The Aspects of Leadership

Leadership

Sarita Bolleddula

Warner Pacific College

Bus/Soc 100A Team Dynamics

October 13, 2011

Professor Deborah Banks

Abstract

This essay focuses on the aspects of leadership. Leadership is hard to define, and there are many attributes that go into being successful.  Not only does the term leader carry a great deal of meaning but it also has powerful implications that immediately come to mind. The main traits of  a leader include: drive (a broad term which includes achievement, motivation, ambition, energy, tenacity, and initiative); leadership motivation (the desire to lead but not to seek power as an end in itself); honesty and integrity; self-confidence (which is associated with emotional stability); cognitive ability; and knowledge of the business. An effectively functioning leader must possess many or all of these required traits. The question of whether or not people are actually born leaders, learned leadership, or inherited the trait, remains to plague the minds of many.

What does it take to be a great leader? Is it  family history, environment, or an acquired trait? In this world, there are two types of people. One type is known as the leaders, and the other as followers. Some decide whether they want leaders while others naturally fall into that role. Either way leaders and followers possess different qualities. It is not to say that being follower is bad role, they are just in a different position than a leader. Not all followers can become leaders, but it is possible for some to do so. Becoming a good leader requires leadership qualities. The opinion of many is that an effective leader has the ability to stay calm and collected in stressful situations.

One important quality of a good leader is confidence. When a leader believes he or she is capable of accomplishing the task, others will follow.. Leaders cannot expect others to believe  when they doubt themselves or the decisions they make. In order to lead a peer, teammate, or co-worker, one must have a set of moral values. Their value system is a reference when they are plagued with a  tough decision.  A leader with moral values has the ability to gain the trust of many and give others confidence who doubt their own decision-making skills. Another trait a good leader possesses is discipline. Leaders must be able to first discipline themselves and then the people they lead. A leader should be able to navigate for and with others and put them on the right track. Finally, all leaders need respect; respect for themselves, respect for others, and most importantly, respect from others. A leader with no respect, cannot lead a group. People are likely to follow leaders they respect, so a leader must earn the respect of others through consistency and discipline. A leader should also be optimistic. The ability to have a positive attitude in stressful or difficult situations is a skill many lack. Overall, negativity is what causes a group to doubt your role as a leader, so leading with a positive attitude goes a long way.

When we look at all the attributes of a leader, what comes to mind? Is it confidence, morality, discipline, and respect? The answer is yes. All these attributes contribute to successful  leader. Beebe and Masterson  (2012) present research that indicates leaders often have attributes such as intelligence, enthusiasm, dominance, self confidence, social participation, and egalitarianism. There are also physical aspects that leaders seemed to possess, physical stature, more active, energetic, and better looking than other group members. Still other researchers found that leaders possess tact, cheerfulness, a sense of justice, discipline, versatility, and self-control (p.210).  We would like to think that all leaders possess these skills, but many people believe that to be untrue. There have been two main examples of leaders abusing there power. For example, Adolf Hitler. The idea to eliminate the Jewish race altogether is appalling. This is just one major example of abuse of authority. It is a leader's choice to use their skill set for the better or the worse.

There are two perspectives involved in being an effective leader: Trait Perspective and Functional Perspective. Beebe and Masterson (2012) describe trait perspective as a view of leadership through the personal attributes or qualities leaders possess. Functional perspective examines leadership as behaviors that may be performed by any group member to maximize group effectiveness.

So what is the actual definition of a leader? According to Beebe and Masterson (2012) "Leadership is defined as behavior or communication that influences, guides, directs, or controls a group. Dennis Gouran also states that leadership constitutes the behavior required when groups experience difficulty establishing the conditions necessary for making the best possible choices (p.209)." Throughout my experience in the college atmosphere, it was very apparent who the leaders were with in a classroom setting. There was is a certain presence they maintained, whether it was their extroverted personality or the ability to bring a group together. Being in a leadership role requires you to evolve constantly based on the fact that the world around us changes. Being able to adapt is essential to being an effective leader.