M5A4 Paper: What does it Take to be a Leader? Instructions Your paper should be 2 to 3 pages in length (not including title and reference pages). Your paper should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, in-text citations and references for all sources following proper APA formatting. Use the EC Library resources to properly cite your work: APA Format Tip Sheet Citing Sources Plagiarism & Copyright Use the EC Library guide to conduct your research: Business Research Guide Compose your work using a word processor (or other software as appropriate) and save it frequently to your computer. When you’re ready to submit your work, click Browse My Computer and find your file. Once you’ve located your file, click Open and, if successful, the file name will appear under the Attached Files heading. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Submit and you’re done. Be sure to check your work and correct any spelling or grammatical errors before you post it. Review the SBT Short Paper Rubric by clicking on the “View Rubric” button at the top of this page, or by going to the “Start Here-Course Information” section of the course to see more information on grading criteria. Background Information Great leaders build trust and credibility with words and deeds that prove, in ways large and small, that they respect and honor their people. Every profession and walk of life has its great leaders, figures and heroes. Think of men and women who create or transform major companies. There are political leaders who reshape society. There are policemen or firefighters who risk their lives to save others. Those folks we think of as role models and we celebrate their accomplishments. In many ways they represent what we think of as the true model of leadership. Does one have to be in the spotlight to be a leader? Most leaders are rarely public heroes, and move patiently, carefully and incrementally to get things done. They do what is right for their organization. Prompt Write a 2-3 page paper about the essential attributes you think it takes to demonstrate leadership. How does one acquire those attributes? Can one learn them by observing or reading about them? Using the organization you chose in the Module One journal, assess the leadership attributes demonstrated by an administrator within that organization. What evidence can you find that these leadership attributes are working for that organization? Tasks Describe the essential attributes it takes to demonstrate leadership, including the acquisition of those attributes. Assess whether or not the leadership attributes demonstrated by an administrator within the organization you chose in Module One are working for the organization. Justify, using evidence, your assessment of whether or not the leadership attributes are working for the organization.

 

M5A4: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A LEADER?

Student’s Name

Date

 

Abstract

Write a 2-3page paper about the essential attributes you think it takes to demonstrate leadership. How does one acquire those attributes? Can one learn them by observing or reading about them? Using the organization, you chose in the Module One journal, assess the leadership attributes demonstrated by an administrator within that organization. What evidence can you find that these leadership attributes are working for that organization?

 

Tasks

 

Describe the essential attributes it takes to demonstrate leadership, including the acquisition of those attributes.

Assess whether or not the leadership attributes demonstrated by an administrator within the organization you chose in Module One are working for the organization.

Justify, using evidence, your assessment of whether or not the leadership attributes are working for the organization.

 

Essential Attributes

Introduction

Great leaders possess unique attributes that compose their characteristics in leadership controlling their personal behavior and conduct in the pursuing organizational goals and objectives. The essential characteristics of great leadership are diverse including honesty, confidence, creativity, generosity, innovativeness, commitment, communication, accountability and transparency, and patience (Zaccaro et al., 2004). Great leaders that induce significant leadership and transformation in an organization are ethical and motivate their employees to work towards a common goal in an organization. They value most what’s best for an organization.

How to Acquire Leadership Attributes

The acquisition of leadership traits is usually a long process in career development whereby, one requires to be committed towards pursuance of greatness in an organization. A leader needs to work in close cooperation with other employees and develop a sense of close participation in the organization’s proceedings in order to gain respect and honor among the team members. Leaders ought to be confident in themselves and believe in the organization, as well as, its employees without second guessing them to eliminate any form of discomfort in an organization (Lussier & Achua, 2015). Such traits are acquired and nurtured over time and help leaders to assert exceptional skills in leadership. In the development of the code of ethics and corporate culture, leaders illustrate their will to be honest to the organization and loyal which emulated by other employees within the organization. The trait is developed as one progresses with leadership and bring employees closer to the organization.

Similarly, great leadership in an organization ought to develop exceptional communication skills through practice and let other employees on board to the functioning and plans of an organization. This helps to forge a better relationship between the employees and their leaders. The acquisition of creativity is created by the desire of greatness and ambitions that a leader possess in their decisiveness and conduct in an organization (Nahavandi, 2016). Creativity is created by the desire to introduce what is best for the organization in a unique and diverse manner that is exceptional from the functioning of other organizations. The climax of great leadership attributes requires one to show accountability and transparency in their operations. Accountability attribute is acquired and nurtured over time as leaders practice ethical and moral functioning and decisions.

Can Attributes be Learned or Read?

There’s a saying that says leaders are made not born. Made leader may be a learning leader. A leader can learn the attributes by listening, exercising, and through compassion. Therefore, leadership attributes can be acquired through a learning process that requires practice and patience to nurture oneself to be a great leader. Also, inviting the feedback from other colleagues and employees within the organization complements to know one’s leadership attributes deficiency. In turn, seek ways to develop the skills. In some leaders, they may be born as great leaders implying that they possess intuitive leadership skills.

Leadership Attributes Demonstrated in An Organisation

In the operations of Apple Inc., the company has shown excellent leadership skills and serves as a model for many others in the telecom industry. In the leadership of Steve Jobs, the man who transformed Apple Inc., into one of the greatest telecommunications and technology company in the world asserts great leadership attributes. Similarly, since taking over the leadership of Apple Inc., Tim Cook – the company’s CEO has served with due diligence and exceptional skills that elevate their leadership skills and admiration among many (Lussier & Achua, 2015). The main attributes exerted in the leadership of both Steve Jobs, and Tim Cook is the encouragement of diversity, the motivation of their employees, visionary leadership, honesty, and integrity that induce ethical business operations and corporate culture. Such leadership traits among others have effectively worked for Apple Inc., elevating the company to be one of the most competitive company in the world.

Finally, the level of innovativeness and creativity in Apple Inc. is evidence enough to assert the functionality of great leadership in the company. Apple Inc. has spread and fully utilization the globalization phenomena efficiently to increase in income revenues and sustain the long-lasting brand the company has created for its products through unparalleled quality.

 

References

Lussier, R. N., & Achua, C. F. (2015). Leadership: Theory, application, & skill development. Nelson Education.

Nahavandi, A. (2016). The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.

Zaccaro, S. J., Kemp, C., & Bader, P. (2004). Leader traits and attributes. The nature of leadership, 101, 124.