Leadership Traits

Leadership Traits

As a growing debate, the question at hand is whether great leaders are born with specific leadership traits, or if one can be taught certain traits over time. According to (Wikipedia.com) the approach of listing leadership qualities, often termed "trait theory of leadership", assumes certain traits or characteristics will tend to lead to effective leadership. I believe that leadership traits such as honest, competent, initiative, inspiring, hardworking, intelligent, and the ability to lead the masses, are some of the leadership traits one should possess. Within this paper, I will examine the overall concept of leadership traits, while observing the traits that were, or can be associated with successful leaders.

Personality as well as intelligence tells people a lot about an individual. Certain characteristics of one’s personality such as impression and reputation in a social environment may or may not be a good way to gain acknowledgement. In becoming a leader, work ethics must be strong, precise, and others must be able to feel one’s presence. The three abilities that successful leaders have are; the ability to get along with others and build teams, the ability to make sound and timely decisions and the ability to get things done. The mass amounts of leaders only possess one or two of these abilities and a smaller percentage having all three. According to the Five Factor Model (FFM), it is important for leaders to possess dependability, adjustments and surgency. (Hughes, Ginnett and Curphy, page 235)

Impression is a part of a personality that gives others a chance to make opinions about a person that is often termed self-presentation. To take one’s leadership abilities to the next level, one would need to ...

... middle of paper ...

... that an individual can possess however; there are three effective leadership traits that one must possess. Which are the ability to get along with others and build teams, the ability to make sound and timely decisions and the ability to get things done? Not all leaders possess these, which in turn make them less of an effective leader. However, I believe that Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela possessed all three traits and some. These leaders lead by example and was exemplary in doing so.

Works Cited

Hughes, Ginnett, & Curphy (2009). Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of Experience (6th Ed). New York, NY McGraw-Hill Irwin

Leadership Trait Definition retrieved March 20, 2010 from www.Wikipedia.com

LEADERSHIP THEORIES AND STUDIES retrieved March 21, 2010 from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Int-Loc/Leadership-Theories-and-Studies.html