The Qualities of a Good Leader
The question of what makes an individual a good leader is an age-old one which can be answered with a broad spectrum of factors, ideas and responses. Leadership is, of course, entirely contextual and therefore the definition of a good leader can often depend on what or who requires leading. For example, the leader of a country must be decisive, confident, and strong and a symbol of hope and pride for their people, whereas the leader of a Scout pack must be better suited to working with children – they must be fair, considerate and mindful of the children in his care. However, there are fundamental personality traits which must be displayed universally by a leader: the ability to communicate, motivate and generate. A good leader must hold the ability to be all things to all people, whilst still knowing when to delegate.
There have been many examples of good leaders over the years and perhaps most recently, President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, has been heralded as such. His election campaign for the 2008 presidential election was met with high regard and commendation for his “formidable leadership skills” (Leanne, 2009, p XI). Obama manages to fulfil a number of roles: strong leader, respected family man and well-liked man of the people. In doing this, he endears himself to the majority and despite those who, in ignorance, believe him to be of Muslim descent (and all the ignorant negative associations that go along with that), Obama is internationally admired as being an excellent leader of the U.S. This is, in part, due to his strong hold on office – he has been decisive but fair, professional but personable, and tenacious but open through his presidency. These are all strong leadership qualities that enable an individual to maintain control of a collective whilst still being fundamentally liked and respected.
Respect is, perhaps, the most important word that should be associated with leadership. An individual can be intelligent, friendly and brilliant but if he is not respected then he will be unable to succeed as a functional leader. Often, respect is discussed in connection with other key leadership skills such as priorities, team work and appropriate action: it is widely accepted that a “balance of these four” procures a fine leader (Zapke-Schauer, 2005, p22). The main discussion that is generated by this four areas is the idea that a good leader knows when to delegate – hoarding all the work is a quick way to show foolishness and to alienate those that are being led and so, being able to be a team player is vital to strong leadership as it demonstrates a respect for others and their abilities. This is also true in choosing the appropriate action: often, a leader cannot be a friend first – instead, a leader must know when and how to act accordingly in order to discipline or guide individuals towards the correct decision. Sometimes, that decision may not be a popular choice but is one which will greater benefit the collective in the long run. Often, the leaders of countries are unpopular individuals because of their choices that do not immediately and directly benefit a section of the population, but in theory, their choices are made in order to better benefit the country as a whole – an increase in taxation or a reduction in benefits, for example. Furthermore, a good leader must have clear priorities by which they intend to make decision. Often, it is these priorities or ‘policies’ which endear or alienate a leadership candidate to their electorate.
A good leader must also be a proficient communicator (diplomacy, delicacy and excellent articulation are often necessary to produce the desired effect without upsetting anyone in the process), a strong listener and an inspirational motivator (Mayer, 2008, p 3-5). Ultimately, throughout history, the deciding factor as to whether a leader is good or bad has been his ability to get results. For example, Winston Churchill is remembered as an excellent British Prime Minister who led the British in World War Two: he gave motivational speeches which inspired patriotism, he presented himself as a strong individual who refused to give up, and he eventually prevailed (along with the allied forces) in defeating the threat of the Nazis in Europe. History remembers him as being an excellent, respected and well-liked leader. In short, the true quantitative measure of a leader’s ability is his legacy and the ability to achieve what he sets out to achieve through strong communication and motivation.
References
Leanne, S. (2009). Leadership the Barack Obama Way. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.
Mayer, T. (2007). What Makes a Good Leader & How Might the Performance of Leaders be measured. Germany: Books on Demand.
Zapke-Schauer, G. (2005). The Art of Leadership: ideas and inspiration for effective leadership. Germany: Gabler.
