Is there a Leader within everyone?
There are several self-help books and other resources that entice us to develop the leader within. But, is there really a leader within everyone? If so, then how does that corelate with the six archetypes and how are each of them unique & different from each other?
Explain, using examples and references, and relate your comments to the Four Principles for Purposeful Action.
This post was written by Jimy George, who will lead the discussion for the week starting on March 17.
Based on a lot of individuals I have met throughout life I would say that there are many individuals who are definitely not Brookmasters and probably could not navigate as the leader business archetype. If I had to guess, I would say that the biggest reason for this is because they simply don’t care to try to be leaders or else can’t imagine themselves as such an archetype.
Furthermore, I would say that even of some of those individuals tried, they probably wouldn’t succeed because the perception from others would never allow them to have followers.
Finally, a leader must have positive core values and a vision according to Purposeful Action and I think it is fair to say that there are many individuals in the world who would never find such within themselves even if they tried.
Scott, I think you are right that there are some that will never become leaders. Even if given years of training in leadership. I believe that some don’t have the motivation, the vision, the drive, and the want to become a leader. Some don’t want the responsibility. They would rather just do what they are asked to do such as a Trustee.
Scott
I agree that some (if not most) will never become leaders. I saw many individuals, in both my military service and in the civilian world, that were “forced” to be leaders and they failed miserably. Forced into a job they did not want, failure was going to happen. It was the responsibility of the real leaders to know who can really lead
Interesting thoughts Scott. I would say I’ve met many people as well who don’t care to be leaders in most things in life. But I bet if any of these have a passion for something, they could be leaders for their cause. I think ambition comes with leadership.
I have always been a firm believer that any of us can rise to the occasion and be anything we want so long as we put our mind to it. I would be remiss if I were to not follow that belief with the belief that all of us are are capable of developing the leader within. That is however too general of a statement. There are some individuals that have certain qualities that allow them to be more effective leaders, qualities that they are born with, qualities that no matter how hard the rest of us try we simply cannot match.
These qualities I speak I tend to group with charisma, charm, and other personality traits, all of which are very important in a leader’s ability to attract and retain followers. Bruce Avolio, a psychologist and director of the Center for Leadership Studies at SUNY-Binghamton, says that the traditional view is that leadership skills are innate and there cannot be learned but there are decades of research that indicate that this is just not the case, that leadership skills can in fact be learned.
We have been studying the connection between leadership and vision and I think it is very important to realize that we all have the ability to dream and to have visions of a desired state and it is from this ability that we are all potential leaders. If we are passionate enough and are truly committed to our vision then whatever leadership qualities we may be lacking relative to those natural leaders out there can be overcome. How many of us know someone smarter, with more charisma or charm, that take it all for granted and fail to reach their full potential? I’m sure many of us know someone like this. All of us have leadership potential - it is vision that is the seed of leadership.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-393.html&fromMod=popular_work
http://www.forbes.com/2007/11/29/leaders-born-fordism-lead-ceo-cx_sv_1129varghese.html
Joshua
I also believe that if anyone “puts our mind to it”, they can accomplish their desires or dreams
But, I contend that many have NO desire to be a leader, they do not have the desire for the added resposibility, that added work or the added time needed to be a leader.
I believe that there is a leader within everyone. we need to ignite and awaken those qualities in order to become an effective leader. Contrary to the saying “Leaders are born, not made”, it can be modified as “Leaders are made, not born”. Leaders can be nurtured, molded and fine-tuned to lead their followers. Leaders are brought to the forefront by circumstances and time, beliefs and causes and by necessities. I would like to share some of the important traits any leader should possess.
1.A leader must have vision
2.A leader should be able to travel in to an unexplored path
3.Leader must know how to manage failure.
4.Leader must have courage to take decision
5.leader should have nobility in management
If not for these, leaders can never be leaders. With our naked eyes, we see leaders being followed by their followers and followers being led by their leaders. In fact, this is the bond that ties a leader and a follower as one. “Every leader is a follower and every follower a leader”. We seems to take it for granted that leaders are immune to temptations, invincible, perfect in all respect in carrying out their work and duties, good in deeds, an expertise in speaking and writing, soft, silent and understanding listener, having answers to all the problems that we face. Thus, “Everyone is a leader of everyone; everyone a follower of everyone”.
True leaders and followers are committed to their jobs and their organizations as well as to projects, other employees, and other leaders. Such commitment generates a sense of purpose, a high degree of respect, extensive involvement, dedication, and enthusiasm. All these factors result in ever-increasing quality, production, and profit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laGZaS4sdeU&feature=PlayList&p=8D2D22F57F48B9ED&index=0&playnext=1
I agree with your comments venkat.There is an old adage that says, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” That has almost become cliché, but is one of the most powerfully true statements that I have ever heard. If you want to lead, then serve. Serve by letting people know that you care, enough to act upon that compassion. Good intentions without action only demonstrate your apathy and complacency.
source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Leader-Within—Passion,-With-Compassion&id=1912331
I agree with you Chandrika. This is a great statement. If you don’t care and have compassion for those you lead, then they will be less likely to want to follow you. A serving leader is much more successful than one who is not.
Venkat
I believe your first sentence says it all “I believe that there is a leader within everyone. we need to ignite and awaken those qualities in order to become an effective leader.”
I believe a leader must “ignite” themselves and not wait for others to do it
Dr Chopra, in the book Masters of the Game describes a Leader as a dreamer, doer and an effective communicator. I believe that real leadership is actually about having or acquiring certain qualities that will make others follow the leader, not because they need to, but because they confidently believe in that person.
The Four Principles of Purposeful Action depicts the state of mind of an effective leader. It is in the hands of the reader to understand and imbibe those qualities in every action they perform. Each person is veiled by the different archetypes depending on their nature of work, environment or situations. For example when a person working as a consultant displays qualities of envisioning mission for others to follow, he/she would be acting as a leader.
Thus I conclude that the situations and the circumstances in an individual’s life could bring out the qualities of leadership. However, the learning material and resources available for a person can help in unleashing their natural leadership abilities.
Very nicely communicated, Swathy. Yes, having certain qualities and characteristics may make someone a more natural leader but as you point out, it is really a set of circumstances that can make a leader out of even the most unlikely individual.
Well quoted Swathy. The four principles certainly depicts an effective leader. If a person really wants to be a leader then he/she will embrace upon been motivated and making sure that they surely become effective leaders.
Another view:
Why I think there is a leader within everyone?
There is a leader in you. If you can think, feel, hope, empathize, cry, smile, or wish, then you have a leader inside you awaiting a courageous awakening. You have within you the power to change lives, to improve lives, to give hope, to restore faith, to heal and mend broken lives, and to share promise.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Leader-Within—Passion,-With-Compassion&id=1912331
As humans we all one atleast one of these qualities; therefore it is all about identifying what motivates you and how can you channel that to help others.
Leadership is Influence. “He who thinketh he leadeth and hath no one following him only taking a walk.”
{John Maxwell in book called: Developing a Leader Within you}.
Considering all the six archetypes, all of them points out one thing. They are all indicating How to be. Which means that all these archetypes have unlimited posibilites infront of them and it is because there is a leader in everyone and it doesn’t end or begin in a short period time. Another thing they all show that not how to do. How to be attitude can change a trustee into a leader one day. Experience that you gain through life also can be a part of your leadership.