Leadership/Role Model - Research Paper Example

Introduction In this paper the proponent defines the characteristics of an effective leader which primarily involves other related ideas such as positive leadership, individual’s accountability, and personal strength. The proponent also evaluates the role of critical thinking, leadership, and accountability as critical elements in a personal plan for success. Characteristics of an effective leader Leadership is such a broad context. What is one of the most interesting facts about it is the thought that it requires the right man for the job.

In short, leadership requires someone else having the right characters of a leader. There are various literature and prevailing ideas about leadership. All of them have the discussion about the importance of a good leader, what he or she does and other competitive advantages he or she possesses over the other, all for the benefits of the entire organization. This primarily involves the idea about promotion of the right communication process, learning, innovation, empowerment, integrity and professionalism (Harolds, 2004).

A good leader therefore is full of ideas about how to best guide the work process and has sufficient understanding about his or her own behaviors on how they can affect the members (Sauer, 2011). A good leader therefore is sensitive to the needs of the entire organization and on its members in particular. This makes a leader accountable to the needs of the entire organization. Japanese for instance are known for their good leadership by being so sensitive to the needs of their organization. This sensitivity leads them further to offer their time for free for the company.

They need to overtime even if no corresponding fee for it just if necessary in order to be able to deliver their best for the job. As much as possible, they have to invest their physical strength for the good of the company. In other words, it is not just necessary to have good accountability for the entire organization but each leader should have to invest their physical strength for the good of the entire organization prior to achieving its corporate objectives. Thus, Japan is such an advanced and highly improved country because most Japanese has the heart of a good leader who is accountable, positive about things in leadership with the readiness to invest their physical strength in their organization.

Critical elements in a personal plan for success Personal plan for success requires critical thinking, leadership and accountability. As mentioned earlier, a good leader should be sensitive to the needs of the entire organization and such sensitivity should lead to positive response such as accountability for the entire organization. Thus, leadership is indeed a critical element in a personal plan for success not just in an organization but for each leader. Furthermore, accountability has become a component of a leader’s life because one has to engage oneself as an integral part of the organization.

Whatever happens to the organization, one has the responsibility to stand firm for his or her own actions. Another important element in a personal plan for success is critical thinking. Primarily, critical thinking is necessary because it is cognitive in nature (Colucciello, 1999). Humans are designed to think and such usually leads to better concepts or ideas for implementation especially in the business world. A marketing manager for instance needs to develop his critical thinking by exposing himself to different marketing concepts or positive ideas which could help the organization achieve its corporate goals.

Conclusion Leadership is such a broad context or area to be explored but it is enough to understand it as a good activity to develop a leader’s critical thinking, accountability and readiness to invest physical strength if required. A good leader with positive response to the entire needs of an organization has what it takes to become good in every leadership activity. References Colucciello, M. L. (1999). Relationship between critical thinking dispositions and learning styles. Journal of Professional Nursing, 15, 294-301.

Harolds, J. (2004). Selected important characteristics for enlightened medical leaders. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 1, 338-342. Sauer, S. J. (2011). Taking the Reins: The Effects of New Leader Status and Leadership Style on Team Performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 96, 574-587.