I’ve provided some information from other sources labeled as ‘Guest Posts’ and while they do provide information, I realize they do not have the same flare or quality as when I write.  As such, I’ve thought about leadership extensively and would like to expound on it.  Here is a picture of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.  Shaw is famous for his leading of the 54th Massachusetts, a regiment of African-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War for the Union.

 

The 1989 the movie, ‘Glory’, is an enlightening and inspiring portrayel of Colonel Shaw and his dealings with his men.  Colonel Shaw was the leader of this regiment.  He was in charge.  Watch the movie Glory and see if you can see how Colonel Shaw was a leader.  He did what was right, even if it was unpopular, he was firm, kind when he needed to be, understanding of his weaknesses, and eventually, won the respect of all that were part of the regiment.  Colonel Shaw is a wonderful example of a good leader.  There are many others in history and today that are examples of people with leadership.  There are some main qualities of leadership that I would like to speak on today:

 

Qualities of a good leader

 

A good leader is intelligent, educated, confident, inspiring, selfless, and understanding (among many more other good qualities).  Without these qualities, a person is bereft of the necessary skills which are essential in leading others in an effective manner.

 

Intelligent

 

A good leader must be smart.  They must understand the area in which they are trying to lead.  If owning a business, the leader must be well versed in business operations and able to make intelligent decisions without guessing.  A leader of a basketball team must understand the game of basketball, as well as their own team and the opponents team.  A good leader is able to make sound decisions with positive results.

 

Educated

 

Education is essential for good leadership.  Experience must be part of this education.  If you are working for someone leading a business and they are young, inexperienced, and not quite sure what they are doing, you can bet that they are not cut out to lead that business.  You can tell if someone is educated by asking them questions related to what they are leading.  If they are unable to answer a majority of the questions or even know where to look for the answers, this should tell you that their leadership is questionable in the area they are leading.

 

Confident

 

A good leader is confident in their abilities.  This means the leader is smart and capable.  They may have their doubts like anyone else, but they never let these doubts surface in front of the people they are leading.  They make decisions and stick with them.  A poor leader will be hesitent, and unsure.  Confidence comes from experience, education, and intelligence.  Watch for those who are leading and see how confident they are.

 

Inspiring

 

Being inspiring is crucial for good leadership.  If the people being led do not feel that their leader is worth following, then the leader is next to useless.  Inspiring people can be done in many ways.  A rallying speech, gatherings with those being led where the people’s efforts are rewarded, or other worthwhile events.  Being upfront and honest, but steadfast in goals and objectives is also a way to inspire.  A good leader will spend time with the people he/she is leading.  The leader will ‘be in the trenches’ with those being led.  The people will see this and it is inspiring to see a leader doing the ‘dirty work’ that the followers are doing.

 

Selfless

 

A good leader sacrifices and does more than what is required.  A good leader will spend extra time with those being led making sure they are able to accomplish what it is they are doing in the best possible way.  Larry Bird, a former NBA basketball player was an excellent leader.  He would show up to practice early, leave practice late, and spent much extra time perfecting his game.  Good leaders will be seen often doing this.  If your leaders are never around to be seen, or are not spending the time helping you, you can bet that they are not qualified to lead.

 

Understanding

 

A good leader must understand those being led.  Across the board, people have a multitude of personalities.  A good leader is able to blend these personalities for the best possible result.  Sometimes morale gets low and the leader has to spend time with the people to make sure things are in order.  A good leader knows the personalities of those being led.  The leader can adapt his approach to what people need.  Some people need direct correction and admonishment.  Others require a much more subtle approach.  Good leaders have the power of discernment and are able to handle different types of people.

 

Qualities of followers

 

As a leader has qualities, so does a follower.  When I say follower, what I mean is someone who is not cut out to be a leader.  There are a good many people with wonderful qualities that are excellent followers.  But for purposes of this article, followers are people who are not qualified to lead.  Followers generally do not have the main characteristics required to be a good leader.  They lack in people skills or creativity.  Or they just do not want to shoulder responsibility.

 

Final thoughts

 

Being a good leader requires sacrifice and many good qualities.  Make sure to look for these good qualities in the people who you consider to be leaders.  This can be your teachers, managers, owners of the company you work for, or anyone who is taking a role in leading people.  If you desire to be a leader, first look to refine yourself before you start trying to lead others.

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