Developing Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Developing Leadership - Term Paper Example This means that training is necessary in developing leadership competencies (Conger, 1993). Every individual has the capacity to develop their own leadership skills. However, achieving this is not rosy and requires one to be focused, practical and persistent. These are illustrated using the leadership ideas and traits discussed hereunder. Leadership Ideas A good leader must have leadership ideas for an organization or business to succeed. This calls for responsibility which sometimes calls for one to piss people off according to Powell. Powell asserts that good leadership entails being responsible for the general welfare of the team. This means that not everybody will be pleased by all the decisions and actions of a leader. Sometimes, people get furious and angry with the leader for the decisions that they make (Powell, n.d.). In this respect, a leader should learn to act honorably. Powell compares getting everyone to like the leader’s stand with mediocrity. This means that, a s a leader, one will have to face tough decisions, avoid confrontation with people who are supposed to be confronted, and refrain from giving rewards based on performance since some workers may get upset. When a leader tries to impress everyone, he/she ends up annoying individuals who are the most creative and productive in the organization. Therefore, as a leader, one must sometimes piss people off under his leadership for the organization to succeed. Powell also cautions leaders to be wary of those under their leadership who stop engaging them in decision making or reporting problems. He notes that this is a sign of leadership failure (Powell, n.d.). As such, it is necessary for leaders to give room for communication and consultations by removing barrier that may hinder juniors from airing out their views. He goes ahead to assert that real leaders make themselves available and accessible. They also recognize the efforts and problems facing underlings since even they demand high st andards. Powell notes that creating a barrier in an organization does no good and leads to the organization’s failure. Therefore, a good leader should create an atmosphere where problem analysis overrides blame. Powell reveals that leaders should never be buffaloed by elites and experts (Powell, n.d.). This is because experts tend to posses more knowledge than judgment. Elites, on the other hand, become congenital to an extent that they create hemophiliacs that vanish with time. Therefore, an organization can perform well whether or not there are elites and experts in it. What matters is that, as a leader, one needs to be vigilant and proactive (Powell, n.d.). The other leadership idea found from Powell is that leaders should never be afraid of challenging the pros, even in their own backyard (Powell, n.d.). He notes that as a leader one needs to learn from those who support them, keenly monitor them, and seek them out as advisers and partners. He, however, cautions that even the pros may have leveled out in terms of their skills and learning. This means that leadership is not just being built on blind obedience to everyone, but good leadership promotes everyone’s evolution. Good leaders never ignore details. This means that they must remain vigilant all the times. In this regard, a good leader should ensure that all the activities of an organization are executed at the right time and in the precise way. Powel notes that good leadership also