Master of Arts in Leadership
Leadership is a quality that many do not view as a personal trait. Being a leader is a recipe for improving self-being of a person. Leaders are common with leadership being a very simple word but difficult to define at the same time. It is because of its complexity and multidimensional composition. Through my experience, leadership has different ways of definitions. A leader is that who influences activities of a systematized group who have the particular set of goals to achieve.
For leadership to be effective, the leader needs to assert influence over a group by communicating ways that can be used to attain certain goals. Leaders need to possess certain qualities that are supposed to be diverse. The field of leadership does not require one who knows everything. It is a wrong misconception that I have experienced while practicing leadership in various capacities. It has always been that all the final decisions and responsibilities lie with the leader.
The good leaders I have met with respect gathered views and opinions of other people before making a final decision on pertinent issues. Remarkable leaders are open to change. The human race has always resisted this philosophy of leadership while undertaking their activities in the respective workplaces. To enhance growth, good leadership should channel their efforts towards responding promptly to and anticipating all changes whether major or minor. Leaders need to understand bad attributes of bad leadership. It is in so doing that they can enhance those flaws to achieve perfection. An understanding of these attributes is important as they are common and obvious hence making many leaders assume them. As a seasoned leader in many fields, an important lesson to mention is that leaders should not be friends with their employees. Friendship neutralizes the power and authority of a leader. From experience, buddy bosses are clouded by friendship hence hindering their ability to correct behavior, delegating duties, holding employees accountable for their responsibilities and omissions. As a person striving to climb the ladder of good leadership; I have been met with most difficult situations while practicing leadership in a company that was struggling to grow. The decision was to fire a more experienced and talented employee from a large corporation while we only had new, inexperienced employees. That was a tough decision as the company needed a devoted team committed to its goal.
The experienced employee only did the necessary and was not ready to sacrifice and commit to the company’s goals. In as much a leader incorporates creativity and innovation in leading organized groups, it is important for one to be a good manager. As seen from my experience above, an understanding of the company’s mission and vision guided me according to the formulated plans. A good leader must be a good manager to lead effectively. It is vital for leaders to understand the two aspects that are often used interchangeably, but they imply different ways of overseeing …
