J3: Leadership

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Leadership qualities

There are many opinions as to what qualities a leader needs. Obviously there are no hard and fast rules and definitions in this field, but leadership abilities can still be put into general categories. Here is one system that endeavours to establish three foundations which are at the root of all leadership qualities.

1. WILL

To be successful you have to want to lead. Without a great deal of self confidence and self motivation it is impossible to overcome the many problems a leader has to face. A lack of will power will result in a person shirking their responsibilities which will inevitably lead to making mistakes. Only with an iron will can a leader be undeterred in the face of adversity and never consider giving up as a viable option. Other qualities that fall into under this category are: stamina, belief, power, strength, growth, focused desire, ability to deal with failure, self assurance etc...

2. KNOWLEDGE

To be a successful leader you have to know what you're doing. With all the will in the world, if a person does not realise what needs to be done then they will not be able to guide others in doing it. Finding, analysing and understanding the problems of the hour and seeing viable solutions to them are vital issues for a good leader. Without adequate study and research a person cannot really handle the issues at hand and their decisions will not be well thought out. An ignorant leader is simply not equipped to deal with new situations that fall outside their narrow area of knowledge. Other qualities that fall into this category are: adaptability, thoughtfulness, alertness, openness to change, honesty, wisdom, ability to handle to handle many facts at once, etc...

3. SKILL

To be a successful leader you need the skill to achieve your goals. You may be highly motivated and you may be very knowledgeable, but if you don't know how to use these abilities to inspire and direct a group of people then you will fail as a leader. The skill of leadership is the ability to act appropriately in any given situation and to personally relate to your many different followers, Each of whom has their own needs and aspirations. To focus these diverse individuals into a cohesive unit is not easy and requires the ability to empathise with each of them. With enough skill a leader can direct their followers along a certain path whilst still encouraging them to lead and decide on their own particular lives. Other qualities that fall into this category are: passion, feeling, tact, negotiation abilities, sensitivity, openness, timing, fluidity etc...

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