One thing I can
assure anyone who has served in our armed forces. They were all exposed to unalike
kinds of leadership styles and they all bear a meaning to the fact that
leadership is something that is acquired rather than being born with. It was
Voltaire who said “The right to commandship is no longer an advantage
transmitted by nature. Like an inheritance, it is the fruit of labors, the
price of courage.”
Focusing on the “fruits of labors” gives
you a sense of direction whether or not a person is born a leader or if they
have to work hard at such a challenge in life to exhibit those qualities looked
upon by others as someone special and successful based on their trials and
tribulations during their life. Although there may be some credence to some certain
people were born to lead, it was strongly impressed to me that such personality
traits are acquired through time and not at birth.
The key
difference from my perspective is the dissimilarity between a leader and a
great leader. The impressions to observe, learn and to be mentored by others
greater than me gave me the insight to become successful not because I worked
hard but because I paid attention to their traits, successes, failures and
mistakes. I realized that whenever they were posed with a challenge, they
developed an answer based on their experience of successes and failures and
ensuring they didn’t make the same mistake again.
Hence the key is
leadership capacity that makes a good leader stand out from the rest of them. The
capacity to capture vital leadership characteristics, retain them, use them and
continuing to expand or develop them not only with time but with mistakes made
and the courage to keep making decisions. Leadership has a position of eminence
that carries with it an exceptionally high level of responsibility and
accountability.
The up side of
such eminence is the clear evidence such leadership traits draw loyalty and
there is no anomaly of loyalty that is unquestionably the kind that instills confidence
and positive traits in others who in time become [great] leaders as well. Hence
there appears to be a natural chain of events, a set of qualities inherited or
empowered to others that makes the tool of leadership vital in the development
of men.
Through time we
find the answers to our problems. Through time we gain experience and find
different answer than before to the same questions. It is a natural balance of
generational growth that fails to isolate not just one trait but rather inherit
a host of many personality traits as well as having the knowledge and essential
capability qualities which is formulated carefully, filtering out the unsuccessful
makings drawn from either historically or from their own past and blend them
all together to give you a great leader in the end.
Such cultivation
process is a time consuming task but well worth the effort at the end. It gives
you mass challenges and opportunities to keep working on it, developing it and
applying it. One essential element of success for leadership, whether mediocre,
absolute or supreme or rising to the level of excellence is a keen ability and
sincere effort to know people.
Having an
interest in people creates the positive dynamics of growth and leads a person
down a path of finding the true purpose of what they expect to bring to the
problem at hand and hope they have possession of such a skill set to perform
the challenges in the manner which makes it successful I nature.
All the while,
they ensure their knowledge, their skills and their experience resonates
confidence in others who either follow or are present, they too can possess
such traits, qualities and excellence if you take an interest in people and how
they do their jobs.
This is not
about being flawless or not making mistakes but rather the courage to make
decisions which reveal the inner qualities of the decision-maker’s weaknesses
and strengths creating a skill set to articulate and communicate good judgment.
Judgment is an
essential traits for leadership that must include failure. The essential ingredient
of judgment is experience whether it was a good or bad experience is important
but what is more important is to never make the same mistake twice.
What carries a
leader over the top when faced with a problem or dilemma at hand is having the
courage to be resourceful, draw strength from their skill set for coming up
with the solution to the matter and act decisively and address it with resolve.
He or she does not withdraw from the crisis or retreat to limit themselves in
participation or engagement and show a clear distinction of their weaknesses. It
is exactly at this type of moment in your existence that your reputation is
acknowledged and credibility is witnessed.
These elements
of positive traits produce a position of eminence which in turn create loyalty.
During the exhibition of decision making he or she take into consideration
those human qualities or values that carry weight with their followers.
Human traits
such as love, compassion, kindness and equal considerations bring a sense of
ownership and belonging to those who believe in this method of cultivating
unity and common cause bonding which in turn increases the loyalty amongst
those who see the leader make such efforts.
Loyalty to
followers develops loyalty in return. An old saying is that “loyalty begets
loyalty” and nothing can break that spirit. Arthur W. Newcomb said “Show me the
leader and I will know his men. Show me the men and I will know their leader.
Therefore, to
have loyal, efficient employees, be a loyal, efficient employer.” Loyalty is
earned but first it must be given. Given to those who are willing to sacrifice
at all costs and believe and trust the leader who guides them in war or peace.
During the war I
saw two kinds of leadership taking place right there before me. One is
leadership of fear: the other is leadership of encouragement. Both can be
effective if they are used at the right time and at the right place. They are
both motivators and can cause a heartbeat to skip with excitement or terror. Either
way they are blood pumping methods that create the adrenalin rush desired to
overcome odds or other human emotions.
Wisdom leads you
to realize you can’t use both at the same time. This causes confusion within the
rank and file and sends a mixed message. You cannot motivate if they are
trembling for the wrong reasons. You cannot encourage if they don’t trust you.
Your actions and
body language have to be consistent with you message and your message should be
one that unites and not separates the forces. Loyalty to subordinates will be
at risk. A leader should be consistent in his approach.
