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A Number of Famous Leaders and their Different Leadership Styles

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We know them and the pictures of these well to do and well known people are flashed across TV screens daily. We also see them in magazines on a regular basis. People love celebrities and so they monitor every move that these famous celebrities make, they also daydream about what it is to live the life of these celebrities. Wondering how they got there as well is also part of the curiosity mix. For people who took the time out to work their way to the top and not on a circumstantial basis, that is part of the usual rise that people experience on a regular basis.

When we consider leaders we do not only think of those that have been good and exemplary. In history you will have plenty examples of different kinds of leaders from which you can choose from. Some of these leaders make us smile while others make us want to do the opposite and erase them from the annals of history. What kind of leadership did some of these famous leaders show?

Martin Luther King:

He was a speaker who provided inspiration to a lot of people. Most popular among his inspirational speeches was the “I have a dream “speech. This speech brought a lot of people into taking action as King spoke with authority and was capable of mobilizing an entire country that shared his vision.

Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Cosmetics):

Anyone who thinks of pink Cadillac’s is completely right. The pink Cadillac symbolizes a highly successful and top performing company. The brand of inspirational leadership that Mary Kay has provided has turned as simple $5,000 investment into a billion dollar establishment.

Jack Welch:

When you remember this name you think of GE. With about 2 decades of direction and leadership, GE transformed from a million dollar company to a company worth billions of dollars. His style of leadership led him to be called both ruthless and fair at the same time in the business decisions that he made. Managers were allowed to do whatever they wanted as long as were able to create continuous change and do whatever they had to do a whole lot better.

Leona Helmsley:

This woman was renowned for her autocratic and tyrannical style of leadership. She was the president of the equally popular Helmsley hotel chain and went to jail when her employees gave away hotel records implicating her in tax evasion schemes. From then on she traded her life from living in a hotel suite to staying in a jail cell.

John F. Kennedy:

He was a very charismatic leader who along with is wife turned the White House into a fairy tale story. As a president he also energized the nation and made the space program a national affair. With his vision he set a goal that was reached and for which he will be eternally remembered.

Martha Stewart:

The image of a meticulous and highly demanding individual easily comes to mind when you think of this woman. In her we find a sizeable amount of controversy but she continues to flourish with her organization and is effectively served by her autocratic style of leadership as well.

Eleanor Roosevelt:

Americans all over the nation were told that: “We are on trial to show what democracy means.” She was both a champion of civil and women’s rights and she showed compassion to the poor in the depression era. Another lesson she inspired in her own true words was: “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.”

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An Overview of the Different Types of Leadership in Existence

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Leadership styles are crucial to success. We can find leadership in places in different places around us. Each of us will find ourselves taking leadership roles at one point or the other in our lives. We can easily find leadership in the world of business, sports, religion, and politics and even at home. Different types of leaders exist and you will come in contact with one type or the other over a period of time.

If you understand different leadership styles and what they can do, it will help you become a better and more effective leader.

In 1939 the famous psychologist Kurt Lewin identified the basic styles of leadership in existence. The three styles of leadership have been established but types which are more specific have been found since that time. Leaders should never be confused with managers. Leaders are always in positions of management but not all managers are leaders. Good leaders tend to use a style or a combination of styles that works best with a situation.

Autocratic:

This is a dictatorial type of leadership where a single person makes the entire decisions. Expectations are always clear. This sort of leadership is the type that causes the most discontent in any establishment. It is rarely used but it can be be used for the completion of routine or unskilled tasks.

  • Whatever needs doings and everything about how and when are the entire responsibilities of the leader.
  • Permits quick decisions when time is of the essence.
  • This approach isn’t a creative one. Doing what you are told regardless of what you are told. Obedience is mandatory and so it is a strict form of control.
  • You should use this autocratic form of leadership when a group or member has no knowledge of the practice or the procedure.
  • This sort of leadership usually works when there is hardly any need for input or when Input would hardly affect the decision or the outcome.

Democratic:

Democratic leadership is a leadership style that is participatory and it is the most effective form of leadership. Employees and team members will feel in control of whatever they do and when they are involved in the decision making process which leads to a greater sense of satisfaction and a better feeling of being appreciated. However the leader will have the final say in everything.

  • The leader will act as guide to others. He will accept and look for ideas and suggestions by way of discussion.
  • Though the leader may have the final say on what happens the team is part of the entire process.
  • Democratic style can lead to problems because the final decision is held back by a wide range of opinions.
  • People tend to be more committed because they are involved in the decision making process. They have a personal stake in the outcome of everything that happens.
  • This style of leadership tends to benefit everyone who is involved and helps them improve their people skills.

Delegative/Free Rein:

When you’re a leader you can’t do every single thing alone. A leader must learn to organize his priorities and delegate tasks and decisions to others while taking the final responsibility.

  • Works best when the team or members of the team know a lot more about the subject in question.
  • Highly motivated and well trained people work best with this sort of style.
  • Minimal in direction.
  • Allows decision-making by team members
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Strengthening Yourself and Growing as a Leader

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Being a strong leader in this day and age calls for continued learning. Many entrepreneurs are finding that the road is much more challenging than they once thought. Running into hurdles or “Mini failures” are not something that registers in a strong leaders mind. Their “mini failures” are called mistakes, hurdles, or glitches and are looked at it that very way.

When the average follower runs into a glitch-or failure they give up try something new, but the entrepreneur on the other hand simply studies and changes with the times. The typical strong leader or entrepreneur simply goes with the flow sort of speak. They worry about problems as they arise and don’t let them get them done they just work around, over or under the problem at hand. This is what makes a strong leader always learning always changing and definitely always pushing past the hurdles.

Most entrepreneurs work by instinct or intuition if the idea doesn’t sit right then it needs more preparation or they simply don’t go in that direction. A good leader learns from their experiences and they value the experiences of others listening to what they are telling them so they can make a more informed decision. They understand that mistakes will come and learn from them when they arise.

In our world of technology and new age we often find ourselves more engrossed in the programs, computers and numbers. Soon forgetting the ‘good old gut” of the past. However many entrepreneurs are learning that “the gut” will tell them more about a situation then a program will. The gut instinct is something that develops over time. Looking, listening and learning in each situation and making a sub- conscious decision about a situation.

To become a stronger leader in this day and age you need to learn to practice becoming a leader. This happens by experience and knowledge of the situation.

Key Points in Maintaining Leadership:

  • Maintaining Appearance in the office or business setting: It is important to maintain a leadership appearance in your office environment. Looking to help resolve the situations instead of losing your cool.
  • Continual inquiring knowledge: a leader’s job is never done. Learning all you can in your expertise because knowledge is always changing. Knowing when to pay attention and learn from your mistakes.
  • Ensuring proper presentation: Creating a confident appearance to the business people you are connecting with or people working around you. Maintaining your positive attitude no matter the situation.

Learning to not only become a successful entrepreneur but maintaining that appearance is difficult. But it shows strength and character as an entrepreneur. It will teach you to become a stronger person and teach you to use your experiences in life to advance in the future. A strong leader never shows negative emotions or weakness in their ability to lead no matter the circumstances. Use the above tips to strengthen yourself as a leader. Look into yourself and strive for knowledge and you will become a strong leader too!

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How Leadership and Teamwork Combine for Effectiveness

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Leadership and teamwork tend to go hand in hand. Teamwork usually requires leadership that has a clear vision and a goal that is to be achieved. It also needs a flow of good communication as well as the dream and the motivation to get the job done properly.

These are a Few techniques that will help in Building a cohesive team.

Build on collaboration: Competition between members can be detrimental between team members. You should ensure that you consider the entire team and create efforts that work on collaborative efforts and not individual glory.

Delegate: Give clear expectations and instructions and by doing this you keep the understanding of who is to do what and when perfectly clear.

Define the reporting structure clearly: Make sure that you leave no confusion as to who is in the lead position and who is accountable for which particular situation or project responsibility.

Incentives for the group to share: You should try to provide something that your group members should look forward to when the job has been completed.

Communicate clearly: Team members need to understand your goals and expectations clearly. Everyone should be on the same page and you may have a different idea from your other team members over the project.

Provide professional development seminars: The continued development of leadership and educational materials will help keep your team focused and ready for action at all times.

Give the team the opportunity to make and implement decisions:Democratic leadership skills are necessary in other to allow for input from the team. This sort of leadership is easily the most successful style of leadership. If people feel as if they own part of a project or that they were instrumental in achieving something, they tend to perform towards much higher standards.

Settle Confrontation and Conflicts Immediately: You should recognize conflict early on before it turns into something else. You should also maintain this sense of detection throughout the duration of a goal or project.

Welcome different viewpoints: People come from various backgrounds and when they come they also bring different experiences from many other areas as well. You should make optimum use of these resources as effectively as you can.

Encourage two-way communication: The lack of truth and honesty may cost you much more financially and undermine leadership that may be effective. You shouldn’t expect other people to know what’s happening if you haven’t relayed the information to them.

Provide access to resources necessary to accomplish your goal: Take the analogy of a building which has been constructed with materials of poor quality. You should hardly expect such a building to last over time. When you apply this theory to any situation then you will see that certain resources are necessary in order to get the job done.

A team is a valuable resource: When you have a team at your disposal, you have the capacity to tap into it and make use of the expertise that members of the team have. Getting the necessary feedback and suggestions from individuals who are capable of seeing two sides to a particular is a good thing as it can engender creativity and become a positive asset. A good leader should inspire a team to achieve the desired goals through his own vision and he should take responsibility for the actions of the team and give credit to them for a job well done.

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How to Become a Good Leader

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you’re in a position of management or if you are the leader of one organization or the other, getting people to do what you want them to do may seem like a very difficult thing to do. The truth is that it needn’t be that difficult. No need exists for a person to be too nice or excessively mean. You can easily become a good leader by sticking to these professional tips.

Don’t Play the Blame Game:

When your team misses a project deadline or someone forgets to order something they should have, you should seek to blame other people. After all, it happened on your watch and that alone makes you responsible for everything especially in cases where something goes wrong.

Be Clear About What You Expect:

It’s difficult for your team members to stick to the game plan if they don’t have a strong idea about what the game plan is. You should always remain clear and concise when giving instructions to be carried out. You should take the time out to explain to the particular individual what exactly it is that you need them to do and how you expect it done. You should then allow them go off and handle the situation the best way that they are able to.

Accept That Everyone’s Style is Different:

While you may feel that a certain way of doing things is the best way to go, someone else may disagree with you. However you should be too picky about slight details, you should recognize the fact that everyone else does things their own way. What should really matter is that the same results should be achieved in the end. Nothing else counts.

Lead By Example:

You should follow the Eleanor Roosevelt principle and never expect more from your employees or volunteers than you are personally willing to do yourself. You should show everybody in your place of work that you’re willing to join in as well and help the team get things done. They’ll be much more disposed to staying an extra hour or two after work to finish an important project if the team leader stays behinds as well to do the same thing.

Learn from Your Mistakes and those of Other’s:

Everyone at one time or the other has made a mistake. The best thing to do is to learn from these mistakes. This way whenever you or someone else makes a mistake you should take stock of the situation and see if there is any way that the situation could be coped with better. You should then follow this route in the future.

Give Credit Where Credit’s Due:

You should never take all the glory for yourself regardless of how much of a great leader that you are. You should give credit to the people who have made one contribution or the other to your success. You should make them feel that you wouldn’t have achieved any success in your endeavors without them. The truth is that when you think of it, you probably won’t have achieved all that you have on your own.

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Is Leadership a Learned or Natural Process?

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The existence of anything such as a natural born leader is easily subject to debate. We have heard statements alluding to the natural abilities of a leader, made at one time or the other. This theory seems to hold true with royalty. But in other cases are these assumptions true or are leaders developed through a learning process?

Any new parent of grandparent who looks at a newborn member of their family is quite likely to see greatness. The truth in reality is that no great plan or agenda is in motion. We are all born with character or traits which play a crucial part in our skills as well as our experience and our environment. Even when you consider people like Mozart, Monet, Elvis and Picasso, they weren’t all born as musicians and artists but they had the creativity and potential to become what they eventually turned out to be.

Some people may have the intelligence as well as the personality to be good or great leaders but they lack the abilities to capitalize and drive on their attitudes. History has shown that even though some people may be born into roles of leadership, this really doesn’t turn them into great leaders.

Leadership is a process by which we influence others. Charisma is often described as the ability to charm and influence people and it is a key to leadership as well. It is a trait and with charisma you have the power to attract attention and provide confidence as well. Charisma is something you have or you don’t and it must be combined with other traits in order to create a good leader.

Genetics may play a part in leadership. You may not be born to be a leader than you are born to be a farmer. Most people aren’t born to become leaders. They hate speaking out, making changes or having to resolve conflict and all these are obstacles that leaders must regularly cope with.

Can leadership be taught?

West Point is a great example of an institute that trains leaders. It doesn’t turn these people into leaders overnight but it supplies them with the tools to develop the leadership within them. People, who go to West Point, go there to see the potential officer that is within themselves. People who go into training for high-end careers already have some traits of leaders: drive, ambition and a willingness to sacrifice for their goals.

Universities teach leadership and the private industry invests money in leadership programs. Public schools also teach and provide leadership opportunities for youths as well. A huge amount of time, talent and money is spent on imparting leadership to people. Society has invested heavy amounts of money in leadership training and it may not be possible to automatically turn people into great leaders but you can supply them with the tools that they need to improve the leadership skills that they have. The individual has to add the other elements that are needed such as determination, communication, influence as well as the vision to lead others effectively.

The blending of the traits that your were born with and their development along with skills and experience eventually turn out to combine and give rise to great leaders.

Leaders however may come naturally. A cursory look at children playing together on the playground is testimony to the fact. One of these children will usually come forth with the ideas concerning what activity to carry out or what game to play and the other children will follow with this suggestion. Life tends to require and need leadership, someone has to create the decisions and others will follow. If leadership didn’t exist we might all be standing one by one alone and the essence of our existence lost.

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How to Become a Good Leader

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you’re in a position of management or if you are the leader of one organization or the other, getting people to do what you want them to do may seem like a very difficult thing to do. The truth is that it needn’t be that difficult. No need exists for a person to be too nice or excessively mean. You can easily become a good leader by sticking to these professional tips.

Don’t Play the Blame Game:

When your team misses a project deadline or someone forgets to order something they should have, you should seek to blame other people. After all, it happened on your watch and that alone makes you responsible for everything especially in cases where something goes wrong.

Be Clear About What You Expect:

It’s difficult for your team members to stick to the game plan if they don’t have a strong idea about what the game plan is. You should always remain clear and concise when giving instructions to be carried out. You should take the time out to explain to the particular individual what exactly it is that you need them to do and how you expect it done. You should then allow them go off and handle the situation the best way that they are able to.

Accept That Everyone’s Style is Different:

While you may feel that a certain way of doing things is the best way to go, someone else may disagree with you. However you should be too picky about slight details, you should recognize the fact that everyone else does things their own way. What should really matter is that the same results should be achieved in the end. Nothing else counts.

Lead By Example:

You should follow the Eleanor Roosevelt principle and never expect more from your employees or volunteers than you are personally willing to do yourself. You should show everybody in your place of work that you’re willing to join in as well and help the team get things done. They’ll be much more disposed to staying an extra hour or two after work to finish an important project if the team leader stays behinds as well to do the same thing.

Learn from Your Mistakes and those of Other’s:

Everyone at one time or the other has made a mistake. The best thing to do is to learn from these mistakes. This way whenever you or someone else makes a mistake you should take stock of the situation and see if there is any way that the situation could be coped with better. You should then follow this route in the future.

Give Credit Where Credit’s Due:

You should never take all the glory for yourself regardless of how much of a great leader that you are. You should give credit to the people who have made one contribution or the other to your success. You should make them feel that you wouldn’t have achieved any success in your endeavors without them. The truth is that when you think of it, you probably won’t have achieved all that you have on your own.

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The Factors Which Make Leadership Essential in Business

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Businesses operate better under great leadership and they don’t do so under bad leadership. Making sure that your business is promoted by good leadership will ensure the success of that business now and in the future as well. And for every business, future growth is an essential quality to promote because longevity gives a business value as well.

There are different reasons why great leadership is an important quality in the world of business. Good business decisions don’t just come out of the blue. These decisions come from leaders who have the required skills to make the necessary decisions whenever and wherever they have to be made.

Understanding whether people who are put into leadership roles in business are ready is an essential step in ensuring success; you should look out for such signs of good leadership in people to ensure the required success that you need.

Managers Who Understand Their LimitationsIt isn’t everyone who is great at making their own decisions, especially decisions which are theirs to be held responsible for. You should ensure that the leaders you select are leaders who understand that certain decisions are their responsibility and other decisions aren’t theirs to make. You should ensure that people who you put in these positions understand responsibility and take the challenge up in order to do what is necessary when it has to be done.

Leaders Who Know How to Make Good ChoicesLeading properly requires that a person will make decisions on the spur of the moment which will have pronounced effects on a company and the people who are involved in working for this company. You should make sure that your leaders know how to take their time and evaluate all the decisions that they make in order to determine the right thing for your bottom line, your customers, your reputation as well as your employees.

Leaders Who Know How to Take Their Time

Sometimes the making of quick and timely decisions is necessary but in most cases haste isn’t really required. You can take a break before you go ahead to make the necessary choices that you want to. The worst decisions tend to be those which are made in an unnecessary haste. Making great decisions tends to take some time and because of this you should take the time out to make a decision which you feel is the proper one.

Leaders Who Keep Good Notes:

Leaders who are good understand that making the best business decisions require some time to make. During this period of waiting for decisions people tend to forget the important and necessary details, this is the reason why it is essential that people who are in the roles of leadership keep notes that concern different aspects of their projects and the decisions that they have to make.

The Ability to Impassion People:

Being able to make the necessary decisions to benefit everybody is an essential part of leadership, however the ability to get along and corporate with other people whom you work with and to make them feel great about a specific project, client or job. Getting these people into office in order to work as a team collectively and benefit the whole company is a better sign of the ability to lead others.

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The Most Important Aspects of Leadership

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The most important aspect of leadership is the relationship that exists between a leader and their followers. This will in turn determine how successful they become with the task that they have been asked to do. If you have no hold on your followers then it is quite likely that the outcome of your mission will not succeed. There are different traits that a good leader will typically exhibit.

These are just a few of them to think of:

  • Leaders should have vision: leaders should have the thoughtful direction, the best means as well as the foresight to employ managers to carry out the projects that have to be done.
  • Leaders should set goals that can be reached and should ensure this success.
  • Leaders aren’t hampered by failure; politicians are a great example of such leaders.
  • Leaders should have followers and the leadership should be an interactive one. It is dependent one both parties. The followers will end up ensuring the success of their leader.
  • You should delegate when you can in order to select the proper person for the job. You can’t do everything that has to be done on your own.
  • Leaders should have some faith in who they are. Lack of faith in yourself will mean that other people will lack faith in you as well.
  • Leaders won’t see obstacles as something that they can’t overcome but they will find ways to over, around and through them as well.
  • Courage – Courage is a required quality that is needed in order to create the necessary change.
  • Rebellious nature – leaders must be rebellious in order to bring about change. This way you bring about change that other people can’t seem to provide.
  • Ability to influence – You should have the ability to influence the motivation that other people have and this means motivating the person to do whatever you want them to do.
  • Communication – You should only speak when you have taken the time to think first. You should inform your followers about what you expect. People won’t know what you need from them if you don’t tell them.
  • Charisma – The ability to charm and influence other people is an element that is necessary for leadership.
  • Sincerity – The appearance of honesty, integrity, being trustworthy, confidence are all necessary in becoming an effective leader.
  • Powers of persuasion – Leaders should be able to persuade their followers that they have their best interests at heart.
  • Earn not Demand respect – A great difference exists between people who earn respect and people who demand respect. If you give respect, the chances are that you will receive it in return.
  • Motivate – People who you work with should feel some motivation to act. A person’s motivation comes from within. You cannot provide this motivation but is can easily be fostered.
  • Stay in control – Leadership comes with certain degrees of control. Just like you do with a car, when you lose control you don’t get to where you’re headed.
  • The capacities to perform – Leaders are supposed to be people who just don’t think about carrying out a task, they make sure that it is done. 

Other Points to Think About:

  • Managers vs. leaders – Leaders tend to be managers but not all managers lead. Some managers may direct but they do not lead.
  • Authority is not the same thing as leadership

A true leader may show or have all these traits but what really determines a good leader is in his followers. It is their actions that will bring about the desired results in whatever goal that is under consideration.

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Understanding the Essence and the Purpose of Leadership

November 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you search Google for the term leadership, you’ll come up with more than a 100 million results. Leadership is a very popular topic. The real definition of the term leader means a person who leads. A leader is a guide and a conductor at the same time and he is a person who directs and maintains a commanding authority as well as an influence. Leadership is also part of the process of influencing the thoughts as well as the acts and the motivation of an individual or group with communication in order to achieve a certain vision or goal. Leaders bring about change in our daily lives during great periods as well as during trying ones.

This is also a philosophical question which you can take to heart. You should ask what leadership is and what purpose leadership has in a philosophy class and it is a guarantee that the resulting discussion will be quite electric.

Leaderships’ purpose is to inspire a certain person or people to accomplish a goal. The purpose of the leader is also to steer and motivate them towards the achievement of these goals for the benefit of everyone else. Leadership in this way is understood by the definition of the purpose that it serves.
According to Stephen Covey, effective leadership is about putting first things first and effective discipline is about carrying these things out.

Leadership can be found around us on a daily basis and to varying degrees. The choir as a group may lead church members to sing while the lead goose heads southwards for winter while others who join up form a V shape overhead and other geese join up. Other examples of leadership can be found with the football coach who calls a time out in order to discuss with his players or a president who holds an annual state of the union address in order to inform and solidify a nation at the same time.

Leading isn’t entirely about being in charge and neither is it equal to it. Leaders aren’t necessarily those in charge. True leadership is a combination and an application of different personal traits as well as knowledge, skills, talents, attitude and abilities. One component of leadership is delegation and a good leader knows the intricacies involved in selecting the right person for the required task.

We are all born with our varying degrees of intelligence and it takes a whole lot of training to develop this intelligence. Albert Einstein was famous for saying that: “We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles but no personality. It cannot lead; it can only serve.” Great leaders tend to use and develop their intelligence in order to combine with their sense of self-awareness, influential skills, perception and appearance of honesty, integrity, and confidence in order to guide people towards their vision of a better outcome for the group in its entirety.

Leadership is required and demanded in life. In life where you have leader, you will also have followers. We need a vision along with direction and motivation in order to attain the goals which we wish to achieve.

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