Building Leadership Skills

693 Words2 Pages

Leadership is one of the most sought after skills in the professional world and a fantastic skill to possess outside the workplace. However, while many people can give the dictionary definition of leadership not many understand what it truly means to be a leader. As Teddy Roosevelt said, “People ask the difference between a leader and a boss…The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.” This quote captures the essence of what leadership truly is; leading a group to their common goal together rather than as a unit of people led by one individual who only has their own interests in mind. Anyone can be a boss and tell people what they need to do to help the boss reach his goal but a leader will listen to others and the result may end up greater than it would have as a unit working under a boss. With a good understanding of what leadership is and knowing how to lead, anyone can become a great leader. While anyone can be a good leader there are some traits that lend themselves especially well to building leadership skills. Commitment and honesty (Prive) are perhaps two of the most important skills for a leader because if the leader behaves unethically there will likely be little value placed on ethics in the group and its work. The environment a good leader should strive to create is one where the positivity, creativity, confidence, and inspiration (Prive) of the leader radiates out to all members of his team. Another trait a good leader must possess is the ability to communicate in a thorough and appropriate manner, as the leader is often the one in charge of communicating both inside and outside his group, whether delegating tasks within the group or updating outside individuals on the... ... middle of paper ... ...at are in the news provides an opportunity to look at how these people use their own leadership skills and styles to lead several thousand people and influence millions more with their products. While not everyone becomes a CEO, leadership skills are necessary in any profession not only for potential advancement but also for getting the day-to-day work of an individual and their team done in an efficient manner. Works Cited Buchanan, Leigh. "Between Venus and Mars: 7 Traits of True Leaders BY Leigh Buchanan." Editorial. Inc. Magazine June 2013: n. pag. Inc.com. Inc Magazine. Web. 22 Dec. 2013. "How to Find out Your Style of Leadership." How to Develop Leadership Skills. University of Kent Careers and Employability Service, 2011. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. Prive, Tanya. "Top 10 Qualities That Make A Great Leader." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.

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