A leader is a role model, an example for others to follow and “walks the talk”. There is utmost dedication and passion in a good leader, towards work and responsibilities. No matter what the odds are, a good leader fights it all, is confident and a source of inspiration and motivation, encourages team work, is organized, focused, competent and meticulous in all aspects.
It is very important for a leader to be trustworthy and full of integrity, so that others follow the lead and also have respect for the leader. A leader always works hand in hand with a team or group of people so he/she should be able to inspire and motivate the team members positively to achieve the set goal. Good leadership demands an orderly and meticulous way of working. Therefore a good leader should be very organized and confident so that the team members are also encouraged to follow suit. There are moments of crisis and challenges in the process of reaching the goal, but a good leader is one who is tolerant, composed, steadfast and persevering throughout.
There are many people from the past and present who are famous for their leadership qualities and bringing a change in some way or the other. One such leader, popularly known as the ‘father of the nation’ of India is Mahatma Gandhi. He was the spiritual and political leader of India fighting for the independence of India. He fought for the independence of the country but without any bloodshed. Satyagraha or non-violence was his philosophy and he encouraged a mass civil disobedience movement against the British rule, following non-violence throughout the freedom struggle. He is known as the ‘Great Soul’ and his birthday Oct 2 is now celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
As a leader of the country Gandhi was tolerant, unbiased towards people from different strata of the society, confident, sincere and committed to achieve the goal of freeing India from the clutches of the British regime. He was very honest, and lived a modest and simple life, yet he had an indomitable will to fight for the freedom of the country and gain victory. He was a good listener, willing learner, proactive in problem solving, a visionary and disciplined person. He was so influential that many future world leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, etc. were inspired by him. Through his determination and support of his followers he was able to bring a revolution and win the battle of freedom.
I see myself as a leader too and have faith that I can become an efficient leader as I’m visionary like Mahatma Gandhi. I take interest in knowing and learning what’s going on around me and if people I work with are facing any difficulty. I willingly offer help and am apt in solving problems. I enjoy working with a group of people because I believe a team of people is full of different ideas and approaches to work. I am a keen listener and very calm and patient, which are very important characteristics any leader must have. It’s important to keep clear communication with the people one works with, and I am very conscious of that. I am passionate about what I do and confident in taking decisions. As a leader one needs the support of people so its necessary to win people’s confidence and make them feel important and capable. I value others and their views, and am very sensitive to people’s needs. I am a flexible person and believe in using various strategies to accomplish a task. This requires for a person to be open-minded and well-aware, which are my strong characteristics for leadership.
I share a good relationship with my superiors, peers and subordinates and people often call me a ‘people’s person’. I am good in building relationships and have a good credibility among those who know me which is important to influence others. I truly believe in the quote by Kenneth Blanchard, “The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”
Reference
25 Great Quotes on Leadership. 2012. The Positivity Blog. 5 December 2012
Seven Qualities of a Good Leader. 2012. Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & CO., LLP, CPA’s. 5 December 2012
