For centuries on end, scholars have been fascinated by group psychology. Right from the Biblical times to the medieval times when the study of society began to take centre stage, humans have always wanted to know and understand the impact and the difference that groups make. Indeed, a lot has been achieved in the world due to groups. The great Pyramids of Egypt are a good example of what can be achieved when groups of people with a common purpose and goal come together to work towards their goal. Humans are social beings and the need to feel like a part of the larger society has been the most important cog in the element of group dynamics (Hogg & Terry, 22). At the helm of a group, there has to be a leader; someone who controls the rest and from whom instructions and orders are taken. The leader needs to exert control over his followers so that whatever he says is believed and obeyed. The pharaohs of Egypt were at the top of the leadership ladder when the Pyramids were being built and their authority and control over their people is what led to the success achieved in this regard. Groups are characterized and defined by a number of factors including group development, roles, size, and norms among others. There are diverse types of groups but they share a number of commonalities especially when it comes to the social dynamics. One of these is the aspect of leaders and followers.
A group is defined as two or more people with close proximity, with the same agenda, who interact, influence each other, and are classed together. They often have a similar goal or are brought together by similar circumstances. Well-structured groups are often defined by the presence of a leader. In this regard, the other members of the group are called followers. A leader is defined as a person who guides, directs and/or commands a group. In order to guide, the leader must be respected as it is not easy for followers to take guidance from a person who lacks moral authority. At the same time, the leader must come out as someone who is mentally strong and smart. It is only with this ability that he can be able to direct his followers and they follow. In other cases, leaders have authority and with it influence. Thus, they are able to command their followers and they obey the orders. Such is the case in military camps and similar settings. Leaders in groups are usually great communicators; this enables them to stand out from the rest as someone who can be listened to. When their opinions, suggestions, and propositions are taken into consideration, then the road to their leadership begins at this point. It deals with the beginnings of a group, how it is structured, how people interact within the group and the forces that bind them and control their actions. Leaders play an important role in group dynamics. Indeed as they say it is hard to make leaders; the leaders who are good are born (Ciulla, Joanne 159)
The discussion on groups and leaders brings us to the essential qualities of a leader. Other than the characteristics mentioned above including mental strength, moral authority and good communication skills, a leader needs to possess other qualities. One of these is empathy. He needs to relate with his followers’ situation and understand their plight. This is often the card played by most politicians vying for political seats; that of being a common person. It is only through understanding and relating to a particular societal problem that the leader can orchestrate change. In turn, members of a group need to feel like they are in the same boat together with their leader and that through his assistance, they will overcome their challenges and struggles. The second attribute of a good leader is accessibility and being a good listener (Dubrin, 18). It is important that a leader is present when his followers need him, more so in times of conflict, indecision, and struggle. By being present and available, his followers can go ahead and present their grievances. This gives the impression of a caring and selfless leader. It does not end with being available when needed; a good leader is also supposed to be a good listener. He needs to interact with his followers and understand their plight by listening to their experiences. This gives him a head start on what his followers expect. A good leader should also recognize and motivate his people. For instance a good principal in a school motivates his staff to avoid a large turnover and also ensures that the performance of the students is high as well as their discipline (Rice, Jennifer King n.p). When a person achieves a fete that is beyond ordinary, the leader should recognize such as progressive work and reward the person accordingly. He should also be able to motivate his people to ensure that they remain focused even during hard times. All these attributes bring us to the ultimate question; what makes a good leader, one who is feared or one who is loved?
A good leader is one who is loved and not feared. Fear brings in some aspects of leadership including authority and dominance. However, it also creates a foundation for disgruntled feelings among the followers. They may be further suppressed through violence and other heinous acts but these ultimately lead to further discord and strife. In the end, the effects of fear may be rebellion, an uprising, or ousting of the leader. A good example of leadership exercised and maintained by fear is with regard to Adolf Hitler, the German Chancellor who led the Germans to World War II. Hitler began as a likeable leader but soon revealed his other side of oppression, murder, and intimidation. Before he committed suicide, there had been more than thirty attempts on his life by his own people! He is notoriously remembered for the killing of over 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Notably, for one to be counted as a good leader the person in question should be able to present a future state that is desirable and one that can be achieved. The leader termed as good is who without any external pressure does the right thing at a time that can be deemed right and for motives that are good and whose followers are willing to follow him or her (Katene, Selwyn 12). A leader who is loved is easily seen as able to identify with the plight of the people. For example, a world leader who was loved is Nelson Mandela. He sacrificed a significant part of his life fighting for freedom in his country South Africa. He was jailed for thirty years for all his troubles. However, when South Africa ultimately gained independence, he was recognized not only by his fellow citizens but also by outsiders as a champion of human rights. Mandela presided over the transition of South Africa from the hands of colonialism to independence. He is still fondly remembered for his heroic acts because he made a positive mark on his followers and delivered them from the hands of colonialists.
Conclusion
Leaders should have control and authority over their followers. This allows them to exert their suggestions and to direct the people when it matters. They need to have certain key attributes including being good communicators and listeners and empathy among others. This means that a good leader is loved and not feared.
Works Cited
Ciulla, Joanne B. "Integrating leadership with ethics: Is good leadership contrary to human nature." Handbook on responsible leadership and governance in global business (2005): 159-179.
https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QzJiDIgbTt8C&oi=fnd&pg=PA159&dq=good+leadership&ots=f42PZ8y91j&sig=nrzbQjoMmbV4vmmE-gI6Yk2VZoY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=good%20leadership&f=false
Dubrin, Andrew. Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills. Nelson Education, 2015.
Hogg, Michael A., and Deborah J. Terry, eds. Social identity processes in organizational contexts. Psychology Press, 2014.
Katene, Selwyn. "Modelling Māori leadership: What makes for good leadership." Mai Review 2 (2010): 1-16.
Rice, Jennifer King. "Principal Effectiveness and Leadership in an Era of Accountability: What Research Says. Brief 8." National center for analysis of longitudinal data in education research (2010).
