The Essential Quality of a Good Leader

[polycarp]

By Michael Masterson

There are basically two ways of being the boss. You can bully people into doing what you want ... or you can lead them.

The bully achieves his aims by exercising his superior power. The leader gets what he wants through inspiration and persuasion. The bully's method is initially effective, because it takes advantage of disequilibrium of power. Ultimately, however, it fails because power shifts.

The leader's method takes more time to work, because it depends on being able to gradually enlist the hearts and direct the minds of people.

The bully's technique is coercion. The leader's is persuasion.

Everything changes with time, including the balance of power. Good leaders work harder at first, but can sustain their influence long after the bullies have been beaten (or have disappeared into the woodwork), because the support they get from their people is voluntary.

Thus, the single, essential quality of a good leader is the ability to persuade others to follow his ideas without force.

[alobar51]

polycarp wrote: By Michael Masterson

There are basically two ways of being the boss. You can bully people into doing what you want ... or you can lead them.

The bully achieves his aims by exercising his superior power. The leader gets what he wants through inspiration and persuasion. The bully's method is initially effective, because it takes advantage of disequilibrium of power. Ultimately, however, it fails because power shifts.

The leader's method takes more time to work, because it depends on being able to gradually enlist the hearts and direct the minds of people.

The bully's technique is coercion. The leader's is persuasion.

Everything changes with time, including the balance of power. Good leaders work harder at first, but can sustain their influence long after the bullies have been beaten (or have disappeared into the woodwork), because the support they get from their people is voluntary.

Thus, the single, essential quality of a good leader is the ability to persuade others to follow his ideas without force.


The life expectency of most Fortune 500 cos. is somewhere between 3-5 years, in no small part, because they fail to grasp this concept.

[Galbally]

What is the essential quality of a good leader?



Leadership I would say.

[tycal]

One quality of leadership we tend to forget or never think of is LOVE, here is a direct quote.......I DON'T NECESSARILTY HAVE TO LIKE MY PLAYERS AND ASSOCIATES BUT AS THE LEADER I MUST LOVE THEM. LOVE IS LOYALTY, LOVE IS TEAMWORK, LOVE RESPECTS THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF ANY ORGANIZATION.--------VINCE LOMBARDI

[Galbally]

tycal;498409 wrote: One quality of leadership we tend to forget or never think of is LOVE, here is a direct quote.......I DON'T NECESSARILTY HAVE TO LIKE MY PLAYERS AND ASSOCIATES BUT AS THE LEADER I MUST LOVE THEM. LOVE IS LOYALTY, LOVE IS TEAMWORK, LOVE RESPECTS THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THIS IS THE STRENGTH OF ANY ORGANIZATION.--------VINCE LOMBARDI


Interesting take on the relationship with your employees, it might be good if you were running a religion, but I wouldn't be crazy about my boss saying he loved me, well except for that very sexy female boss that I had,....nah........too complicated.



I still say leadership, am I just old-fashioned?

[Accountable]

But leadership doesn't have a definitive definition. .... not definitely anyway.

[Tater Tazz]

I personally believe that working with your employees is the best method. I found out that this is the best way to work with your employees you get more done. I am not a bossy person to begin with, maybe that's why.

[Galbally]

Accountable;498481 wrote: But leadership doesn't have a definitive definition. .... not definitely anyway.


Tell you what, you do what I say, and I will show you what its all about eh? :wah: