Are You a Leader or a Follower - Essay Example

? Are you a Leader or a Follower? What makes a leader stand out amongst those who are just followers? Are there such things as those who are born to be leaders or leaders are made as they go through life? Everybody goes through the levels of education however some chose to lead while others chose to follow. The factors and issues related to what makes a person to lead or not are included in the main focus of the paper. There are certain drives and influences that one has that make them pursue their goals and visions. A Leader or A Follower There are several definitions for leadership. The Australian Leadership Development Centre believes on one meaning of this word. It may just be a simple yet strong definition. According to the Centre, leadership is “any behaviour that influences the actions and attitudes of followers to achieve certain results” (Killian, 2007). There are some people who say that for one to be a leader that person should have followers. Example, a person who can be so timid and quiet can be pushed by certain factors like emotions and intellect to come out of his shell and make his voice be heard. People then noticed him and took quite a following because of his belief. That does make him a leader already? He can be considered as a leader. Another definition for leadership is “about managing energy, first in yourself and then in those around you.” That made the first example a leader, he is a made leader rather than a born leader (de Percy, 2009). There are people who were born to lead. They are those who do have a very strong personality, will to serve and always make it a point that their opinions are heard, convincing and influential. Most of the times these people are born from a family of leaders and they were brought up with high awareness of the advocacy is to be heard and make others follow. The school is where the foundation of being a leader begins. This is where the skills are discovered and enhanced. From a simple classroom organization to the next level of a club or organization are considered as the learning grounds of a person who dreams to become a leader. Skills are needed to become a leader. But the first step in becoming one is being confident and making one self to be heard with pride and without the fear for the criticism that might be awaiting that person once he opens his mind and mouth to make way for his thoughts and opinions to be heard. This is also the place where everything starts to shape up. If one realizes that he could not stand the criticism being brought up to him, that person tends to be just one of the followers. However, when one continues to fight for his opinions and debate on criticisms, that person is on his way in becoming a leader. Being a leader though also involves quite a few factors. One factor that may come into mind is one’s willingness to lead. Even if one person do have the characteristics of being a leader, if that person have other things in mind that hinders him from being one, he would not become one. That person do have all that it takes to become an effective leader but ought to be a follower, he would not become a leader. Willingness to lead is the first step on becoming a leader. Leading a pact of people should be in one’s heart and mind to do his role efficiently. If one is just forced to the position of a leader, therefore that person would not be efficient for the reason that being a leader is not what he wants to be in his life. Next is that the person needs to have a goal. Why does he want to be a leader? For the fame? For the power? There are so many reasons that can be stated on why a person would want to be a leader. If the cause of that want is perceived by the many to be for the good of everyone, therefore that prospect leader would be a leader because he has a goal and that goal was conveyed in a convincing manner which made others believe in his opinions. That is the next factor, the power to convince. As what have been stated earlier, to be a leader one should have followers. How can one have followers if what he is saying is not that believable? For one’s goal to be reached, it should be conveyed to the majority in a way that the leader would clearly state that it is for the better. If the leader fails to do such, he would not be able to attract people to believe and follow his opinions and thoughts. There would be a shadow of doubt enveloping the leader and would not attract believers or followers. A person without a follower is not a leader. In this area, charisma takes place. Charm always has something to do when a person wants to convey something to others. It is not always just intellect. Charm is always mixed into the formula for a person to have that convincing prowess. There are factors considered to be innate to a leader but other factors are those that are honed and developed. If being a leader is not in a person’s intentions, then that person would just be a follower. Analysis of one’s self is the most important method of determining the destiny of being a leader. To become a successful leader, one should know how to be a follower. The perspective of the follower is needed to be taken into consideration at all times. A leader should take into consideration the people whom to trust and who trust him. For that matter, a leader needs to be in touched with his people at all time and not beyond the reach of the masses to be able to know what they need and what to project in terms of his leadership. When a person is already a leader, it does not stop there. One should continue to aim for positive changes and other improvements in the different aspects of the institution he is leading. Just as stated previously, a leader should not be untouchable yet leaders should be more in contact and more sensitive towards the people he is ruling. The power that was vested upon him by the people who believed in him should not be abused. The power of a leader should be used to improve the lives of his followers. Being a leader does not have any ending. It is a continuous process that is aiming not just for the goodness of one but the betterment of many. According to Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit” (de Percy, 2002). A leader should also be creative not just in his ideas but also in the ways he would want them implemented. Actions should be classified for different groups. A leader should be able to make a way he would be able to bridge his thoughts through different groups whether classified by age, race, ethnicity, educational attainment or social class, even gender should be considered. Certain opinions may be considered to be good for a certain group but the consequences for the others should also be considered. An opinion or project should benefit not just a particular group, it should aim for the improvement of the majority. At this stage of life, there are still a lot to learn in becoming a leader. There are still thoughts that are needed to be cleared up before formulating own hypothesis on certain issues that are being faced. A good advice that was taken is that a good leader is a good follower. Learning is always a good tool in becoming a leader. Although the only way to know whether one has learned anything, that person should be able to practice it. Considering those, I consider myself as a leader in progress because there are still lessons that are needed to be learned and practiced in the next few years. In terms of being a leader, there are different points that can be expressed. I consider myself as a leader because I am making my thoughts and opinions heard even when I know that there would be detractors contradicting even a single sentence that will be stated. I do not see it as a hindrance yet I perceive it as a challenge where I need to prove my beliefs are feasible and attainable and not just non-sense. Also as a leader, there should be innovations in the kind of leadership that one will implement. Youths of today are different from the youths of earlier generation. I am not saying that the generation now is better than before but the generation now is more into the non-conventional way of thinking. The way to understand the youths now is to be one of them and be able to reach out to them. Keeping that in mind, leadership can be more successful. There are 2 ways of critical thinking that are used by leaders, the vertical way and the horizontal way. Both thinking uses the isosceles triangle as a model. In the vertical way of thinking, the triangle is positioned vertically having the broader side at the bottom where the thinking starts at the bottom with numerous data for a certain problem then going through the mathematical process before reaching an answer. On the other hand the horizontal way of thinking, the triangle is positioned horizontally with the broader side positioned on the right. The thinking goes from left to right beginning from one problem or a question going through the brainstorming process before generating numerous possibilities. (Quinn, et al, 1990) Leaders should also be transparent and fair. They should be in control of the situation and not the situation or the people around them to be in control of them. Eleanor Roosevelt said that “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Even if others do not believe in dreams anymore and just go with the flow, I still have a strong belief in dreams. Leaders always have a dream and this is where everything starts. A dream, a goal, a will and passion. A leader should always have those as they are needed by a leader. Leadership is not about the power, the money or the popularity. It is about passion, beliefs, opinion and most of all respect. I would want to inspire my fellow citizens to be leaders. One should not just be contented on being a follower. There are a lot of youths dreaming to be in the entertainment or fashion industry because it pays great amount of money. There a handful who want jobs which pays up to 5 digit pay slips. I believe that when someone make way or purse their dreams not necessarily in politics but even leaders in their field, that would make a leader, and a good one. I would not make things always by the books, because life is not written exactly as the way it should. Life is a case to case basis. Taking myself as an example on whether leaders are made or born, I believe that it is a combination of both. Everybody has that leadership instinct inside them when they were born. It is up to them to either develop the skills or just keep themselves untrained. When I become the leader that I would want to be, I would influence others to become leaders themselves. There is nothing wrong in becoming followers however, how could we input a non-traditional way of leadership when we are just depending on leaders who belong to another generation. Each generation should develop a group of leaders, representative of their needs, and able to voice out opinions and hand out first-hand information. Statistics gathered from decades ago does not imply to the reality that is happening this very moment. The followers of yesterday should be the leaders of today. Leaders are not perfect but they are willing to make a better place for the future generations of this land. That what makes a leader, they are just prone in making mistakes like anyone but they are not afraid to have their voices be heard and to make a difference not only for the few but for the majority of the masses. References Bottger, P., Barsoux, J. L. (March 2010) Are Leaders Born or Made? Or this question even relevant? IMD. Switzerland. Clippinger, J. (2005) Leadership. Retrieved October 29, 2011 from De Percy, M. (2002, October 28) How Do We Know *What* Makes a Leader? University of Canberra. De Percy, M. (2002, October 28) Leading. Creatively. University of Canberra. De Percy, M. (2002, October 28) Leading. Strategically. University of Canberra. De Percy, M. (2002, October 28) Styles, Situations and Contingencies. University of Canberra. De Percy, M. (2007, June 19) Leadership, Innovation & Change. University of Canberra. De Percy, M. 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(2004) Leading with Passion: Change Management in the 21st Century. Altamira Press. Walnut Creek, California. Sykora, S. Leaders Born or Made? Retrieved October 29, 2011 from Read More