Leadership as Learned from Those Throughout History - Essay Example

Introduction The concept of leadership is one that is defined by specific characteristics and the personal beliefs that one holds. Doing this in the correct context makes a difference in how individuals respond as well as the environment is created. When learning how to become an effective leader, one has to respond not only to the present needs in the environment, but also has to consider the belief systems and the personal development that one creates. In my current professional community as an enlisted Navy officer, there are certain ways that I can effectively present myself as a leader. This challenges the status quo and makes a positive difference without causing conflict among the diversity in the Navy as well as presenting a specific context to what is occurring. The ideals of leadership that I can bring to the Navy are able to create a difference in the overall functioning of being a leader as well as the way in which the teams work together under my leadership and ranking. To understand how to work within the context of leadership is also the need to have insight from leaders in history and how they have worked within the context of leadership to create a stronger set of results within a given system. Personal Development and Leadership Before presenting leadership to the community, a personal relationship and set of beliefs have to be set in place. This is the only way to change the status quo and to make a difference in the current role I have as a Navy leader. Through the personal context that one presents themselves in, there is the ability to create a different atmosphere and to have a specific outlook on what is occurring. The first step to this is to have a sense of enlightenment about the role in which I need to carry as well as what changes need to occur within the military. According to Kant, enlightenment is the most important aspect of one’s ability to take a leadership role and to have a positive difference in life. To do this, there is the need to have a sense of courage toward understanding and to relate to the different components that are within the military. To do this, according to Kant, there has to be a sense of maturity to reach the enlightenment, as well as a sense of purpose behind what is occurring. The idea of leadership, in this sense, is to become enlightened enough to be defined as a guardian of others. “Such guardians, once they have themselves thrown off the yoke of immaturity, will disseminate the spirit of rational respect for personal value and for the duty of all men to think for themselves” (Kant, Hicks, Price, 2004). In this sense, the maturity of being a guardian through enlightenment and continuing to think both in the context of the military, as well as outside of this, brings in a natural sense of personal leadership. Once one is able to develop a sense of personal enlightenment, then other characteristics can be developed which will help with leadership. To understand my certain place within the Navy as well as how to bring out a different sense of community that is used for the betterment of others is also the need to have an understanding of vision toward what has to happen within the community. Having strength, understanding what needs to be done, and focusing on the mission of what is occurring is essential to the true role of leadership. For instance, in Gary Wills presentation of George Washington and the making of the nation, the focus of leadership is on the personal attributes of Washington. Wills makes it clear that it was the self – education, strength of vision and the understanding of what was supposed to occur with the nation that made Washington a strong leader. Without this, Washington would have had a severe downfall and may have led the nation back to the British (Wills, 1994). This example, as well as other examples of leadership shows that it takes personal qualities to create a difference in how one is able to affect the community as well as development within any area. To be a true leader, the personal development of these qualities becomes essential to the positive development within a community. Personal and Community Development The concept of leadership within the Navy that I will be able to develop through personal understanding will be able to intertwine with the development of the community. To be effective and to build substantial programs, there is the need to create a sense of community and to work as a team with others. Creating personal relationships and making sure that the community is one that has a positive environment will make a difference in the interactions that are a part of the Navy. To work with both personal and community development, there is the need to build enlightenment on more than a personal level. More importantly, it is essential to create an understanding of knowledge and the needs of the Navy within the segment and branch that I am assigned to. This will change the status quo of the Navy without causing conflict with the system that is in place. When building community and teams within the Navy, as well as a leader, there are several components to look into. If the wrong leadership is formed, then calamity, misery and confusion can arise and can lead to a downfall in the current system that is established. Typically, this comes from misinformation and the misuse of knowledge that is a part of the system and which creates a different understanding of what is occurring. According to James I, true leadership requires a character that is able to associate with the surrounding environment and the people that are within the area. More importantly, there is the need to focus on the problems such as corruption, oppression and other problems that may arise in a system or in an area of leadership (James I, Hicks, Price, 2004). When working with the Navy, the positive effects in leadership don’t have to come from a sense of team building with specific projects. Instead, taking a personal responsibility to make sure that corruption of the team members as well as oppression from the teams, doesn’t occur. More importantly, there is the need to make sure that moral integrity comes from a personal level. As this is done, it will affect the team members in a positive manner and will show an example of how morality can create a positive effect among the team. The concept of morality is one that has always been a foundation and basis to leadership and what is occurring among others in a given environment. According to John Smith, this lays a foundation toward what is occurring among others. To create a strong society, morality has to be at the basis and has to create a stronghold to what is occurring in the surrounding environment. The way that an individual works within the context of morality also creates a different approach to the way that society is able to perceive what is occurring within a given area. As this is done, there is the ability to create a stronger understanding of the environment and the specific situation. Smith states “Upon account of our own connection with it, its prosperity and glory seem to reflect some sort of honor upon ourselves. When we compare it with other societies of the same kind, we are proud of its superiority, and mortified, in some degree, if it appears in any respect below them” (Smith, Hicks, Price, 2004). The concept of superiority as a leader is one that has to be contrasted with morality as it stands within society. The concepts of honor as well as the way in which an individual carries themselves will make a difference in the way that others respond as well as what is occurring among others within a given project. Followers and Leaders Leadership not only pertains to the character that one holds and how this interacts with the community. When developing a plan for approaching the Navy, there is also the need to create a sense of identity and relationships among the followers. Empowering the individuals that are a part of the team and making sure that there is strong communication among each individual provides a different basis for what is occurring within the team. To be a true leader, there is the need to recognize that those that are on the team will also have specific insights and may have more wisdom than the leader. Setting aside times for communication and what is occurring can provide a stronger recognition among the leader and can create more success among given projects. According to Machiavelli, those that are underneath the leaders have a stronger voice and opinion. True governance and laws come from those that are living among the principles and which the laws apply to. The more that a king is able to listen to those that are in the kingdom, as Machiavelli states, the more likely they are able to have success among their reign. The more that a law is able to match with the people, the less likely they will rebel. “Contrary to the general opinion, then, which maintains that the people, when they govern are inconsistent, unstable, and ungrateful, I conclude and affirm that these defects are not more natural to the people than they are to princes. To charge the people and princes equally with them may be the truth, but to expect princes from them would be a great mistake” (Montiovelli, Hicks, Price, 2004). The statements of Montiovelli show that there are specific ways to approach society by listening to the needs and by gaining respect from those that are in the community. When looking at changing the status quo within the Navy, this particular principle can be applied for more productive results. The more that one is able to change the way that they approach teams, the more likely that they will get results. Teams that have leaders that are ungrateful and inconsistent will also have teams that respond accordingly. The personal character that is built reflects directly with the team and the way that it is approached. More importantly, the way that the leader builds relationships among others will make a difference. Clear communication as well as guidelines that are used within projects makes a difference in how the team perceives the leader. This also makes a difference in the way that the team is able to grow through projects. More importantly than dividing tasks and making sure that the goals get completed, is the need to establish a stronger community among different individuals. The particular approach creates a difference in the effectiveness of the team as well as the approach that can be taken into context within a given project. Resolving Conflict As a Leader A lesson that is noted throughout history is linked directly to the interactions that occur among leaders as well as the teams that are built. Civil disobedience, rebellions and the movement against leaders is just as strong as the ability to unify a team and to provide a space for individuals to work together. One of the strongest conflicts noted throughout history is based on the ideologies of disobedience from the government. This links directly back to bad leadership and the inability to meet the needs of different people. According to Thoreau, it is the leaders that create conflict. In return, leaders in the community respond to the conflict by disagreeing or agreeing with what is occurring. The strongest types of leadership are able to change the policies against other forms of leaders and are able to create a different objection. In Thoreau’s observations, there is an understanding of not only the role of leaders, but also how this works within a system. To effectively work as a leader, one most not only be observant to the needs of the people, but also must relate this to the system at large to make productive changes (Thoreau, Hicks, Price, 2004). Marx creates this same statement when looking at leadership and the applications that apply to conflict. The ideas of leadership in this instance relate to the ideals of communism and creating a unified community. The leadership that is created is designed to create a viewpoint that is able to overcome opposition and to create a sense of community that overthrows the leadership that is there. Doing this is able to take out the oppressors and the oppressed and creates a unified society that works together. As each individual is able to take out the clashes in society, is the ability to have less conflict. While leadership still remains intact, the followers that are underneath this do not hold a sense of authority. The theory that is behind the initial concept of communism is to create the sense of community that allows individuals to work in a unified manner and to have a different approach to what is occurring. Similar to other theorists, the main approach is to create a society that works within the system instead of opposing what is occurring (Marx, Hicks, Price, 2004). When changing the status quo in the Navy and what is occurring, is the ability to apply these principles to leadership. Even if one is not in a specific leadership role, there is the ability to look at different conflicts and to begin to change the way that they are approached within the community. To do this, one has to be aware of the other members that are working within the same team. There also has to be an awareness of the goals, process and the different occurrences that are a part of the society. More importantly, one has to look at how the community is able to create a sense of team work without resistance to change and to the overall principles that are a part of the main system. Since the Navy works under one system, there is the need to approach and respect this particular system. By doing this, the team will be able to work under the current conditions while applying what is needed within the community. To change the roles as well as the level of team work, the system will need to be understood first. From this point, there is the ability to create a sense of leadership that works with the system while understanding potential resistance within a team. The result will be the ability to reach to those that are in the community and in the team, while resolving and preventing conflict before it occurs within the given context. Even though the concept of preventing resistance arises within the given context, there is also a question of circumstances that arise that are outside of the system. Throughout history, it has been the special circumstances from both leaders and from those that are within the community that create different policies and forms of leadership. For instance, when looking at Machiavelli, there is a claim about how he worked within human affairs as well as how he worked against the opposition that was a part of the circumstances. Machiavelli first recognized that the current system had restrictions and policies that had to be followed. The process then led into an understanding that parts of this could be worked with while the resistance from those in the community needed to be looked at. The political choices and maneuvers that were made within this were based on changing what was needed within the community and in the system for better compliance with what was occurring. The different concepts became an experiment toward what was happening within the community. The systematic areas that couldn’t be turned into an experiment and into new concepts through questioning or through outside resistance were maneuvered through or were worked into different areas to create a different sense of change (Willis, 1994). The concepts that Machiavelli applied toward his leadership were some of the most renowned in history. However, they can also be applied to the current systems and senses of leadership that are in any situation. Machiavelli applied the personal traits of a leader, such as enlightenment, observation, courage and morality. He applied this to the system that was currently in the area, as well as the ability to listen to those that were in the community. Following this process for leadership in any system is one that is able to provide stronger results in the community and can help with the events that are occurring. When applying this to the Navy, one can first observe, determine how to respond and can listen to what is needed from others. To stop resistance, one can work with the current system to see what can be changed as well as what can’t. Over time, this process is able to change the status quo and can positively affect the community with what is currently occurring. Conclusion The concepts that are applied to leadership and the way that one responds to the community will make a difference in the results and goals that are achieved. When looking at history, it can be seen that different theories and ways of applying leadership were able to create a difference within the community. At the same time, there is the ability to reach substantial goals by working on a personal level, as well as with others that are in the community. As this is done, there is the ability to produce different results for what is needed. The goals as well as the leadership that is applied are then able to overcome resistance and what is occurring within the community. The art of leadership, as perceived within history, has provided specific results that have led to the ultimate success or failure within politics, government and among different leaders. When looking at the concepts and conflicts that have applied to leadership through history, one is able to create a different approach to what is occurring in any environment or situation. Taking my personal situation of working within the Navy, for instance, is one that is able to produce specific results by learning from history. The process of being a leader first needs to be applied at a personal level, which includes the enlightenment and understanding of the system, needs and the outcome of different situations. Combining this with the natural leadership skills is then able to create a specific understanding to what is occurring in history. The concept of leadership is able to move into more specific components of working with community. Communicating properly, allowing individuals to take their own sense of leadership and growing a sense of awareness toward the surrounding environment can provide individuals with a different approach to leadership. The result within this is then able to provide a stronger relationship within the team. The last step is to work on stopping and preventing conflict. This has to be done in the Navy by working both with the current system as well as changing the status quo of different and smaller parts of the environment. This will stop resistance to the leadership and will ultimately affect the success that is a part of the current goals in the Navy. References Wills, G, (1994). Certain Trumpets: The nature of leadership. New York: Simon & Schuster Wren, J., Hicks, D., & Price, T. (2004). Traditional classics on leadership. Northampton: Edgar Elgar Read More