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.