In this review I will be discussing the leadership qualities described in “Strengths-Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow” (2009), a book written by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie. In this book the authors use the concept of discovering and using ones strengths in a way that they could relate them back to leadership. It also looks at how a person’s strengths can affect their leadership qualities, how to get the most out of being a leader, and the requirement of knowing those around you enough to appreciate what they need and what makes them tick. The books is based around a 30 year study, in which a million plus work teams were reviewed, over twenty thousand interviews took place with leaders and over ten thousands with …show more content…
This quote from the book tells a lot about how to be an effective leader; it’s quality over quantity. It goes against what the everyday person would expect from a leader, someone who is complete in all aspects of leadership. Rath and Conchie dismiss this idea and feel that a leader must work with what they have to offer and this is to do with their own personality and characteristics.
The pair describe “self-awareness” as a good starting point. They highlight the Strengths Finder assessment as a tool to become aware of ones best assets. This will be a huge help to anyone in the leadership role in all walks of life.
The book uses examples such as the introvert style of Mahatma Gandhi compared to the heavy-handed approach of Winston Churchill, can be equally
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Also if trust is lost between the two, that it can be re-established.
• Compassion – If followers begin to stray away from the ideals of the organisation a good leader will show compassion towards them. This could result in a more fruitful work space as the followers are less likely to leave.
• Stability – A leader should be able to have a stable environment for their followers to be in. With stability the followers will know what is needed from them and this will relate to progression.
• Hope – Implanting hope will create optimism within the group.
Summary
After reading this book I found it is a great way to discover if you are doing all you can to be a brilliant leader. The three pillars that it is based around are; Strengths Investment, Team Maximisation and Understanding the Followers Needs and Why They Follow. The book explains how to reach these goals and in doing so how you will become the leader you have always wanted to be.
In the book there are a number of surveys highlighting the different aspects of leadership. The most important of which describes what traits people look for in the people they will follow; trust, compassion, stability and hope. By adding these to your personality you will go
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Show MoreThe leadership is a result of a combination of traits, with special emphasis on the personal qualities of the leader, which he should possess certain personality traits that would be special facilitators in leadership performance. This theory shows that leaders are born as such, there is no likelihood of 'making' them later with personal development techniques.
Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses is essential to becoming and being a good leader. “Purposeful leaders understand who they are” (Mayfield, 2013). The author of this paper has had previous opportunities to lead, and will reflect on her experiences using the assigned inventory. She will evaluate her skill set and discuss ways she can be an advocate for change with the hospital and community in which she is employed. Lastly, she will identify one personal goal for her leadership growth and explore different avenues for obtaining that goal.
Before taking the StrengthsFinder® assessment I didn’t know what type of leader I was, but I felt I had leadership traits that I could not describe. After answering several questions from the Clifton StrengthsFinder® 2.0, I found out my top five strengths. These strengths consist of individualization, arranger, learner, input and responsibility. The purpose of this paper is to go over my top five strengths to talk about which four domains of leadership these strengths fall under, how class material is applied, and the actions to best utilize my strengths.
Identifying and understanding your own personal strengths is key to being a successful leader. Knowing your strengths means you can focus your efforts to maximize results, in yourself and in others. Strengths Finder 2.0 is designed to uncover your strengths and utilize these strengths to your advantage (Rath, 2007). Identifying and applying these strengths to your leadership style, will enhance your effectiveness as a transformational leader.
First when a leader focuses on the strengths of the employees the odds of the employee being engaged will increase dramatically. This compares to chapter one of our text book in that it says an effective leader is one who helps group members attain productivity. The second key is that the most effective leaders surround themselves with the right people and maximize their team. The book suggest when leaders try to be good at everything they will not be great at anything. Although it is often preached to be well-rounded this results in mediocrity. So instead trying to be good at everything, find and know your strengths and hone those skills to be a more effective leader. The authors say there are four domains of leadership with thirty-four themes that break-down under the domains and these explain the actual strengths of the leader. The domains are executing, influencing, relationship building and strategic thinking. In our text book all but influencing are listed as one of the ten roles of leadership. ...
Although there are many outstanding, albeit necessary qualities of a good leader, it is the leader’s beliefs in which greatness is given its first breath, fostered by action, and spread throughout the institution. A great leader believes in encouraging, not destroying; in setting the precedence instead of yielding to prominence ; in collaboration, not division; in giving, not taking; and in having high standards and volunteering to be the first of many to be held to them. A great leader does not take advantage of the people being lead, but instead, creates an advantage for the people by giving them the opportunities to lead. Only when people take ownership of an institution will passion be cultivated, action be taken, and greatness be achieved.
Leaders are the individuals who help to create options and opportunities. They help in identifying the choices and solve the problems. They build commitment and coalitions. Leaders do this by inspiring others and working along with them to construct the shared vision of the possibilities and commitments of a better group, organization or community. They engage the followers in such a way that most of the followers become leaders in their own right. The variety of demands of an increasingly complex world very often require that leadership be shared by most of the members of an organization, in appropriate ways for different situations. A leader is the on...
Great leadership is not achieved over night, and it is not something that one achieves and stops. Great leaders spend entire lives building and growing their leadership skills. It is not likely that a leader will one day wake up with all of the vision, influence, knowledge, respect, and momentum necessary to be great; these take time to develop. “It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from their followers.”
A leader needs to “believe” in oneself and have the confidence that whatever you say will excite and what you do can motivate others. You must be optimistic about what you do, do have some relevance for being in existence. Believe it or not, “leadership begins with you”.
Perhaps the most important qualities of a leader are passion and motivation. Especially when leading a group for a particular cause, a leader must be personally attached to that cause. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, is a legendary leader because he fought for a cause that directly affected him. had he not been pushing for a personal reason, his actions would not have been as passionate. This would have caused a lack in motivation, another essential leadership quality. A leader faces many roadblocks and opposition and thus, must be motivated to continue fighting and leading. A leader’s attitude and opinions are valued by the group and therefore, if a leader is motivated, the group will be, too. The continued actions and successes, no matter how small, which move the group closer to its goal also help its motivation and drive.
Many Scholars characterize the core qualities and skills necessary for an effective leader. Useem defines leadership as “Creating a vision and translating that vision into actions”. Historically, an effective leader was assumed to be exceptionally knowledgeable, authoritative, and dominate. Those leaders applied the command and control method to lead an organization. With the passage of time, this definition has been changed. The modern definition of an effective leader is honest, courageous, trustworthy, inspirational, and result-oriented. Today’s leaders create shared values and vision, and empower others to achieve their targets.
Leaders will no matter what have an influence on our world. They have missions, dreams and ambition, and with these things they are bound to go far. For leaders, what makes these dreams come true is having strong qualities such as leadership practices, values and strengths. If developed and learned how to use correctly, these are what take leaders to the next level and accomplish great things. In the following paper I will talk about leadership in our ever-changing world, explore my leadership practices, values and strengths as well as elaborate on the goals I have made to challenge myself as a leader.
This paper describes about my leadership strengths and areas for growth/future study. It also included how these qualities are used in my daily work routine, self-assessment results and a brief explanation on Individual style in leadership.
One of the most important components of leadership is the leader. A leader is responsible for his or her followers and the overall goal of the group or organization. Leaders are the people held accountable or everything that happens, good or bad. On the other hand, the second major component of leadership is the followers. Without followers, a leader would be worthless. Followers make up the backbone of a leader because they are the masses that get goals accomplished. A leader is just one person, but the number of followers is countless. In order to be an effective follower, there are a countless number of characteristics that allow a follower to be the best they can be. Five of these characteristics include a positive attitude, communication skills, being part of the process, being open to new ideas, and patience.
An effective leader adapts changes and communicates his vision to his followers until the followers believe in that vision as their own