Leadership

I believe that leadership is a journey, not a destination. There is no one right way to lead, and what works for one person may not work for another. The important thing is to be authentic, to lead with humility and integrity, and to always be learning and growing.

Broadly speaking, there are two types of people in the world. One type is known as leaders, and the others as followers. The difference in compensation is vast.

It is no disgrace to be a follower. On the other hand, it is no credit to be a follower. Most great leaders began in the capacity of followers. They became great leaders because they were intelligent followers. With few exceptions, the man who cannot follow a leader intelligently, cannot become an efficient leader. An intelligent follower has many advantages, among them the opportunity to acquire knowledge from his leader.

Now, let’s talk about the major attributes that makes leader an efficient leader.

The major attributes of leadership

1. Unwavering courage based upon one’s own knowledge of self and occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long.
2. Self-Control — The man who cannot control himself, can never control others. Self control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate.
3. A keen sense of justice — without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers.
4. Definite need of decision- The man who wavers in his decision shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully.
5. The habit of doing more than paid for- One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the spirit the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers.
6. Mastery of detail- Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader’s position.
7. Willingness to assume full responsibility- The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed.

There are two forms of leadership. The first, and by the most effective, is leadership by consent of , and with the sympathy of the followers. The second is leadership by force, without the consent and sympathy of the followers.

History is filled with evidences that Leadership by Force cannot endure. The downfall and disappearance of “Dictactors” and kings is significant. It means that people will not follow forced leadership indefinitely.

The relationship of employer and employee, or of leader and follower, in the future, will be one of mutual cooperation, based upon an equitable division of profits of business. In the future, the relationship of employer and employee will be more like a partnership than it has been in the past.

Knowing the attributes is essential, while neglecting the causes to failure in leadership is crucial. If you are learning only one side of the coin and ignoring other side, you will likely to fail in coming years.

Let’s discuss the 10 major causes of failure in leadership

We come now to the major faults of leaders who fail, and they are listed below:

1. Inability to organize details- Efficient leadership calls for ability to organize and to master details. The successful leader must be master of all details connected with his position. That means, of course, that he must acquire the habit of relegating details to capable lieutenant.
2. Expectation of pay for what they “Know” instead of what they do with which they know — The world does not pay men for that which they “know.” It pays them for what they do, or induce others to do.
3. Lack of imagination- Without imagination, the leader is incapable of meeting emergencies, and of creating plans by which to guide his followers efficiently.
4. Disloyalty- Perhaps this should have come at the head of the list. The leader who is not loyal to his trust, and to his associates, those above him, and those below him, cannot maintain his leadership. Disloyalty marks one as being less than dust of the earth, and brings down on one’s head the contempt he deserves. Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life.
5. Unwillingness to render humble services- Truly great leaders are willing, when occasion demands, to perform any sort of labor which they would ask another to perform. “ The greatest among ye shall be servant of all” is a truth which all able leaders observe and respect.
6. Fear of competition from followers- The leader who fears that one of his followers may take his position is practically sure to realize that fear sooner or later. It is an eternal truth that men receive more pay for their ability to get others to perform, than they could possibly earn by their own efforts. An efficient leader may, through his knowledge of his job and the magnetism of his personality, greatly increase the efficiency of others, and induce them to render more service and better service than they could render without his aid.
7. Selfishness- The leader who claims all the honor for the work of his followers, is sure to be met by resentment. The really great leader claims none of the honors. He is contented to see the honors, when there are any, go to his followers, because he knows that most men will work harder for commendation and recognition than they will for money alone.
8. Intemperance- Followers do not respect an intemperate leader. Moreover, intemperance in any of its various forms, destroys the endurance and the vitality of all who indulge in it.
9. Emphasis of the “Authority” of leadership- The efficient leader leads by encouraging, and not by trying to instill fear in the hearts of his followers. If a leader is a real leader, he will have no need to advertise that fact except by his conduct his sympathy, understanding fairness, and a demonstration that he knows his job.
10. Emphasis of title- The competent leader requires no “title” to give him the respect of his followers. The man who makes too much over his title generally has little else to emphasize. The doors to the office of the real leader are open to all who wish to enter, and his working quarters are free from formality or ostentation.

These are among the more common of failure of leadership. Study the list carefully if you aspire to leadership, and make sure that you are free from these faults.

Be a leader

• Get involved- Find opportunities to volunteer your time and talents.
• Take on leadership roles- Join a club or organization, or run for a student government position.
• Seek out mentors- Find someone who you admire and who can provide you with guidance and support.
• Read books and articles on leadership-There are many great resources available to help you learn more about leadership.
• Attend workshops and seminars- There are many organizations that offer leadership training programs.

I believe that everyone has the potential to be a great leader. It is just a matter of developing the right skills and mindset. If you are willing to put in the effort, I believe that you can achieve great things.

You can do it!!