Ten Key Qualities of Law Enforcement Leaders - Essay Example

What is Leadership? Introduction Gonzalez suggests that leadership is a social order condition where one person is in charge of another or a group of individuals. A leader however is more than only someone who has influence over others. A leader is also ascribed to be a risk taker and of imaginative personality. He or she is never fearful to venture out into new area. Such a person is inventive and daring, and strikes a unique character within his or her subjects. For instance, police workforce indicates self-sacrifice to people they view as leaders.

There is quite a big difference between a leader and a boss. Most people who call themselves leaders act as bosses rather than being leaders. A boss will give orders while a true leader gives instructions to a task and shows the way to do it. Effective leadership ought to be coupled with good planning and participation. A good leader should not only direct the task but should go further to participating in the activity. Leaders should understand that leadership is not all about instilling fear to the subjects but rather good leadership should instill enthusiasm.

Indeed, effective Leadership must produce motivation to the subjects. Gonzalez indicates that leaders are gifted to make enthusiasm and real pride in accomplishing a purpose. In adding up to inspiration, some make regular references to the care and wellbeing of subordinates. Actually, excellent leaders watch over their workers. Effective leaders learn to set an example; they own an indisputable sympathy for others; are not afraid to admit accountability; and mind about the people they lead. True leaders readily take responsibility for all their actions and never fear owning up their deeds.

Responsibility also means taking risks of everything that they do. Fundamentally, effective leaders are quick to accept the mistakes that they make in their course of actions. Leaders should embrace the idea of accountability and accept penalties whenever they fail and are held answerable. Additionally, a sense of certainty pervades the thoughts of effective leaders. This enables them to get things through and to shun from fear of making mistakes. One fact that effective leaders accept is that mistakes are a component of the job they do.

In effect, leaders usually prevail against the odds, regardless of having numerous impediments (Gonzalez 2). Good leaders have a high self worth and self esteem. These help them to motivate the people they lead because they (subjects) always look upon their leader. If a leader gets in bad terms with him or her subjects, then they remain with no one to emulate or even to run to whenever they encounter hardships in accomplish a task. The leader should therefore be there always to raise his or her subjects’ self-esteem.

If the leader fails to regard him or herself, then he cannot help to raise the self worth of the subjects. Over time, a leader becomes less apprehensive with benefit, aspiration or rank. These Self-centered motivations give way to the assignment and the results and a more reflective concern for others. Leaders know that on a continuing basis, they must build up their skills. Various qualities points to the improvement of leadership capabilities: personal enhancement, self-knowledge, specialized aptitude, effective consistency with subordinates, determination, acceptance of responsibility, brave accountability, provision of excellence information, positive team building and an enthusiasm for action (Gonzalez 5).

Conclusion Apparently, leadership is the act of being in charge of a group of people and leaders should possess certain qualities that would distinguish them from bosses. Good leaders impact knowledge and enthusiasm to the team rather that instilling fear. Leaders participate in most of the tasks that their subordinates are undertaking. Good leaders do not just give orders on what should be done, but also show how to do the task. Leaders create a positive relationship with their subordinates – this is the attitude of good and effective leadership.

Work Cited Gonzalez, Randy. “Ten key qualities of law enforcement leaders”. 2007. Web.