Leadership

I think personalities have a lot to do with Leadership. Type A personality is aggressive, doesn't need the social stimulation that a Type B requires, may be more extroverted, more assertive. Type B personalities, are more introverted, have the need to have a social stimulation, and is less assertive, and doesn't want to hurt people’s feelings so to speak, and has a need to be liked.

It's my opinion that doesn't mean Type B's can't be a good leader. As indicated, leaders aren't born; they're made at least that’s what statistics tell us. With leadership training and mentoring I think anyone can be a good leader. You also have to know if that's what you want to do. I don't think you should put someone in a leadership role knowing themselves they can't do it or want to do it. But then on the other hand there's those that you put into leadership roles that are too aggressive and goes over the edge.

I think leaders to some degree do entail a certain quality despite being taught. I think a true leader has confidence in themselves and what they are out to achieve. They're enthusiastic and have great character. Would you want a leader you can't trust? Look at the situations in our world today. People who thought they could lead only to take a back seat because others were leading them. So a good leader has to be trustworthy, and also tolerant but able to keep things under control. Good leaders also want to be successful and have a drive for excellence. Meaning a true leader doesn't associate leadership with the large dollars they walk away with. There's a certain feeling of achievement they obtained and enjoyed just by being successful in what they set out to accomplish. Not everyone has that feeling. Let’s take a look at ourselves for instance. When we have a honey do that has be taken care of. Some of us can do it and go on our way and not think twice about it. Some of us do it with a sense of accomplishment, achievement a feeling of success.

I believe to have a good balance between a good leader; you should possess some of the personality, the drive, and the ability to map your own course in leadership. I also think you need to know those you are leading. The need and what they require, when they require it and why they get or don’t get what they want.

If we take a look at the animal kingdom and how animals lead if you've ever seen national geographic for instance when a particular animal thinks they have the ability to lead they face off with the head of the pack and the strongest survives or beats out the opposition. I think one has to know in themselves if they or a leader of a follower.

Also intelligence is a key to leadership. You have to be able to think irrationally and quick in a lot of aspects and circumstances. Now this is not saying that a person with a lack of intelligence is not smart, keen or whatever you want to call it. It’s a matter of some people can act upon situations with no trouble at all, whereas some that are less stimulated by intelligence may not be able to cope or act upon the same particular situation and fall short of confidence, scared, less acceptance.

So I think it’s quite a debatable subject whether one is born or one is taught. I think there’s many attributes from both sides of the spectrum that contributes to a good leader.

It's in my opinion that anyone who is interesed in learning more about leadership, leadership roles and becoming an effective leader learn from the grandaddy of them all, the father of leadership, Peter Drucker himself. I think it should be required reading when you get to a leadership role.