So much has been written about leadership and yet in all aspects of life having leaders is critical. Whether in government, business, schools, church, or in our families leaders are the difference in reaching goals, or falling short of attaining them. While leaders come in all shapes and sizes there are some common marks that all good leaders have shown. Certainly many items could be discussed, but we’ll just look at four of them this time.
One mark that hinders success in any endeavor is personal responsibility. Our culture seems to spawn many who simply won’t be accountable for their own actions. No matter what the topic someone or something else caused it. The old “not me” or, “it wasn’t my fault” syndrome is alive and well. Leaders take personal responsibility for their actions and for the results of those actions. Leaders also convey a sense importance in not playing the “blame game” by focusing on correcting the action and moving the project towards final success. They understand that years from now it won’t be important to remember who or what delayed the project, but just the bottom line: the final result.
A second mark of a leader is that he or she understands weakness. First, their own weakness and in turn the weaknesses of those being lead. Leaders face the fact that we all have weaknesses and can plan around them until development can soften or even remove the weakness. When a leader understands their weakness they can staff with a subordinate that can perform in that area. For example, a highly competent financial manager may need a person with marketing skills that he or she doesn’t possess. In addition, recognition of staff weaknesses gives the leader direction for training plans while at the same time showing the leader’s interest in getting to know the people individually.
Certainly an important mark of leadership is the zeal or passion they display in leading their team. Teams follow more readily when it is obvious the leader is enthusiastic about the task. The leader sets the stage and is the role model for the group. If there is a sense that the leader isn’t committed or is less than excited, even the most important tasks are doomed. Involving the team in the planning stages is one way to enhance the enthusiasm of both leader and follower.
The final and possibly the most important mark of the leader is that of encouragement. Every person, no matter how strong, has times they need an encouraging word or a small helping hand in a task seemingly overwhelming. Former USD 465 Superintendent Bill Medley always wanted to “find them doing something good.” At that time we need to say a kind word, not later when they’ve forgotten the task. First, the leader must care, and then be willing to show they care. Two very important words for a leader are “Thank you.”
Ah good ole responsibility... so many leaders (bad ones) make the mistake of passing the buck. Unfortunately responsibility can't be delegated just the task itself. A good leader will take responsibility for all actions he overseas (negative ones) and pass praise for all good actions he receives for his teams work. During Professional Military Education we are taught how to assess weakness and job placement that supports their strong points and if you have to place someone in an area they are weak in then as a leader you have to ensure they have the tools and resources to succeed... essentially the appropriate support from their team and leaders. Good blog topic. - Dave
ReplyDeleteThere are many who are in leadership positions that fail to take responsibility and lead the subordinates under them. It is an unfortunate that those in these roles fail to act accordingly. More so than not, in the government sectors, many in the leadership roles tend to shirk away from their duties. The role of a leader is to lead and take charge. Those not willing to do so, often are undermined by their subordinates. The defining factor of a superb leader is one who credits their subordinates with successes and one whom assumes blame for their faults. Within my home state, a few years back, a fire was started on a firing range. The fire quickly spread due to unexpected winds. By the time the fire was contained, 2 homes were destroyed and many people were evacuated. The media was on a "witch hunt" trying to point blame. The 2 Star General of the state National Guard accepted the blame and apologized on behalf of the military. The media backed down. This General went further and participated in the community and informed them of all information that was given to him regarding the fire and assisted in the claims. To me, this was an example of strong leadership. Too often leaders try and forge a name for themselves. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. —Lao Tzu”
ReplyDeleteChris Hutchings
Responsible leadership echo’s through every management and leadership class I have taken. Responsible leaders must have credibility; leaders earn credibility through leading by example and taking responsibility. To be credible, leaders must have humility, commitment, be able to get their hands dirty, and draw on the strengths of employee’s. Credibility is important and takes time to earn; however it can also be lost with one thoughtless act and/or remark. A leader’s credibility is always being challenged and one of the critical elements of leader is being able to not only take responsibility for their own actions, but for the actions of their employee’s.
ReplyDelete-Jeff
A leader is an important part of every group and because the have so much influence over the success or failure of the group they must assume responsibility for all of the groups actions good or bad. Poor responsibility encourages leaders to blame failures of the group on the individuals rather than taking the responsibility of identifying the weakness and correction it before it becomes a product of the group. As leaders we need be involved and to take responsibility for all of the actions of the group from start to finish. When we do that with enthusiasm for the project and encouragement for the group members we produce the best product available. In my experience when a project goes well a good leader shares credit for the groups successes and when it does not they assume responsibility for of the groups failures.
ReplyDelete-Ari
I can relate to the part when you stated that leaders have the ability to recognize the weaknesses of themselves and the people that they lead. Once they have the knowledge of weaknesses and understand what interventions or trainings must take place they can tailor things to fit the individual need of the people they employ. In education teachers are trained and conditioned to get to know students well enough that we target their strengths and weaknesses. Once we know the students weakness we set up interventions, reteaching and tutoring to fit the needs and enhance the particular skill. At the same time we use the students strenghts to keep them encouraged. We try to create as many opportunities as possible for students to share their strengths so they remain confident and willing to keep trying. Everyone likes knowing that they are good at something. Teachers live by a 3:1 ratio that does wonders for students' self esteem; for every negative thing we say to a student you must follow up with at least three positives. This is great for leaders when evaluating employee performance so they do not hurt the employees pride or the rapport that was established between superior and workers.
ReplyDeleteI truly believe a successful leader is one who knows their weakness and does not hide it. One who does not pretend to know it all and does it all perfectly. A leader does set the tone and when that tone is not positive it is hard to be a productive worker. While I hope to someday be a director of a preschool, I also hope to hone my leadership skills. I know what kind of leader I want to be and I do realize my weaknesses. I see that same weaknesses in my boss and how frustrated I become and those around me. So it shows me how much I need to work on things.
ReplyDeleteSome seem too concerned by what others think. They don't want to be seen as the one that made a mistake..hence having to correct their mistake, or not having all the answers, thereby not stepping up for fear of failure. We need to be confident in who we are and what we know. Build on that and when something comes along that we don't know or doesn't turn out just right we can have the character to step up, make it right and move on to the next issue.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I’ve always felt it was really important to not only admit to my mistakes, but to use my mistakes as a learning experience! If I’m not willing to admit that I made a mistake I will never learn what NOT to do. I also feel it’s extremely important to ask for help. Even in a role of leadership, I understand that I do not know everything and that many people have great ideas! I’m always open to suggestions and keen to receive feedback. I have often times, ‘given’ my own opinion to my leadership on how or what I think can be done to improve a process. I believe that managers respect an employee who can admit their mistakes and be willing to learn from them. Most of us are smart enough to know that no one is perfect.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite quote regarding leaders is "leaders hire talented people, then get out of their way". To me, being a leader isn't standing in front of your subordinates, but standing beside them. You stand beside them as their complement.
ReplyDeleteI had a supervisor that really stood out to me as a leader. He understood our weaknesses as well as his own, and he would pair us with someone who strengthened our weakness. If there was a mistake made or someone questioned our actions he was there to take responsibility and support our decisions. He cared for our well-being and career. He never put himself before the team. Though he was our supervisor, he never held that over our head. He didn't use his position to threaten or intimidate. These are qualities that really define a leader. Not how much education someone has, or age. The ability to trust and care for your subordinates and show them they can trust you as well.
-Natalie Mills
Ever since I made the goal to be an officer in the Air Force I have been watching each of my leadership in detail. Really focusing on the things they did that I liked, as well as the things that I did not like. For the purposes of this blog I would like to comment on each of the four attributes you listed individually.
ReplyDeleteFirst is about personal responsibility. There are people in my leadership that I look up to; those tend to have the interests of the team in mind before their own. They listen to what the lower ranking individuals have to say, but in the end are decisive with those inputs. If anything goes wrong or there is an issue they do not blame the guy who gave the recommendation, they own up to their decision. Unfortunately I also have people in my leadership that tell you one thing straight to your face then do something different behind your back. They do not follow through with what they said they would do, especially if it looks bad on them. Leadership is very important, and if the people at the top only watch out for themselves how will that instill trust when we are deployed and all we have is each other? I don’t want to follow somebody that only thinks about what is good for them.
Second to know one’s own weakness as well as the ones working for you. This is very important to understand, especially when doing complex missions. An aspect of my job is to jump into an austere airfield and take it over. Depending on the size of the airfield this can become very difficult very quickly. There are specific positions that need to be filled in order to accomplish the mission in a timely manner. I do not want to assign a guy that is weak on the radio as Air Traffic Controller, because he will slow down the landing of planes with follow on forces. I also do not want to have a guy that doesn’t know how to ride a dirt bike the task of clearing the runway. It is imperative to know a person’s weaknesses in order to utilize his strengths. On the other hand, for training operations, it is better to put the weaker ones in those tasks because it will strengthen those weaknesses.
The third issue deals with passion for the job or task. This reminds me of a time when I was just a lowly trainee. The instructors would always make us do undesirable tasks that tested us physically and mentally. One instance that comes to mind is when we were on a foot patrol through some of the firing ranges in Fort Bragg N.C. It was the middle of January and freezing cold outside when we approached a small 30 foot wide frozen stream. The instructors could have walked across the bridge but he didn’t, instead he went to the front of the pack and led the team. That single act said a lot about his leadership style to me, at the same time motivating the entire team to do something that was going to suck.
Lastly, is encouragement. I have read a lot of books dealing with leadership and what the right thing to do is. They have all told me what your quote by Bill Medley says to do. Even though it may not mean much to the leader, just saying good job or thank you on the spot can mean the world to that subordinate. I have learned through my two years in training that negativity spreads like wildfire and makes a much bigger wound than positive comments. In my course of getting a Strategic Leadership degree I have become more positive in my dealings with people.
Matthew Fullmer
I have taken classes, read books and lived leadership for many years. The qualities seen in a great can vary based on personality, ethics, morals, and several other key traits one may possess. Through my years in the military I have had both great and awful leaders, the best thing about that is you learn what leadership style works for you. What may work for one person may not work for another. Understanding your own weaknesses as well as that everyone has some will provide you with much needed information to make you more understanding and successful in all working and personal relationships. I have always seen time management as being a huge issue with all leaders, learning how to properly manage your time and tasks will lessen the stress you will endure. All types of leadership exist some more effective than others, but I believe the key is knowing what works for you and your situation and learning from others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this blog and especially the mark associated with zeal and passion. By creating a positive environment in which all members are involved in the process from the beginning creates an aspect of ownership. By feeling that you have participate in the process that determines how something will be implemented creates an avenue of willingness to participate.
ReplyDeleteI think you have hit the nail on the head with these leadership marks. I strive to keep all these in mind every day. My main one is the one you noted as most important. My job now is not an operational leader but organizational. I encourage others to get the operational job done. I have to work on this every day because we ourselves need to be encouraged. I have found that seeing others I have encouraged succeed, has kept me encouraged to continue each morning.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that we all have strengths and weaknesses and a well constructed team is better than any one person. It is also important to utilize encouragement, which leads to better attitudes and results within the workplace. Finally, a leader always takes the blame and never blames his team. Every member of our team is vital and must feel like they are appreciated and feel welcome to contribute to the group.
ReplyDeleteThe qualities outlined in the post are very well selected if the intent was to provide a clear and summarized list of most significant and recognizable leadership characteristics. With these traits in mind, I considered my past and present relationships with leaders. Regardless of whether or not each leader was effective or a failure, the single respective quality (or lack thereof), ultimately responsible for my opinion, appeared on the list in the original post. So, I think it is safe to say that this list provides us with a credible tool with which to evaluate leadership.
ReplyDeleteTo add to the post, I think it is just as important, if not more important, to identify strengths than weaknesses. For many of us, our character weaknesses are consistent and eternal, and efforts to change them are often futile. For that reason, it is more beneficial to identify and develop our individual strengths. As leaders, I believe it is a necessity to amplify our own strengths, as well as the strengths of those whom we lead.
These are 4 very good actions of a leader and need equal time spent to be a successful leader. As you mentioned a leader need to be responsible for what is done whether good or bad and that it is the final result that is most important. We must ourselves accountable as well as our followers.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding wellness and strengths are important to all who participate in any action whether it is work or play. Understanding or fellow teammates and workmates allows for the best results. It allows for conned focus to improve the weakness and to also continue to focus on the strengths. After all we don;t want to lose site of strengths either.
A leader can motivate his followers by his own enthusiasm for the work. If he is not motivated the project or work will fail. I also think that enthusiasm is contagious to others and by being enthusiastic will lead the others to match the style.
As you mentioned encouragement is most important and I would agree it is very important. We all need encouragement. I think it is best to encourage as often as possible. It tends to feed to more of the same kind of work.
I have just been placed in a leadership roll and it certainly has taken me a few months to get use to it. I have young guys who have been without a good leader and and don't understand their job completely even after a year of the on the job training. It is hard to get use to, and I try my best to show them that I can be a leader than trains well and gives them great opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI am an idealist. I have the ability to lead, but I would much rather teach/lead a classroom than be a CEO of any company. My strengths are mentoring, teaching, listening, etc. I marvel at my husband who has been in the military for 20+ years and his ability to not only lead, but lead with such enthusiasm that others can't help but follow him. My idea of this would be sit with my class, motivate them to learn and follow me, but his idea is more black and white, while allowing for some areas of gray. I always tease him and say, "You could fire someone in the morning, and by that evening they would be requesting to be your friend on Facebook!" He just has a way with time management, keeping things organized, never procrastinating, and always, always, always shows appreciation for his insubordinates and subordinates alike. I try and watch and learn from him as much as I can so that I can manipulate and mold his leadership skills into something I can use in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe essence of leadership is a passion for the cause and a DEMONSTRATED willingness to "do it first". It is also vital that a leader not be a hypocrite in what he conveys to the followers. More than anything the leader must demonstrate a fundamental commitment to the success of not only the mission/endeavor but also the individual success of each team member.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love in leadership is that everywhere today you can see good AND bad leadership happening, usually being obviously whichever side the person falls on. I really love the bit about leaders not playing the "blame game" simply because I watch the news daily and see nothing except our American leaders throwing insults and accusations at each other instead of pushing for an ultimate goal. It greatly concerns me that personal agendas overcome the greater good. I think the military has some of the greatest leaders alive, going from new airmen demonstrating proactiveness and pushing themselves outside of the box to the 4-star generals who decide the fate of entire armys.
ReplyDeleteLeadership is awesome. I love the fact that I am learning more in this class than any other. I often will ask myself what makes me a leader.
ReplyDeletethe characteristics of a leader really focuses on no finger pointing, identifying our weaknesses and lastly encouragement. I do that all the time and at times I have felt vulnerable for giving so much to people and not receiving back. I always have told people you cant manage people into war you have to lead them. I really think many folks do not know their weakness or want to admit it
I think out of this whole journal the most important thing I read was "encouragement". Leaders should be encouraging. They should be tough but they should be uplifting and they should want to see their followers at their best and use their qualities to the fullest of their abilities.
ReplyDeleteLeaders should be a positive influence and they should also be empathic.
I really enjoyed this post, it reminded me of one of my friends and my own conversations awhile back. A lot of the time it seems that those in the role of leaders do not say thank you, lend an encouraging word, or let you know you are appreciate enough. Sometimes the only words you hear are negative words, the only recognition you get is when something is wrong or does not turn out "as it should have". Encouragement plays such a big role in life; at home, on the job, even with your family. It's always nice to know you are appreciated for your efforts.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that leaders should recognize their own weakness before they can acknowledge their followers weaknesses. I applaud leaders that possess a strong communication skills and has the ability to listen with an open mind. I had leaders before who took their position as a sign of power and had the impression that they are now in position to do as they please without facing any consequences. A wise leader not only encourages the employees but also creates solution to maintain the companies innovation practices.
ReplyDeleteYou gave a pretty comprehensive list of what qualities a good leader should posses. What I took from your post is that a leader is responsible for their actions and the actions of their team, is encouraging and uplifting, identifies with others weaknesses and helps them build those weaknesses up as well as strengthens their strong attributes, and is eager and passionate about working. I would also add that a quality leader should (must) have a passion for serving others, be honest, and able to be clear in their expectations. A leader can be all of the things you mentioned but if their not informing their team as to what they are expecting then results will vary. I guess that could go back to being responsible though. I had a boss who everybody loved in terms of their attitude and work ethic but they lacked direction and in turn created a lot of unnecessary confusion.
ReplyDeleteIn discussing leadership there are several different qualities and characteristics which can be looked at. The four in which were selected seem to encompass a wide range. I completely agree with the personal responsibility characteristic. I have seen too many times where individuals want to be in charge, however, they don’t want the accountability which goes along with the position. Seeking greater responsibility is something leaders must do at all levels.
ReplyDeleteUnderstands weakness is a valuable tool to have available. I believe a good leader can manage a time even if they have no experience within the section, organization or unit they are working. Leading individuals means knowing their strengths and weakness and placing them in the right positions to get the job done. Additionally, simply taking care of their needs can go a long way in the productivity of an organization.
Having passion or none at all can be seen in a leader. The leader who passionately commands, ‘let’s take the hill’, will never have to look back to see if anyone is following him.
Finally, encouraging individuals goes to the level of interdependence as Covey speaks of; the team coming together, to better each other and the organization led by an inspired and motivated leader.
Leaders involve themselves in every process, therefore any true leader will take responsibility any time a process fails. This is the kind of leadership that has a positive ripple effect throughout an organization. People appreciate honesty. No. They admire it. I think there are too many corporations out there today with leaders that lack integrity and honesty. They deflect responsibility when things go bad, but stand in the spotlight whenever something good happens.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely something to be said about the power of "thank you" as well, especially when that thank you is sincere. It's another way for leaders to say "I need you, because without you, I am nothing."
As I read this my former employers were retraced in my mind. I worked for Koch Industries for a year, in 1996 (I believe). My manager assigned someone to train me on my job which he had only been doing a month. His training was less than to be desirable, so needless to say I had to learn the job on my own. My manager was not very personable, when you asked her a question she always gave you the answer as if your question was stupid. I dreaded that job, I remember coming home crying because I hated it so much. I sent my resume to a couple places and the first one that called me was the one I accepted and remained at for over 7years. I enjoyed the job, my managers were fabulous, they made me feel important and part of the team.
ReplyDeletePersonal responsibility is huge! It's funny how a leader keeps those under him/her accountable and holds them to personal responsibility... but who is keeping that leader accountable? I think a great leader allows those around him/her to help keep them self accountable. There are many ways that this can be done so that it isn't a challenging or uncomfortable situation as well. I believe this plays into the weakness aspect that you mentioned. Everyone has weaknesses and showing them sometimes does not always mean that you are defined by that weakness. Being held accountable for this can also show a great quality in a leader. You also mentioned enthusiasm and passion. I love this! If a leader does not have any sort of enthusiasm or passion for what they are doing, how can they expect their team to have any? Thinking to my workplace right now, I can tell you with certainty that the principal of my school has a ton of enthusiasm and passion for our school, teachers, and students. This is directly reflected in the zeal that the staff and students carry and it makes all of the difference!
ReplyDeleteEnthusiasm with tasks has a beneficial impact on how others perceive the importance of a task or how the task affects others. It becomes hard when even the leader doesn't quite understand the significance of a task but enthusiasm is necessary to motivate others to support leadership decisions. While personal responsibility is important, leaders should find where the disconnect was in the task and work to fix the issue. Taking responsibility for the actions of his subordinates while actively searching for a solution. The blame game never works in anyone's favor. While passion for ones work can improve how others view it, encouragement is one tool that all leaders need to use. Workers don't like for their work to go unnoticed and unappreciated. It is true that the two most important words a leader can use are "thank you". This can be the one factor that improves the work of subordinates, valuing their contribution to work and tasks.
ReplyDeleteTaking responsibility for our actions is such a big idea here. I have seen many "leaders" escape their responsibilities and it's such a mess. Everyone suffers when we play the "it wasn't me" game and in the end the "leader" just will not get trust or respect! A true leader is always held accountable and will always own up to their actions.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the listing provided above. Many things I have read agree, some disagree, and some don't mention them whatsoever. That is what is so interesting about leadership!
ReplyDeleteThere are many different styles, methods, and measurements of leadership. My belief is that one leader can be productive in one situation, but not in another. So my opinion of a great leader is one that can always adapt and has dynamic leadership abilities. It's important to find the climate of your organization and match your leadership styles and methods to it. You can also focus on the change of the organization's climate if it is not productive to the organization's overall mission statement.
Whatever the situation may be, we as leaders (at every level) have to be able to be dynamic and adapt to the situations we encounter.
V/R
-Ryan
All four of the mentioned qualities of a leader are very important. I see the issue with personal responsibility all the time and it seems no one ever wants to step up and take responsibility. If people put half as much effort in fixing the problem as they do pointing out the faults of someone else we would be living in a much more productive world.
ReplyDeleteThe whole idea of leadership has changed meaning for me, or maybe for the first time I understand the meaning of leadership. I never thought of leaders as being the ones who reached their goals, used their imaginations, and served others. I guess I never thought of the qualities of a leader until this point. I have admired them and tried to follow by example. I have been able to know many wonderful leaders over the years. I never thought of them as leaders before, but that is what they are. A leader in my job is my supervisor. She has a huge passion for her job. It is amazing to see and it is contiguous. Everyone wants to be a part of it because she makes it exciting, fun, and she works right alongside you doing her part or more. She takes responsibility for the whole crew, and assigns us according to our strengths. I give my best when I work, and try to be someone she can depend on. I do this because of what she does. Great Blog. Thank you for a new perspective.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird, nothing along the journey of life has directly taught me hows to lead. I have plenty of experience and I have seen good and bad leaders alike. Good leadership taught me how to find the how and why factors. Bad leaders showed me what will happen when things fail and fall apart. Personal responsibility, limitations, ownership, and positive influence have all helped mold me into the type of leader I am. But it's weird, one day I blinked, and I realized something, I am in front, and I am leading. What kind of influence am I? Why do people work hard for me? Why do I know my people and have their trust? What can I do to keep these strengths and at the same time find the balance between work and fun? I will keep my integrity and I will be me... Eric
ReplyDeleteThese are four very important listings of a good leader. I completely agree that the number one problem is that people do not own up to their mistakes, which greatly hinders the mission and the cohesion of the team. I feel that this is because people just do not like to admit that they were wrong and appear weak to their workers. I have seen good and bad leaders and can definitely say that the team is more successful when it has a good leader leading it. As I am getting older and progressing in the ranks, I am dealt with a lot of leadership positions. After reading this post, I will definitely take all items listed and then some in ensuring that I am the best leader I can be. Thank you for your perspective on great leadership.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Being in the military, I have dealt with my fair share of both good and bad leaders. Before joining the military, I only had one leader, and that was my aunt. She was okay. Not the worst I had but an acknowledgment from her would have been nice especially since we were working with a brand new gas station and everyone and everything were still working on the kinks. I will never forget that the best leader I had was the one who let me be myself. He told me what needed to be done and I, along with the rest of the team, got everything done. He came by on days off to check and see how I was on a more personal level. All my needs were met, and there was always a form of thank you. I cannot believe how in the civilian there is still a considerable amount of what I like to call "The blame game" and in the end, no one wants to admit it. This particular leader possessed all four qualities. I was excited to go to work for him because of his excitement for the job. Of course, the job was not fun at certain times, but the ambient was great. In the end, the entire teams, not just ours, would go out for dinner since the restaurant was just a few feet away from our dorms.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a job currently, but I am looking forward to implementing everything I am reading.
There are many traits a leader must have, but it is also the traits they don't have that sets them apart. As a leader you do have to look in the mirror. You must know your own strengths and weakness and adapt to each. You can easily surround your self with people that are weak in the areas you succeed at but it is the weakness that you have to address by hiring. Surrounding yourself with strong and talented individuals is tough. It is that statement that Convey even talks about. Your intent must be to understand before being understood. When you know how to motivate people in a positive manner you can incorporate that same passion into your passion. That is also one of the win/win situations of leadership. DePree has a strong stance on accountability and with this same blog I feel we should take more account of why people failed and less account of why they succeed. Most of us know what it is like to be lead by fear, but we also know the results that can be produced with a little encouragement. I have a saying I follow that was given to me by my boss. It states that we must see the good in everything and everyone even if we have to squint. Our flaws are easily visible but the greatness is often over looked. Encouragement is an amazing leadership quality.
ReplyDeleteThis is good information that a leader should already be aware of as well as displaying in their own actions and words, and that aspiring leaders should be working towards. Good leaders would ensure they pass along this type of information to better grow their people. As I stated before the most effective way of disseminating the information would be through day to day actions and not just words.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThese leadership traits are important, yet not always easy to achieve. The one aspect that caught my eye is the enthusiasm that leaders should show for completing a task. That is probably one of the hardest things to do all of the time because sometimes the job needing to be done is not a pleasant task and no matter how the leader examines it, he/she does not see the importance of the task being completed. It has never been difficult for me to identify and work through my weaknesses and it is also easy for me to identify the weaknesses of my employees. The difficulty sometimes arises when the employees cannot identify or admit their own weaknesses. Since I know the weaknesses in my department, I try to build my teams with those weaknesses in mind so the employees will compliment each other instead of highlighting problems through their weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteAs stated in the blog post four of the many things that go into being a successful leader include showing passion for ones work, owning up to your actions, working on both your strengths and weaknesses and accepting that we all have both, and encouraging both yourself and others. Most importantly don't forget or be afraid to say "Thank you." All of these things are important in order to focus on the why and to help others focus on their why in life as well. “He who has a ‘why’ to live for can bear almost any how.”
ReplyDeleteAs I began to read your blog, I paused for a minute to think of the qualities that I believe make a great leader, once again, you nailed it. I believe that it is extremely important that we all take responsibility for our actions. This goes along with having integrity. The other point that you covered pertaining to understanding their own weakness, as well as those they lead, I feel is highly important. Often, leaders feel like it makes them appear to be less competent admitting their weakness, I would suggest, I want and respect someone who can admit that they are not always right, and that they do not know everything. A good leader wants and expects the members he leads to voice their concerns and opinions, better yet, he expects and asks for them. The information you provide in your blogs are a gently reminder to me the things that I already know, but sometimes tend to lose sight of. Thanks for providing me with information to help better myself. The question is often posed, are people born leaders, or are they made? I believe everyone has the ability to become a great leader; it depends on how much work they are willing to put into themselves to accomplish this task.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Darius Jimerson
Many people are unaware of how big of a role leadership plays in careers, education, etc. If you have a good leader, you will most likely have good results. Whereas, if you have a poor leader, this will lead to poor results. Recently, I dropped a class after just two meets. Why? The instructor was rude, unhelpful, and basically stated there will be no help offered during the course. Now, I am willing to work for my grade (no problem), but to be treated so poorly throughout the process? No thank you. Honestly, if he had stated he could help me out after class or offered up where I could find help, I would not have been so upset. Nonetheless, his poor attitude and negativity made me feel unexcited and angry about my decision to take that course. Thus, I withdrew and enrolled in a different course. The point being, he affected my decision and how I viewed the course. Leaders always play an important role and are the building blocks for us. Not only for the job, but they show us what type of behavior is acceptable. Also, a great leader should be willing to help and take responsibility for others. This blog was enlightening and made some great points. I look forward to reading your future work.
ReplyDeleteMichele P.
Professor Wright,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. I agree that leaders are critical and unfortunately, just because someone is a leader, doesn't mean they are a good leader. I do not think everyone is cut out to be a leader. This reminds me of a leader that I know - who does not say "thank you", understand her weaknesses or really have a passion for her leadership position. It's sad because it reflects on the employees and really brings the morale down. I think being a leader requires so much work, especially self-work, and mean leaders don't realize that. You bring up an important topic when you write about personal responsibility. This is critical for a leader but I also think it is critical for all people.
-Jessica Lacey
What I appreciated most about this article is that it allows for imperfection. It acknowledges that mistakes can be made or weaknesses can be had, but taking ownership of these circumstances enables progression and signifies a great leader. It also leads to better relations between leaders and subordinates. A leader that admits to something that is less than ideal but also suggests ways to move forward and overcome will be viewed as trustworthy, relatable, and respectable.
ReplyDeleteSo many people that I work for could benefit from this post. I heard it once, "Attitude reflects leadership" and I've never forgotten it. I've learned how to be a better leader unfortunately by the poor leaders that I've had in the past. I've also learned many great tips from the few good ones that I've had. I think that most leaders are so focused on the prize that they lose sight of everyone helping to reach the goal.
ReplyDeleteRodneka Fields