How to be a good leader

Every leader has their own style, but there are certain characteristics all great leaders share. The below practices are often the hallmarks of a successful leader.

1. Engage in honest, open communication.

One of the most important elements of effective leadership is creating an open line of communication with your team members. Sanjay Patoliya, founder of Teclogiq and software developer at NextBits Group, said your own honesty and transparency should serve as an example for your team members.

“When you are responsible for a team of people, it is important to be straightforward,” he said. “Your company and its employees are a reflection of yourself, and if you make honest and ethical behavior … a key value, your team will follow.”

Brownlee added that people with effective leadership language are able to customize their interactions and communication styles to suit each situation and team member. “This means they take the time to figure out which communication mode is preferred by each team member; e.g., are they a text person, email, phone or face-to-face? They’re also great listeners and are authentically interested in other people.”

Listening to your employees and displaying transparency can build trust among your team and boost overall morale . Ruslan Fazlyev, former CEO and founder of e-commerce solutions provider Ecwid and current board member at Seller Labs, said that in all your communications, it’s crucial to be genuine above all else.

“There are many leadership styles; there’s no right and wrong,” he said. “But there’s genuine, and there’s fake. There’s no following to fake leadership.”

2. Connect with your team members.

Leading a group of people requires a mutual sense of trust and understanding between the leader and their team members. To achieve this, leaders should learn to connect.

Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie, a leadership writer and consultant, said that being a “more human” leader requires positivity, purpose, empathy, compassion, humility and love. These key traits will put you on the road to genuine connections with the members of your team.

“Building a real, personal connection with your teammates is vital to developing the shared trust necessary to build a strong culture of accountability and exceptional performance,” St. Marie said. “With that culture in place, the team can achieve a successful business, a happy team and a fulfilled leader.”

To build a connection with each of your team members, focus on getting to know their personalities, interests, strengths, weaknesses, hobbies and preferences. This can give you insight into their goals and motivations.

Patoliya said successful leaders allow their teams to develop autonomy and add value according to their own personal strengths. “Being able to recognize the strengths of individuals within their team, and allowing them to be responsible and accountable, not only increases employees’ confidence in themselves and their leader, but also increases their performance.”

3. Encourage personal and professional growth.

Acting as your team’s cheerleader is an important part of being an effective leader. You should be invested in their success and growth.

Keri Ohlrich, the CEO of HR consulting company Abbracci Group, said that leaders should set aside a budget, if only a small one, to dedicate to the growth of their employees.

“With options as varied as on-demand, virtual [and] in-person options, there’s ample opportunity to continue learning new skills or further developing existing ones,” she said. “Empower your employees to take the time to learn and infuse that in the work they do.”

In addition to investing in your employees’ growth financially, you should invest emotionally. John Rampton, founder and CEO of the app company Calendar, said that great leaders empower their employees to grow by giving them challenging opportunities and guiding them as needed.

“To motivate and inspire employees, leadership strategy is about empowering others to do their best and take on new challenges,” he said. “Employees like challenges and feeling the satisfaction of overcoming them. Whether it’s a tough client, a difficult sale, a hard situation or whatever the case, it’s always good to let them take on these challenges.”

When leaders believe in their employees and give them the opportunity to learn and grow, they might be surprised at how much they can accomplish. Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks and encourage freedom and creativity.

4. Keep a positive attitude.

As much as leaders wish their team’s day-to-day operations could run smoothly all the time, they’re bound to run into the occasional obstacle. Whether it’s a minor miscommunication or a major error, the way you handle a negative situation says a lot about your leadership skills.

Robert Mann, author of The Measure of a Leader (iUniverse, 2013), recommended focusing on the good in any set of circumstances. “Look at three positive things about a problem before you identify what makes it dissatisfying. The more you look at the positives in a problem, the more positively people react with one another,” he said.

In his research, Mann found that after individuals point out things they’re happy with in a problematic situation, they don’t feel so strongly about the problem and are better able to think clearly and solve it. The same is true when a leader needs to improve their strategy. If you or a team member notices a particular course of action you’ve taken that just isn’t working, figure out some things you’ve done in the past that have worked.

Patoliya added that focusing on solutions rather than problems can help your team maintain positive engagement. “A positive environment is more likely to create a more engaged and productive workforce. By displaying enthusiasm and confidence, a good leader will see the impact they can have in their working environment,” she said.

5. Teach employees instead of giving orders.

An effective leader knows how to show others what is required rather than simply telling them. Luke Iorio, former president and current partner at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), said leaders should coach their team members toward a more collaborative, committed work environment – without coaxing them.

“[If you are] controlling people to do certain things in certain ways, you’re not going to get the level of engagement you’re looking for,” he said. “Coaching is about helping the people you lead recognize the choices they have in front of them. People will [then] take a great deal of ownership over the direction of the project.”

As opposed to simply barking orders at team members, Rampton said good leaders should encourage growth by teaching. “People wouldn’t grow if leaders never taught them anything. Leaders need to be teaching so they can grow new leaders to take their place.”

6. Set clear employee goals and expectations.

Setting clear goals and employee expectations for your team is key to employee success. When setting these objectives, encourage employee questions and feedback. Including team members in the goal-setting process can increase engagement.

Amish Shah, founder of ALTR Inc., said good leaders will explain the company vision and how team member goals fit into that equation.

“For a leader to motivate and inspire, they need to keep their team in the know about their vision,” he said. “This helps employees understand the end result they’re working towards as a unit. When goals are clearly set, everyone can track progress and identify achievements in a tangible manner.”

Ohlrich also stressed the importance of explaining how these goals impact the organization as a whole. She said that, regardless of seniority level, every employee should be able to articulate how the work they do supports the success of the company.

Don’t let team member goals go static. Periodically revisit objectives to modify or rearrange them as needed. This will let your team members know you are present and aware of what they’re working on.

7. Give direct feedback about performance.

Taso Du Val, co-founder and CEO of the Toptal freelance talent network, said direct, honest feedback – even if it’s criticism – is the best way to guide your team in the right direction. You also need to know exactly where your business is headed so you can give employees the right advice.

“If you’re not direct, people won’t know what you truly think about them and their work, and they will never be able to improve,” Du Val said. “If you don’t know the precise direction your company is headed, no matter how much you’ve communicated to your employees and leadership team regarding their individual performance, they will flounder when it comes to making decisions and taking actions. Once those basic principles are in place, deadlines, regular product plans, performance reviews, structure and processes can easily be put into place.”

In addition to providing constructive feedback and performance reviews , highlight employee accomplishments. If a team member does something great, let them know. Celebrate their wins and thank them for their hard work.

“Positive recognition will create an environment of productivity,” said Shah. “Acknowledging successes by outlining how it impacts the business, rather than with vague pats on the back, is not only encouraging, but also helps a person work better in the long run.”

8. Ask for feedback on your leadership.

Your team members aren’t the only ones who can benefit from honest feedback. A true self-assessment of your leadership can be difficult, so mentors, fellow professionals and even your own staff are invaluable in evaluating your effectiveness. According to St. Marie, talking to friends and peers can give you necessary perspective on your leadership style and approach.

Leadership coaching can also help you discover areas where you need improvement. A professional who helps you develop a plan to achieve your leadership goals can be more motivational than books and seminars alone.

“Coaching allows leaders to make the connection and apply [changes] in a real-life setting,” Iorio said. “You need time to integrate, process and reflect, and unless you go through those steps, you won’t have sustainable change.”

Fazlyev agreed, noting that your team can give you critical insight into what’s working, what’s not working and what obstructions you must overcome to achieve success.

9. Be open to new ideas.

Good leaders have the emotional intelligence to understand and accept that change is inevitable. Instead of trying to maintain a status quo just for the sake of consistency, embrace change and innovation. Be open to new ideas and alternative ways of thinking. Everyone brings a unique perspective to the table, and that is something to take advantage of, not discourage.

“When you’re open to hearing the thoughts of the talent around you is when you truly embrace every possibility and potential,” said Shah. “See things through till the end. Understand that there will be errors along the way, but if something doesn’t work, try to figure out why and how before scrapping it.”

When solving a problem, encourage team members to provide their insights. When employees feel they can openly bring new ideas to the conversation, true innovation, engagement and success can prevail.

10. Understand your own motivation.

If a person in a leadership position views their role as “just a job,” it’s going to show. To be an effective leader, you need the right motivation. Is it the money or the prestige you care about, or do you sincerely want to inspire people to do their best?

St. Marie advised leaders to really ask themselves why they want to lead. “I look at leadership as an honor and a vocation. If, in your heart, you feel leadership is your destiny and how you’ll make a difference in this world, then you are certainly starting from the right place.”

In addition to what motivates you, Ohlrich said it is vital to know what decreases your energy. “Knowing your strengths and weaknesses help[s] you diversify your team and get a well-rounded portfolio of skills. It helps you not hire carbon copies of yourself and [instead] surround yourself with others who are not like you.”

Your leadership style plays a role in how you interact with employees and should be evaluated as well. There are nine different leadership types , and the best leaders are able to adapt each style to their situations and employees. If you’re currently in a leadership role and aren’t sure where you stand on some of these qualities, you can take a quick leadership self-assessment quiz from the Leading With Courage Network to assess your leadership abilities.

Leadership mistakes to avoid

As you learn how to lead, it’s also essential to understand what not to do. Missteps can hinder a leader and prevent their team from thriving. These are some common leadership mistakes you should steer clear of if you want to be an effective leader:

Micromanaging your employees: Team members need guidance to succeed, but they also need autonomy and permission to make decisions on their own. Micromanaging every task can have a negative impact on performance and morale.
Ignoring feedback: Part of demonstrating strong listening skills is showing you take action when an issue is brought to your attention. Disregarding team suggestions or concerns is an easy way to erode trust.
Not following through: Sometimes priorities change, but if you’re consistently making promises to your team that you can’t keep, everyone could lose faith in your leadership abilities.
Being inconsiderate of team members’ schedules: Last-minute rescheduling needs happen to everyone, especially when you’re managing a team. It’s a problem, though, when leaders are constantly canceling meetings with short notice or assigning projects with tight deadlines.
Avoiding accountability: It’s not that good leaders never make any errors – mistakes are inevitable for even the best leaders. What matters most is that you own up to any oversights without blaming other team members and do the work to correct your mishaps.

Strong leadership takes time and effort

Remember that being a good leader takes time. Although some individuals are naturally inclined to have strong leadership skills, this is something anyone can learn and improve upon. Being aware of what makes a good leader is the first step toward reaching your full potential as a manager. With hard work, dedication and strategic planning, you can lead your team to success.

Natalie Hamingson and Nicole Fallon contributed to this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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What Makes a Great Leader vs. a Great Manager? Here's Why You Need to Understand the Difference. How to grow your vision while effectively managing a team.

By Edward Fernandez Edited by Chelsea Brown May 23, 2024

Key Takeaways

Recognize the distinction between a strong leader and a disciplined manager, as they require different skill sets and approaches for business success.
Acknowledge your own limitations and blind spots, and consider bringing on complementary talent to fill those gaps.
Scale and shift your business by combining visionary leadership with structured management, leveraging the strengths of each to drive longevity and growth.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Would you rather be a leading visionary for your company but have disorganized management, or have structured systems with a productive team but no time to drive innovation for your business? Do you have to choose between the two?

As a business owner for the last decade, I have learned there is a huge difference between being a strong leader and being a disciplined manager. Not understanding the difference can cost you your team or business.

A strong leader doesn't automatically make a strong manager

Great leaders being bad managers is not a new concept. But if you are an entrepreneur who is struggling with the talent management aspect of running your business, it's important to recognize your blind spots. Annmarie Neal, the founder of the Center for Leadership Innovation with 20 years of global experience in leading organizations, says in her book, Leading From the Edge , "A leader is somebody who sees opportunity and puts change in motion. A manager is somebody who follows that leader and sees how to structure things to create value for the company." She even goes on to say that in her experience, she "found that the best leaders weren't really good managers."

This checks out. Sometimes the characteristics that make you such a great visionary for your company, such as being innovative and taking risks , inherently contradict the role of a good manager, who thrives from structure and consistency. Neal says, "The vast majority of business leaders struggle to make the transition because they do not recognize the necessity for change." Even great leaders might not recognize that past performance does not guarantee future results.

Related: What's the Real Difference Between Leadership and Management?

Know your blind spots

There's a reason why commercial airliners require two pilots on board during a flight. While I am not operating a commercial jet, I am running a growing business, and assigning roles is not only in my best interest but also for "everyone on board."

Recognizing my managerial limitations, I brought on my wife and co-pilot of choice, Ruth Fernandez.

Ruth has a unique talent as a corporate strategist and specializes in building robust infrastructures for businesses. Before joining our company, she held management and accounting positions in various industries and went on to found a nationwide notary service company that employed over 400 notaries and 120 contract attorneys. Currently, she serves as our Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the Human Resources and Office Management departments. Her professional expertise, as well as her time as a stay-at-home mother to my children, have made her a natural in managing people and structures. Needless to say, her joining our firm marked a significant shift in our operations, driving revenue growth of 422% in under two years.

Scale and shift your business for longevity and growth

I've noticed that achieving holistically balanced operations is twofold: extrinsic vs. intrinsic.

Great leaders tend to look outwards. I am always thinking about our products, competitors and what our next big move is going to be. Great managers tend to look inward. Ruth understands that we are only as successful collectively as our team is individually. She thinks about our structures, practices, procedures and how to leverage our team's strengths to achieve company goals.

Scaling your business with the right management team also requires continuous learning . I attend monthly meetings with CEOs looking to network with other seasoned advisors and management consultants. While there is value in the idea of being "old school," it is impossible to stay ahead of the curve without having an open mind. It's crucial to look at others' operations, analyze market trends and change with the times so you don't get left behind.

Related: Good Manager vs. Good Leader — Which One Are You?

As a business owner, I think we tend to be hard on ourselves about having perfect command of the skills for being both a leader and manager . But the reality is, they're different skill sets — leaders drive growth, and managers scale systems. Understanding how to bring harmony between the two is crucial to sustaining the success of your business and everyone on board.

Best of luck!

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