 | What are three (3) qualities of a good leader? Why are these attributes essential for someone in a leadership role to possess? Give examples of leaders that possess these qualities. |
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9/8/2015 03:44:36 pm
Three qualities a good leader must have is control. If a leader doesn't have control of the situation people can start doing stuff out on their own not listening possibly making things harder for others. However a leader must know how to control people other wise a leader can become a tyrant. Another quality a leader must posses is confidence. This quality isn't necessarily for anyone situation. A leader should have confidence in him or herself. If a leader doesn't believe that he or she can do it then he really shouldn't be the one leading because as a leader you are in charge of others well beings and lives. Another quality i think is necessary for a leader is responsibility. If a leader doesn't take responsibility then there will be anarchy. with no responsible leader there will be no one to prevent mistakes or take ownership of them. An example of a leader with this power was John F Kennedy a leader who had control and knew how to use it, a leader who was confident with his choices and himself, and last but not least responsible. JFK was a many who took his responsibility seriously and lead this nation on a path to future success.
Jack Klicsu
9/9/2015 03:22:12 pm
Although i do believe with all of your qualities, i just believe that a leader cannot possess control. I believe other qualities that leaders have gives them control over their people. The fact that they are smart, brave, and courageous makes people want to follow their beliefs and which them makes them seem like they have control.
Bethany Christie
9/9/2015 05:45:31 pm
I agree, a leader cannot possess "control" as an attribute of his character. However, yes, it is important for a leader to have certain traits to give him the ability to take control in situations, and of the people he may be leading. I think that the other characteristics you mentioned, confidence and responsibility, are very important and essential in a good leader.
Bobby gyba
9/11/2015 09:31:39 am
Yes, I agree with jack! Confidence and responsibility are two great qualities to have in a leader. But I don't not agree that control is an actual quality that a person posses. Control is something a person gains over time from have great leadership qualities. Maybe an attribute that replaces control would be respectfulness. If a leader does not show respect to his followers then he will have no "control" over them. So to sum it up 3 great qualities in a leader would be respectfulness, confidence, and responsibility.
Owen Raymond
9/9/2015 05:25:25 pm
I agree with all of your qualities that a good leader should have, however, I do not believe that control is a quality. I believe that control is obtained through other qualities that a leader should possess.
Spencer Kerwin
9/10/2015 04:32:39 pm
I agree with Owen that control is not a quality. Control can be obtained with other qualities such as respect, but isn't one itself. Otherwise, I agree with Jeremy's other qualities.
Owen Raymond
9/8/2015 03:58:50 pm
One quality of a good leader is intelligence. This is an important quality in a good leader because they must have the ability to react and respond quickly as well as to solve intense and difficult problems. Intelligence is also the basis of good organization skills. Another quality of a good leader is courage. A good leader must be brave enough to stand up against intimidating tasks or problems. The third quality a leader must have is creativity. A good leader must be able to solve unique and irregular problems using unconventional methods. They have to be able to create their own method and be able to come up with different solutions for different problems. An example of a leader with these is a military leader. Military leaders must be able to solve problems quickly, have the courage to face difficult challenges, and they have to be able to create their own unique strategy for each mission.
Laura Trombetta
9/9/2015 07:33:42 pm
I agree with your opinion that a good leader needs to be intelligent. However I think that creativity and intelligence go hand in hand. To be able to solve unique problems you need to be able to apply both creativity and intelligence to the situation.
Jared Poulsen
9/10/2015 02:55:11 pm
Owen, I agree that a good characteristic of a leader is creativity. A person who is creative can solve problems that most people can't by thinking out of the box and utilizing whatever resources they have to the best of their ability.
Olyvia Gendron
9/10/2015 09:39:01 pm
Owen, I agree with your statement of courage and intelligence being two important qualities for a leader to possess, however I was wondering if there is a better word than creativity to use when describing a leader. When I think of your example of a military leader, I think the word innovative would better describe their leadership qualities because you mentioned they have to be able to create their own methods. Otherwise I agree that courage and organization, as well as intelligence, are all great aspects of a successful leader.
Laura Trombetta
9/8/2015 05:03:47 pm
Qualities that all good leaders should have are integrity, knowledge, and bravery. Integrity is extremely important in order to be a good leader. People will tend not to follow someone if they do not think that they are trust worthy and honest. By not showing integrity you will be restricted in the number of followers you have. Knowledge is an important characteristic to have as a leader. Being a person in charge, you need to be able to tell others what to do and how to do it in order to get the best outcome, therefore it is important to apply knowledge to your situations. A good leader is always one that is brave. They should be one who is not afraid to tell others what to do in order to get a job done right and have no trouble speaking in front of people. Leaders need to be able to stick up for themselves and also defend their followers which takes a large amount of courage. An example of a leader who possesses all of these qualities is Pope Francis. He is not afraid to voice his opinion and stick up for others which shows bravery, he is a religious leader which means he strongly believes in integrity, and he is also knowledgeable. All these qualities together make up a great and effective leader.
Madeline Testa
9/9/2015 06:01:04 pm
Laura, I believe knowledge is important in being a successful leader, I just don't believe it is in the top three. Many leaders did not have much of an educational background but still managed to become great leaders. For example, Abraham Lincoln did not attend any trade school, college, or university, and was self taught, in his formal education but still ended up being one of the best leaders.
Casey Marshall
9/13/2015 09:40:21 pm
Madeline- I agree that a leader must not have mass amounts of education, and they do not have to attend an Ivy League school to obtain control and do it well. However, I do believe they must be educated socially to successfully make a point. I believe an ideal leader would have learned of social issues and the history of the world in order to make smart decisions. I also agree with Laura on the qualities of integrity and bravery.
Olyvia Gendron
9/8/2015 06:18:18 pm
Leaders and bosses are very different. One characteristic that differentiates the two is integrity. Being honorable and trustworthy to those who look up to and support them is a very important factor when being considered a roll model. A leader is someone who guides their advocates with morality and trust. They can put their confidence in the people backing them without having any doubts of their loyalty. Another aspect a leader holds is their way of making themselves not only approachable, but inspiring. Good leaders know how to make their supporters comfortable when having a discussion with them. The most important attribute a leader must possess in order to stand out is confidence. When something goes wrong or gets hard, a leader must step up and assure their followers that it is not a time to panic, but instead a time to keep calm and deal with the problem head on. These qualities are important for a superior to have because whoever is trusting them enough to support them wants to know that they're being noticed and respected, not just used. The strength of one's character, especially of a leader's, comes in when trust becomes vital. Trust is something that can take a very long time to build but only one instance to break; therefore it is essential for a leader to possess it because it shows that this person is not only honorable, but they are just as vulnerable as everyone else. It shows that they are a democrat not a dictator. A leader that possess all of these qualities is Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He was the face and leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement, a movement that is compared to the 19th century abolitionist movement. Because he fought against racial discrimination, he was sent to prison. When he got out however, he lead his country to a free and equal future. After serving almost 30 years in jail, he was considered a hero for never giving up on his beliefs or his people.
Danielle Rossi
9/10/2015 08:00:59 am
I agree with all of the qualities that you stated. However I believe that a leader and a boss are quite similar. In order for both to succeed and "remain in power," they both have to posses these qualities. And a leader is like a boss because they are both in charge of a group of people and have to do what is best for them and the business using these qualities.
Ben Santangelo
9/8/2015 06:28:44 pm
One quality a good leader should have is to be a people person. He/she must be influential to citizens and coworkers because it boosts moral. If people believe in their leader, then they won't second guess their ruler and order is more likely to be maintained. A well liked leader, Franklin D Roosevelt, was re-elected three times into the presidency, and helped the people during Great Depression.
Mason Hayes
9/9/2015 07:26:00 pm
I agree with Ben saying that a leader needs to be a people person. In some ways this corresponds with having good communication skills. If your unable to communicate with other leaders, then making arrangements with other countries would prove difficult.
Rachel Lamore
9/9/2015 08:27:23 pm
Ben, I agree that a leader should be honest and hard working. However, I do not believe that it is essential for a leader to be liked. "Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved." (Niccolo Machiavelli). The way I see it, if a leader is liked too much, not all citizens will take them seriously. Instead, I think it is more important that a leader is feared by their people so that they follow the rules because they know the the punishments will be harsh.
Jeremy Lang
9/10/2015 05:08:39 pm
I disagree Rachel. I think it is inportant for a leader to be liked. leaders who are likeable will have the respect of their citizens which is inportanat. If you are a feared leader the people may over throw you, disrespect you, or even resist you
Lucas Kaine
9/10/2015 04:06:21 pm
I agree with you when you say that a leader needs to be hard working, but i disagree when you say a leader needs to be honest and a people person. I don't think a leader needs to be honest because if he needs to lie to his people so they don't panic, than it is okay. Also, I don't believe that a leader needs to be liked because if he is liked to much, than people will not follow the rules.
Eric Yeh
9/10/2015 04:09:42 pm
Hi Ben, I agree with you on how a leader should be become more connected with the people. Without this quality, it would be harder to get citizens to help with your cause. And like Mason said, it also goes along with communication skills, for your talking with so many people, and learning what to say in certain situations when needed.
Ariella Bourdeau
9/10/2015 06:15:02 pm
Ben, I do agree with you in saying that a leader must be hard-working, a people person, and honest. But I have to disagree, to a certain extent, that a leader should be liked. Going along with what Rachel said, it is better to be feared than loved because he will be treated as more of a citizen than a leader. However, in the case of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the country needed to pick a leader that they liked or the times of the depression would get much worse. Depending on the situation, the question of being feared or loved can go either way.
Bethany Sherback
9/12/2015 02:49:20 pm
I agree with Rachel's opinion on the traits you mentioned. Sometimes, if a leader is completely honest, he or she may actually lose some followers and power. To stay in control, a leader must sometimes lie to keep the faith and trust of their people. Sometimes a lie is necessary to protect citizens, which is a leader's overall main goal.
Bethany Christie
9/8/2015 08:27:43 pm
There are a few specific qualities, I believe, found in some people that seem to naturally put them in positions throughout their lives as leaders. These characteristics include charisma, integrity, and possessing a steadfast leadership style.
Sydney Borkowski
9/9/2015 09:23:55 pm
I agree with most of your points. However, I disagree with your opinion that a leader must have a clean slate. I believe sometimes mistakes can make a leader stronger, as it can aid them in growing wiser and more knowledgeable. The experience could help them grow as a person and therefore as a leader. I agree that repeated mistakes might be a reason to question someone's leadership skills, though.
Olivia Modesti
9/12/2015 06:10:21 pm
I agree with Sydney that mistakes can make a leader stronger. Sometimes mistakes are what shape a persons personality. We often learn from our mistakes, that way we can prevent it from happening again. But I also agree with you that mistakes can make a person look unsuited for leadership.
Christopher Twombly
9/10/2015 06:35:00 pm
Bethany, I agree with your point that a leader should possess a steadfast leadership style. This is essential for all leaders because functioning in a composed, calm, and purposeful manner will allow the people to know that even in times of confusion, that they have a leading figure to look upon for guidance and support.
Eamon Devine
9/10/2015 08:34:44 pm
There are good points there but having absolutely no records, criminal or otherwise, isn't exactly necessary. Many things that could "tarnish" the reputation of a leader don't directly impact his performance at ruling. A person who isn't the best driver might be known for many tickets and suspensions, but that doesn't effect how they will do making decisions and talking things out. A person could have numerous tickets or jail time in the past, but could excel in a high position in government. In addition, any crime on their records may not be true. There have been several instances of people being falsely accused of a crime they weren't part of and being found guilty. People can lie about someone they dislike but even if proven false will still be remembered.
Kaitlin Sepanek
9/8/2015 08:35:38 pm
A good leader must have confidence, intelligence, and honesty. Confidence is always key in performing, as a leader must do daily, he or she must have the confidence to stand in front of millions of people and speak, answer questions, as well as agree with what the audience he/she is speaking to. Intelligence comes in here, where the president, say, is speaking to children, he must have the understanding of what to say, and not to say; he/she is not going to tell five year olds that we are in nuclear war, as he/she would with adults. Intelligence also comes into play dealing with situations of war and arguments caused within the U.S. A skill such as this could be to know when to attack. Being commander in chief of the navy and army, the president must know when to make the first move, retract, or surrender to benefit his country. Honesty is the best policy. That is what most people learn in elementary school. A leader should be honest with his/her peers and inform them of any situations that arise, or fall. One leader that possesses all of these traits is Abraham Lincoln. Not only was his nickname "Honest Abe", but he also was honest with the citizens of the U.S. that he had to abolish slavery. This was an intelligent decision by him that benefitted many, many people who were being held in slavery with no way out. Lincoln not only had the confidence to speak in public, such as presenting the Gettysburg Address, but he also had the confidence to plunge into something new this country had never seen before; abolished slavery. Jeremy- I agree with you that a leader must have control of whom he is controlling, such as citizens. This is a very important skill to have during riots, wars and other conflict that arise and get out of hand quickly.
Emily Byrnes
9/9/2015 08:10:22 pm
I agree with you about a leader being honest. If they aren't honest they aren't trusted. I do not agree with the fact that you said a leader should agree with what the audience says. The leader should be able to make his/her own decisions and if he/she doesn't agree with what the audience says, he/she should comment on that and tell what they think instead of just agreeing.
Shannon Maxey
9/10/2015 07:42:48 pm
I agree with you in your response saying that a good leader should possess confidence and intelligence to be successful. However, Emily's statement is accurate because it is important for a leader to not conform to the audience, but rather seek out what is best despite controversy. By doing this, it shows power and give assurance to the audience without causing a great deal of commotion.
MacKenzie Kerwin
9/8/2015 08:44:12 pm
Some people possess qualities that make them better suited for leadership than others. Intelligence is a given; it provides a foundation for so many other skills that are necessary to a great leader: communication, problem solving, prioritizing—the list goes on. Thomas Jefferson was able to incorporate all three of these skills when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Thanks to his intelligence, Jefferson creatively and effectively resolved issues between the American colonies and Great Britain. Furthermore, quick decision-making is essential to becoming a great leader. Figures of high authority often find themselves in crisis situations, and they’re required to act fast. In this type of scenario, the right leader will stay calm and collected in order to make the right decision, even if everyone else is in distress. A prime example of this skill comes from the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when President John F. Kennedy carefully avoided a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. The US found itself in a state of panic when the Soviet Union threatened to fire missiles from Cuba, but the President was able to come to an agreement that ended the crisis. Lastly, a trait that is important for a leader to have (but is often overlooked) is empathy. A good leader needs to know what is best for the people, and in order to do that, he or she has to care about their feelings. Military commanders typically have experience in using empathy to guide their soldiers. Admiral Bill Owens, a Vietnam veteran, tells stories of when he was a commander. He used to comfort homesick soldiers while they were on missions. It not only kept them on task, but it also gave them someone to look up to as both a leader and a friend.
Allison Tilki
9/10/2015 04:10:18 pm
I agree with the qualities you have listed and the way you related your qualities to actions of former leaders made your argument very strong and clear. However, I do not completely agree with the necessity of the quality of empathy. Although it is a trait of a good leader, and often encouraged, when it is used excessively it could cause the leader to go off course and not give enough dedication to the task at hand, having too much empathy could also cloud a leaders judgment when a harsh decision needs to be made.
Jack Klicsu
9/9/2015 03:17:20 pm
One good quality of a good leader in my opinion is quick thinking. If they have this, they have the ability to redirect a group of people if something doesn't go according to plan. With this they also have good ideas as well. Another quality a good leader should have is bravery. He or she shouldn’t be scared to do something, or scared to propose a new idea. His people should be able to follow them and feel comfortable with their brave leader. Lastly, a good leader should be intelligent. They should make smart and thoughtful choices for their people and or country. Without intelligence you start to think if you can totally trust your leader or not. An example of a leader with good qualities is Winston Churchill. His determination, heart, and perseverance led himself and his country to help the allies and defeat the nazis in WWII. If he didn't posses these qualities to make him such great leader, Great Britain might not have been as involved in the defeat of Germany in WWII.
Joe Yacovelli
9/10/2015 11:01:17 am
I agree with your statement that a leader should be brave and have quick thinking skills; however, a leader does not need to have the ability to create great ideas. This is because a leaders job is to motivate others to have ideas. Although, in some cases, they should have ideas to help people out, sometimes they don't need to because they are motivating others to do so.
Rebecca Rinaldi
9/10/2015 07:47:43 pm
Jack, I agree that a reliable leader should have intelligence and good decisions. However, a lot of times quick thinking leads low quality choices. If a decision is being made for an entire group of people, it should be as thought out as possible. Great job on the example!
Abbi Locke
9/9/2015 04:11:39 pm
The three most vital qualities a leader should possess are integrity, intelligence, and the ability to communicate effectively. Integrity is an uncommon state of both being morally upstanding and strong enough to do what is required. Without integrity, even the strongest of leaders will fall, as morality is inspired in those who witness it. They must give the people a reason to stand steadfast against those who attempt to lead to the leader's downfall. Intelligence is also a very important factor in the strength of a leader. Without the ability to decide for themselves what the best course of action is, a leader would have to depend upon their advisers for all interpretations of the world around them. This could lead to a monopoly of power, or the leader becoming a simple figurehead for the wills of those around him. All the above would be worthless, however, without communication skills. What good is all your intelligence and strength of character if you cant get people to do what you want? Communication brings all the other merits of a great leader into the real world. Take Martin Luther King Jr., for example. He was an honest and morally upstanding man, and an excellent orator. He inspired people to lay down their weapons and protest in a nonviolent way, changing the political landscape for the years to come. His intelligence was shown through his kindness and insightful realization that violent protests achieve societal change, but not mental change. You can force people to say they agree, but that will only strengthen their convictions against your cause.
Madeline Kovach
9/9/2015 05:36:10 pm
I agree with you that integrity is an important quality for a leader to have. The example you used of Martin Luther King Jr. was a great example because he did in fact change the political views of many people. However, in regards to intelligence, leaders do need to be able to make their own decisions, but simply asking for interpretations of the situation is different. I believe it is acceptable to ask for opinions because it brings perspective in to the equation. A fresh set of ideas can essentially give clarity to a solution.
Eric Yeh
9/9/2015 05:14:11 pm
Some qualities that a good leader should have would be confidence, creativity, and knowledge. Confidence is important because because it shows the people following the leader that he takes pride in what he's doing, that he believes is a good path. Having confidence in his followers also shows that he not only trusts them to work at the best of their abilities, but that he trusts their actions are for the best of the group. It inspires them to act like him and have confidence in the group as a whole, not just the leader or themselves. Creativity is important because the leader is able to be flexible with what happens, able to overcome any future problem. Without being able to find a way around a problem, the group can be stuck at that one checkpoint, struggling to figure out the answer. An example of a leader with this quality would be like an elementary school teacher. They have to guide children throughout the day, teach them of new skills and be able to keep them focused. So the teacher would think of a way to make the lesson more interactive, to immerse the kids so they can enjoy learning. Another quality that makes up a good leader is the be knowledgeable or intelligent. They can't always rely on their fellow followers to help them, for the leader could be in a position where they need to use what they know, and they're away from everyone else, or they need to make a decision on behalf of everyone else. Knowledge can also help guide their members through problems of their own. Even with a slight understanding of things, the leader can nudge a person the right way, show them where to start. An example of a leader with this could be the president. They have to run a portion of the government, telling people what they might need to do and make decisions on his own. He needs to be knowledgeable to be able to do his job and guide other people through what the need to as well.
Ben Santangelo
9/10/2015 03:46:24 pm
I agree with you, Eric, in that intelligence is a large factor in a good leader's - or anyone's - success. They must know how situations are created and how to properly take care of them. Otherwise they could end up making whatever it is worse. I would take it a step farther, though, and say how said knowledge must also be up to date, in that a situation could develop into a crisis, and the leader may not have seen it coming without that omnipotence.
Abbi Locke
9/10/2015 04:24:25 pm
While I do agree with your statements about the importance of knowledge, creativity, and confidence in a good leader, I do not agree with confidence being in the top three. If a leader lacks confidence but has intelligence, they will realize that they can act as though they are certain, without the actual presumption. After all, one of the best ways to acquire confidence is to "fake it til you make it."
Tyler Pranger
9/12/2015 02:55:27 pm
Eric, I agree with your response, however, I believe that creativity is not a necessity, or perhaps not the correct word. With your explanation of it, it almost seems to go hand in hand with confidence. You can be a little creative with your rule if you are replacing another ruler, but what if the citizens liked what the old leader was doing? The change may be subtle, but the people may not enjoy the sudden change of life. Other than that, I agree with the other two qualities you mentioned.
Madeline Testa
9/9/2015 05:54:03 pm
Three qualities needed to be a successful leader include being an effective communicator, approachable and inspiring, as well as having clear and specific direction. Being an effective communicator is by far the top quality needed to be a successful leader. Great leaders are masters of verbal and written communication. They are also culturally fluent and know how to interact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Being approachable and inspiring is another major aspect in being a successful leader. Great leaders genuinely embrace an open-door policy. Employees can be transparent about issues at work and know that they won’t be punished for their honesty. Effective leaders also may have a challenging vision for their office team, but it’s achievable and straightforward. They know where they need to go and how to get there. Among the top leadership traits is being well organized and very clear about expectations, procedures, guidelines and measurements. Great leaders actively collaborate with their team to improve workflow. They don’t just leave it to their office support to clean up their messes. Abraham Lincolon was one of the most well known leaders of all time. He was in office during the American Civil War where he kept the people together and is the only reason that the nation did not break into smaller parts. He also ended slavery in the US by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. His greatest traits were his determination, persistence, beliefs and courage.
Alexandra Adames
9/12/2015 06:46:50 pm
Maddie, overall I agree with the statements that you have made. A good leader defiantly needs to be a good communicator and approachable. However, I disagree with inspiring being a top three quality. Yes, a leader being inspiring is a plus, as in your example, but it is not a necessary need. Being a good communicator or being approachable are more important because this shows that a leader is open to ideas and is clear with his thoughts. I believe that an inspiring leader occurs over time through a leader's actions, and that it is a quality that must be earned.
Chelsea Hidalgo
9/9/2015 07:03:42 pm
The three qualities that I consider to be desirable in a leader is the ability to maintain good social skills, a quick and cunning intelligence, and a quiet confidence. To illustrate, the ability to communicate efficiently is what makes or breaks a political career. One must win the hearts of the followers in order to make themselves look better compared to other candidates, and the way to do this is by being a sociable and likable person. For example, Julius Caesar won the hearts of all his Roman followers through his charismatic nature and his ability to be well liked. In fact, he was so charming that when he was once captured and held by pirates as a boy, he was able to make them like him and eventually set him free. In addition to a charming personality, a leader would also need a cunning intelligence and easy flexibility. For example, Napoleon Bonaparte was known throughout Europe as one of the greatest conquerors in history. But, he didn't win with large armies mowing others down to build his fame. Instead, he had small but agile armies that triumphed armies twice the size of his; even when at war with more than one country. His ability to strategize and incorporate tactics into fighting was what made his climb to victory that much sweeter. Finally, a good leader would need a quiet confidence to make his career. After all, no one likes a braggart yet followers also need a person to fully believe in what they are doing as well.
Mrs. E
9/10/2015 08:17:48 am
Terrific response, Chelsea. Thorough and articulate. Thank you.
Corinne Cude
9/10/2015 10:01:25 pm
Chelsea-- I agree with everything you've said. However, though you did make it a side point, attraction should not have anything to do with leadership skills. I've found that often times people can and will look past physical appearance, especially if the person has more than enough qualification to fill a leadership position. Looks certainly should not be one of the things people are interested in when electing or choosing their leaders, for even the most attractive may not be good at leading at all.
Ariana Terlaga
9/11/2015 09:53:43 pm
Chelsea, you are spot on with your main three reasons as to what makes a good leader; however, I cannot bring myself to believe that physical appearance should have anything to do with drawing the line between a good and a sub-par leader. To reiterate what Corinne said, being conventionally attractive should not put you at an advantage over others, as it does not determine your qualifications. With that said, you can even see that looks have little to no effect on the success of a leader. While the matter of what is attractive is subjective, we can safely assume that individuals are more likely to deem a younger person more attractive than an older one. If looks truly do play a major role in the popularity of a leader, then why are the younger presidential candidates not at the top of the presidential polls? For example, in New Hampshire's Republican Presidential Primary poll, Marco Rubio, one of the younger candidates, stands at only 3.7% while Jeb Bush, an older candidate, surpasses him at 9.3%.
Brianna Lum
9/12/2015 12:03:06 pm
Chelsea- I agree with your first quality for a leader- communication. If a leader isn't communicating with his followers, he or she won't be in touch with what's important to them, or what their needs are. However, I don't necessarily think he or she needs to be "attractive". What really matters is what the leader can do. Sadly, though, people can't always see the difference between someone who looks good and does good, and may end up supporting a bad leader because of that decision.
Mrs. E
9/12/2015 02:49:46 pm
Brianna, insightful point. I agree that it is a sad fact that many people truly do base a crucial decision on such shallow criteria. Well said.
Mason Hayes
9/9/2015 07:22:37 pm
Three qualities that make up a good leader would be the ability to make hard decisions, be intelligent, and have good communication skills. If someone takes a leadership position, maying tough decisions is apart of the job. If a leader is unable to make a tough decision, then in times of stress and hard times the leader will snap. This may lead to poor choices for the country. If a leader isn't intelligent, then it's possible that the leader may be unaware of world events or not have process thought to comprehend the events around them. It's also needed to have good communication skills. As a leader, you'd have to communicate with other heads of the government and the citizens of the nation. If you're unable to communicate, then trying to correspond with other leaders will prove difficult. An example of someone who demonstrated tough decision making skills was FDR. He had made the tough decision of declaring war against Germany during World War II. Had he naught, then it's possible that the Axis Power could've overthrown Europe.
Riley Kweder
9/10/2015 06:52:29 pm
Mason, I agree that it's obvious for any leader to have the ability to make difficult decisions as well as the quality of communication. However, I don't believe that intelligence is necessary. Conventional education always looks good as a label on a leader, but it's not always actually useful. For example, one of the most prominent figures in history, Winston Churchill, was known to have done extremely poor in school. It took him three tries to get into the Royal Military College and even then he was put into the least respected military group because his grades were so low. Even after his failures in all aspects of education, he moved on to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Audrey Robinson
9/10/2015 07:08:47 pm
I agree with you with communication skills, but I think that making hard decisions and intelligence can go together. This is because intelligence will have the decision making process included. Therefore, you can add another quality and explain the decision part when you explain intelligence.
Kaitlyn Remond
9/12/2015 04:43:03 pm
Mason, I agree that a leader should be intelligent and good at tough decision making, however, I agree with Audrey that those two ideas go hand in hand. Without knowledge of the subject, or intelligence in general, the leader can make a bad decision. I believe that making hard decisions should belong under the intelligence category because without intelligence, the leader could be making unknowledgeable decisions that could affect the people that they are leading. This could ultimately lead to dissatisfied citizens and an unorganized leader.
Emily Byrnes
9/9/2015 07:45:46 pm
One quality of a good leader is to be able to admit to mistakes and learn from them. By admitting they have made a mistake and learning from it, a leader could make sure that that mistake does not happen again and he/she could get guidance to help stop the problem. Another good quality of a leader would be that they should be able to make tough decisions. By being able to make tough decisions, the leader would be able to help many people even if they have to harm some people. One man who had to make this decision was Harry Truman. President Truman had to decide to drop the Atomic Bombs on Japan to be able to end the war. One more quality that a good leader should have is integrity. If a leader has integrity, then they would be able to get many people to trust in them. If a leader is not honest then no one would trust them and they not be elected or appointed for another position. By having these qualities, a leader would be liked more and have a better chance of improving and helping his followers.
Brianna Murray
9/10/2015 07:45:20 pm
I do agree that it is important for a leader to first admit to their mistakes and then grow from them. That way, they can assure themselves and other people that the mistake may never happen again. However, I disagree that leaders should get 'guidance' to help stop the problem. After all, a 'good' leader should be the one to handle issues within a society, rather than receive outside assistance.
Erin Cunningham
9/10/2015 11:07:42 pm
Yes, it is important that a leader is able to admit and own up to his or her own mistakes. But I agree with Brianna when she says a leader should not need outside assistance. I would hope a leader is strong enough to carry a society on their own.
Sydney Borkowski
9/9/2015 09:12:53 pm
There are some skills that are essential to a leader's success and ability to do his job effectively. One attribute is open-mindedness. If a leader is too set in their ways and unwilling to listen to their people or other leaders in order to attempt to compromise between ideas, they cannot expect to be successful. While a leader must know when to be stern and do what they think is best, they must also know how to take others' ideas into consideration. A second attribute that is necessary for a good leader is trustworthiness. If a leader promises something, they need to follow up on it or sincerely explain why it was not possible. false promises and lies can cause a leader's people and colleagues to question the leader's reliability, and without trust in their leader, it can be hard for a strong society to be upheld. A third attribute is intelligence. A leader must be able to use their intelligence to talk, plan, or strategize. They must be able to consider how their actions and words effect everyone around them and how to sound educated and on top of things. A leader who embodied all of these traits is Ronald Raegan. Though he was a republican president, many remember him as open-minded towards democrats and willing to attempt compromise, such as in the scenario where he proposed MX missiles to be deployed. Congress opposed this, but Reagan listened to them and worked to convince them of his point of view . He also attempted to fulfill on his campaign promises, like many presidents. He promised that he would stimulate the economy and grow the military. Reagan fulfilled both of these promises. He was also intelligent and knew how to negotiate and portray himself well. He found ways to make sure he always look like he wasn't reading his speeches as he was giving them and often found ways to manipulate congress and charm them. This shows signs of intelligence. Reagan exemplified the qualities that a good leader should posess.
Audrey Robinson
9/9/2015 09:23:36 pm
The three qualities of a good leader are intelligence, bravery, and a good communicator. Intelligence is important because if there is ever an issue, knowledge can be used to find an answer that is logical. Bravery is important because they need to stand up for their actions of their group. Also some leaders might actually have to fight so bravery would be needed during battle to fight enemies. A good communicator is also important because instead of yelling over everyone during a meeting, they can express everyones ideas calmly. A leader that posses these qualities would be Martin Luther King Jr. During the Civil Rights Movement he was in the forefront of the peaceful protests, which expresses bravery. He was also a good communicator from being preacher, and also when giving his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. He also expressed the use of intelligence when deciding to have peaceful protests/ riots, instead of using violence against the authorities.
MacKenzie Kerwin
9/10/2015 07:51:37 pm
Audrey, I agree with the points you've brought up, and I'd like to expand on your idea that communication skills are important. Not only does it entail a calm, eloquent way of expressing ideas, but also the way a leader tailors his word choice according to the audience. A mistake many leaders make when giving speeches is sounding too corporate or professional for the listeners. The audience is more likely to care when they feel like they're listening to something personal, and that's something that definitely requires a leader with great communication skills.
Kaylan O'Banner
9/11/2015 10:08:27 am
Audrey, I agree with what you have said so far, but i believe you need to expand on some of the qualities you think a good leader should possess. I think if you added one or two more reasons as to why those qualities were needed, it'd be clearer, and help others understand your point better..
Shannon Maxey
9/9/2015 11:24:20 pm
Three important qualities of an exemplary leader are character, the ability to communicate ideas and conviction in your beliefs. Abraham Lincoln, one of our nation's greatest leaders embodied all three of these qualities. President Lincoln was known to be a self made man of meager means, well educated with a reputation for honesty and integrity. In other words, a man of strong character. He was great speaker with a famous wit and sense of humor. A number of his speeches remain among history's most influential. His decision to end slavery was not an easy one nor was it popular with much of the country but he felt strongly that it was the right and moral path to take. He new the consequences of this decision and led the Union through a long and bloody civil war. He stayed to true to his conviction- making tough decisions, remaining strong in times of crisis because he knew it would ultimately make us a stronger nation.
Hailey Coleman
9/11/2015 10:20:14 am
Shannon, as much as I valued how you addressed many new attributes to a leader, I would think that Abraham Lincoln also had a strong intuition. As well as the ability to communicate ideas is important, starting the end of slavery made him unaware of how his decision could be among the extreme of the people. Lincoln was also intuitive in most of his gutsy decisions in office; Given the fact that he also wanted to then end the Civil War and save the Republic. Otherwise, I strongly agree with your other points that were made and you executed your blog very thoughtfully.
Danielle Rossi
9/10/2015 07:58:14 am
Three important qualities a leader must be endowed with are intelligence, integrity, and bravery. It is very important for a leader to be intelligent because they need the ability to make choices and decisions in a situation that will best fit their followers. Being the person in charge, the leader needs to be able to make decisions that will benefit their country, or have the best outcome. If a leader did not have the intelligence to make these choices, it can result in a bad outcome or severely effect the world around them. Another quality a leader must posses is integrity. It is important for a leader to have integrity because this quality will enforce trust in the leader. The people will want to follow them if the know that the leader is honest and trustworthy, otherwise they will think the people will believe are only in charge for the power and money, not the people. Having integrity also enforces that the leader will do anything and everything in his power to make the right decisions for his people and will do it with the best morals. Lastly, a leader must have bravery. Being brave is a quality everyone should have, especially a leader. Being brave will show the followers that no matter what the situation, they will go into it head first. A leader must be able to tell others what needs to be done to get it done right and not be afraid to get up in front of a crowd and speak. This will show the followers that even when scared or timid, will still do whats right and not be afraid to do so. A leader that posses these three qualities was John F. Kennedy. Kennedy knew what he had to do for the country and if ever a problem knew how to solve it, the people of the United States trusted him and believed that what he said was honest and from the heart, and Kennedy was never afraid to do what was right for our country.
Joe Yacovelli
9/10/2015 10:56:03 am
One quality of a great leader is the ability to motivate others to do well. This is a good quality because many people could be motivated to get things done. However, a leader doesn't have to be the best at everything. As long as he/she is motivating others to do well, they are doing their jobs as leaders. An example of this quality would be Derek Jeter. For example, he is not the best baseball player ever, yet he is considered the best captain in baseball history because he motivates others to do well. Another quality of a good leader would be a positive attitude. If someone is down, a leader should have the ability to help them positively. If a leader is positive, other people will reflect his actions and positive mindset. An example of this quality is portrayed in Justin Tuck, the New York Giants old captain. People on the team would say that he is very happy and it wears off on the whole team. Another quality of a good leader would be the ability to handle difficult situations. Leaders are faced with difficult situations regularly and are expected to fix them. An example of this quality is exemplified in Obama, our current president. He is faced with all of the worlds problems such as economical problems, armed forces, and many other things.
Robert Sweeney
9/12/2015 10:42:36 pm
Joe, I agree with all of the qualities that you said that a good leader has; however, I disagree with saying that Obama handles all tough situations to the best of his ability. An example of a situation that Obama has not handled very well would be the amount of debt the country is in and the Iran Nuclear Deal. The United States is still in a ton of debt and even though Obama is not responsible for all of that debt, he has not taken steps to solve that problem during his presidency. In addition, he signed a deal for the U.S. to pay Iran millions for them to self-monitor their own nuclear weapons which does not even guarantee the safety of the U.S. Obama has dealt with some stuff well but there are also many things that he has dealt with in not such a great manner.
Jared Poulsen
9/10/2015 02:50:59 pm
To be an effective leader, one must possess certain characteristics that would allow them to manage their society efficiently. The first of these attributes is confidence. A leader needs to be confident because if they constantly second-guess themselves, when the time comes that a quick and important decision needs to be made, someone who isn't confident may end up failing their task. Another critical characteristic a leader needs is intelligence. To go along with confidence, a leader needs to make well-educated decisions that will help their society. If not, the community will crumble because there would be no agreement about how to approach many situations. The final quality that a leader needs to possess is communication skills. A good leader would be quick to respond to anyone's ideas or thoughts on how to handle different problems. This means having an open mind and explaining why or why not certain ideas would be beneficial to the society. This would prevent anyone from rebelling because they would understand the leader's point of view and see the bigger picture. A leader that possesses these three characteristics would ultimately be successful because they would be able to handle any situation quickly and effectively.
Lucas Kaine
9/10/2015 04:00:42 pm
There are a ton of skills that a leader needs to effectively govern. One of these skills that a leader must possess is intellect. If a leader is not smart then he will not know how to strategize in battle, and will most likely make bad decisions throughout the course of his leadership. The smarter a leader is, the better. Another skill that a leader needs to possess is courage. A leader needs to have courage in situations that would frighten most other people. Without courage, this person would not know how to act during war or with other scary situations. Also, if a leader shows that he is scared about something, than his people would lose hope and start to panic. When things get rough, people need a person to look to for guidance. If the person they look to for this is courageous, than the people will have hope. A third and final skill that a leader must possess is dedication. A leader needs to put the most time and effort into something as humanly possible to make sure the job is done correctly. If a leader was lazy, then he would not get anything done and this would cause many problems. A leader that has every last one of these qualities is George Washington. He was very smart and strategized many battles such as The Crossing of the Delaware. George Washington was one of the most courageous leaders in history because even when his army seemed outnumbered and outgunned, he convinced his army to keep fighting. Finally, George Washington was immensely dedicated to the American cause. He kept fighting the British even when things looked impossible and kept his men fighting. George Washington took all of these skills and took them to the next level, making him one of the best leaders in all of history.
Spencer Kerwin
9/10/2015 04:22:09 pm
The three most essential qualities of an good leader are intelligence, confidence, and the ability to communicate effectively. Intelligence is a quality that good leaders have because intelligence is used to respond and solve difficult problems. Intelligence is a key component of negotiating successfully, and negotiating is very important for leaders. Confidence is an essential quality for a leader because the lack of confidence can be a detriment to the ability of a leader preforming well. The leader would be constantly second guessing himself/herself and he/she won't be able to get anything done. The ability of communicating with those who elect you is very important to keep your position as leader alive. Communicating with the people allows for leaders to know what laws they should try to pass and what side to stand on. Also, if the leader listens to the people, the people will like him/her more and will be more willing to comply with their leader. An example of a leader who has all of these qualities is John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was a smart, confident man that knew how to keep in touch with the people. Kennedy used these qualities to the greatest of his ability and, as a result, is known as one of the most well liked presidents.
Ariella Bourdeau
9/10/2015 06:04:41 pm
No two leaders will ever be the same. That in mind, the top three qualities of a good leader include integrity, confidence, and valor. Integrity would keep a leader honest and in check to make respectable decisions. Nobody wants a leader who lies and doesn't know right from wrong. However, to make these right decisions, even if the odds aren't in his favor, a leader would need confidence. Confidence is an imperative quality because a leader needs to be bold enough to make the decisions he knows are for the better when many are against him. Also, valor is important when it comes to being bold. Leaders need to be brave enough to convey their ideas and stand their ground when it comes to disagreement over said ideas. Uniquely, Martin Luther King, Jr. exemplifies all three of these qualities. Being a civil rights activist during the '60s, MLK Jr. had a great deal of courage to speak his mind on equality. Views similar to his were not popular then, it being a time of white supremacy. He was also a man of integrity. He acted as the voice for those who were oppressed and his intentions for the future were a big step in the right direction. Martin Luther King, Jr. always presented his speeches with confidence and did not seem unsure of his words. He stood up for his beliefs even though they were not particularly common yet. MLK Jr. was the leader of the civil rights movement and never failed to make known what was unjust, doing exactly what a leader should.
Liam Gerety
9/10/2015 10:37:54 pm
Ariella, I do agree with all of the qualities you stated. However, I feel that communication skills are of utmost importance for a leader. If a leader is unable to communicate, then they cannot lead and their other qualities will not overcome that.
Riley Kweder
9/10/2015 06:36:25 pm
Being a successful leader is not something that everyone is capable of; it takes certain attributes and qualities that, when put together, create an ideal leader in the public's eye. There are a variety of attractive qualities searched for in a leader, and many opinions and debates throughout history as to which ones are the best. However, it has been made clear by many leaders throughout the world that communication, integrity and the ability to delegate are the top three qualities that anyone aiming towards an effective leadership should have. Whereas integrity and the ability to delegate may not be the first characteristics that come to mind when thinking of a leader, communication is a given. Without a leader that can confidently communicate with important figures in other societies as well as one's own, any nation or group wouldn't be able to survive. A great example of a leader who was good at communicating is Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Fireside Chats. Fireside Chats were radio broadcasts started in 1933 By Roosevelt. He was president during the Great Depression so he knew he had to keep the hopes of Americans positive, so he would inform them of current happenings and was always very personal to his listeners. This made him a more likeable leader because, by communicating to his people, it showed that he cared. The second quality any good leader should possess is integrity, which is often ignored. When the leader of anything, it is vital for one to have integrity so that your followers trust your morals and cannot question your promises. A leader who was known for her integrity was Mother Teresa. Although she was never officially established as a leader of anything, people looked up to her for guidance and followed her through everything she did, which is actually a lot more than what most actual leaders can say. No one questioned her when she promised to help as many of the poor in western Europe that she could, and she exceeded the expectations of everyone. The final attribute that a leader should have is the ability to delegate. In some situations it’s easier to get the job done on your own, however it’s impossible to accomplish all the responsibilities of a leader without help from associates. Some leaders crashed and burned because they failed to seek help from the right people, and Ronald Reagan did the exact opposite. He once stated in an interview, “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.” Reagan was not too lazy that he handed off all his responsibilities to someone else, and yet not too controlling to the point where he didn’t let anyone have any authority other than himself. It is extremely difficult to acquire all of these qualities, and takes an enormous amount of time to learn from mistakes, but the leaders who do are the most effective as well as successful.
Mrs. Elbakry
9/10/2015 09:32:21 pm
Riley, terrific response. Well-defended choices with interesting figures. Your peer comment is also well-evidenced. Nice work.
Brianna Murray
9/10/2015 07:35:58 pm
The three qualities that make up a good or effective leader are being a role model, focusing on strengths, and involving the people in which one is leading. In any society, being a person who others look up to is necessary to lead them successfully. Good leaders must be able carry themselves well at all times as if everyone is watching, even if it seems like no one really is. In a sense, leaders are constantly under a microscope; they are always watched, always listened to, and always judged upon. Because of this, a decent leader should choose their words and actions with care. It is a leader's job to represent a group of individuals, so any mistakes from them can impact everyone. A leader focusing on not only their strengths but others' is also essential because it is our assets that define us, not our weaknesses. People who tend to have more weaknesses than strengths can still grow to their full potential by becoming even more exceptional in their strongest areas (as opposed to letting their flaws get the best of them). Thus, a good leader who is capable of augmenting their own inner powers could influence their people to find a similar intuitiveness within themselves. Leaders involving their people is possibly the most important quality for inclusion is what brings a group of people together. When all members of a circle are being given the opportunity to voice their concerns or share their views, it allows for a level playing field. A situation that is equally managed prevents the leader alone from becoming too powerful, which overall makes a society or group cooperative and united. Two famous leaders in history who have exemplified these three qualities are Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy. Both Reagan and Kennedy are viewed as role models of presidential leadership. They were two men who people claimed gave them hope with their inspirational voices and promises of a better nation. Citizens of America genuinely looked up to both former presidents, especially because they used their strengths of involving the public to benefit the nation as a whole. As leaders, Reagan and Kennedy simply gave their people integrity. They easily became iconic figures by looking a certain way to the public while also maintaining a fair relationship with them.
Rebecca Rinaldi
9/10/2015 07:40:40 pm
A successful leader possesses confidence, intelligence, and also compassion. Confidence is necessary because after all, if the leader doesn’t have self-assurance, how are the people expected to have sureness with their decisions made? On the other hand, one must not have too much confidence as it might start crossing the fine line between confidence and arrogance. Intelligence is the key to effective leadership. A valuable leader has not only textbook smarts, but intuition, as well. In these situations, they must rely on wisdom and intellect to aid making the best overall decision. This leader needs to be intelligent enough for every person in the group they’re leading. In spite of everything, the dumbest person of the group shouldn’t be chosen to make the important decisions. To finish, compassion is desired in a leader. Few people put everyone else before themselves. The leader will be unsuccessful if they’re constantly putting themselves above everyone else being ruled. This person should be willing to put their life on the line for the people being lead. They should lead with their heart first, then their head. A leader that possesses these qualities is Malala Yousafzai. At a young age, she had the guts to stand up to the Taliban which lead her to a bullet in the head and later, the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Malala had the confidence to go up against the beliefs of the Taliban which relected onto the rest of her entire country of Pakistan. She had the intelligence to realize that women should have the right to an education, despite what most were saying. She put her life on the line to stand up for her and other women’s educational rights which shows compassion.
Rachel Lamore
9/10/2015 07:58:52 pm
Three qualities of a good leader are intelligence, integrity, and courage. It is essential for a ruler to possess intelligence so that they can better understand all situations and use their knowledge to solve any problems that may arise. Also, an intelligent ruler would make good, quick decisions for his/her people opposed to an uneducated ruler who would most likely not fully think things through. Secondly, a good ruler should have integrity, which means that they should be honest and have strong morals and ethical principles. This is a vital attribute for a valuable leader because rulers need to be true to their citizens in honor for them to gain the peoples respect and trust. Moreover, a dignitary with solid morals will set a good example for the civilians and they will act as their leader does, strengthening the society. The final characteristic of an excellent ruler is courage; a person’s ability to face difficulty and overcome tasks most people wouldn’t dare to try. This is a crucial trait for a leader to have because it shows that they enjoy doing what they do for their nation, society, or group and that they would do whatever it takes for the safety and happiness of their people. One ruler who occupied all of these features is Augustus, a magnificent Roman emperor. Augustus proved his intelligence when he made the smart decision to change Rome from a Republic to an Empire after noticing the many civil wars and flaws in the government. Along with this, he also showed his integrity and courage by occasionally, and successfully, leading armies, even though he knew that he was not the best man for the job and that he didn’t have much experience. With this, he ended up with ample gains in territory, enabling him to spread his great empire. Overall, one who acquires these three qualities is on the right track to being an impeccable leader.
Aaron King
9/10/2015 08:45:56 pm
I think 3 good qualities of a good leader are confidence, communication, and commitment. First of all, being confident as a leader is a key quality because it can be amplified onto others. A leader is always looked up to and when a leader shows confidence, it is spread throughout a group. Confidence can give a group better and more positive attitudes. For example, in a sport most players look to their captain for confidence and the more confidence he has the more motivation the team gets. Additionally, communication is a very important quality for a leader. Communicating with all of your members is important because it insures trust. Through trust a group becomes more bonded and unified. Lastly, a leader needs to be committed to a cause. The more committed a leader is, then the more committed their members will be. For example, staying overnight practicing a sport to perfection as a leader influences the players. It motivates the players to be committed. Of course, all these qualities can be projected wrongly onto the members if not presented properly. The greatest leaders of all time include: Julius Caesar, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Liam Gerety
9/10/2015 09:58:19 pm
I’ve thought about this topic for a while. I feel that one of the most important qualities of an effective leader is the ability to communicate. Good communication skills are vital; they allow a leader to clearly describe their ideas and goals to followers. If a leader cannot communicate their ideas, the followers will be unable to work with the leader towards the desired goal or objective. Furthermore, a leader must always deliver a clear and concise message; therefore, confusion is avoided and the leader will get the desired results.
Madeline Kovach
9/10/2015 10:16:13 pm
I believe one needs to be sensible, proactive, and have trust in himself and the people that surround him. Being sensible will allow a leader to not only think about what is best for him but also what is best for his people. Not only that, but being sensible allows one to stay calm and make rational decisions in times of crisis. Take President George Bush for an example. During the 9/11 attacks he was reading a storybook to a classroom full of children when he heard the news. He could have panicked on the spot, instead he finished the book, excused himself, and went into action. His calmness in the classroom prevailed throughout the whole situation and it allowed him to reassure the people of the United States. The second quality, being proactive, is important in several different ways. It means that as a leader you get a job done efficiently and end up three steps ahead of everyone else. Leaders need to be quick on their feet and always know what’s going on. President Jimmy Carter was proactive in the way of implementing his energy policy to relieve the American people of foreign oil dependency. Finally, having trust is another important characteristic in the way that everything is built around trust and respect. A leader must be able to have confidence and trust that he is doing what is best; he also needs the trust of the people around him otherwise everything can fall apart.
Corinne Cude
9/10/2015 10:18:01 pm
In my opinion, a leader must be a man or woman of integrity, courage, and social intelligence. To begin, integrity is important for it displays a sense of honesty. When a leader is honest, it sets an example for those they lead and promotes the perpetuation of such a quality. Additionally, integrity allows the leader to be trusted. When the leader is not trustworthy, their competence and commitment is question by their peers, causing productivity rates to drop drastically and respect- a crucial aspect needed when working with others-for the individual to become nonexistent. A leader must be courageous because the situations in which you lead in may not have a definite solution. Leaders must have the courage to make decisions in an unprecedented situation and to see the difficult situation through until the end, as well as acknowledge anything that went wrong. The last trait needed by a leader is to be socially smart. Such an aspect will be the leader's greatest tool when making an attempt to successfully lead a team of people. When you are able to create a personal bond with your team, they become less intimidated by you and are more likely to come to you for help or bring issues to your attention. Furthermore, when one is socially intelligent, they can better manage and resolve conflicts between the people they lead and themselves or between two or more of the people they lead.
Erin Cunningham
9/10/2015 10:58:45 pm
In order to be a good leader, one must possess the ability to respond quickly in tough situations. Leaders must be able to act fast in case a situation turns bad. A good leader must also listen to what other people have to say. The people want to be acknowledged and have a say in what goes on in their society. If a leader turns into a dictator, people will live in a society run by fear; the society wouldn't remain stable. Lastly, a leader needs to be honest and communicate well. A society built upon trust will succeed far longer than one built upon lies. Communication is a key tool in survival. Without it, order will not be kept running smoothly. All of these traits are what a good leader should have in order to keep a civilization.
Kaylan O'Banner
9/11/2015 10:05:22 am
In order to be a good leader, one must have the proper qualifications. The top most important qualifications are communication, intuition, and commitment. Communication is key because, the leader would have to be able to express their views in some way. If it is hard to talk in public, or if they are unable to share their ideas in a way people can understand, it’ll be hard for not only the people, but the said leader. When there’s an idea that needs to be expressed, it should be in a way that others can understand, if there isn’t a way to easily express this idea, how will others see what is trying to be done. If the goal can’t be explained, it can’t be reached. The next quality is intuition. A leader has no one there to guide them along the way. They’ll need to be able to prove that they have what it takes to be leader and to lead others in a direction best fit for them. Not everything will be smooth sailing, so they’ll have to be able to adjust themselves to different scenarios. If a leader panics under the smallest bit of pressure, odds are they aren’t too good at what they are doing. The last quality a good leader should have is commitment. If a leader is not committed to their team, why would anyone want to follow and listen to them? Not only will a leader have to tell people what to do, they’ll have to show them what to do and help out as well. A good leader who possesses these qualities in Martin Luther King Jr. He communicated with people by writing speeches and telling huge crowds about his dreams and goals. The famous “I Have a Dream” speech is known world-wide because it was able to speak to many people. Martin Luther King knew he would have people who wouldn’t agree with his ideas to bring white and black people together, but he always adjusted accordingly to the situation and showed strength and power beneath his words. He was committed to his ideas and spent most of his time trying to express them in a way people could understand. He never gave up and always kept going no matter who booed him.
Hailey Coleman
9/11/2015 10:10:31 am
A good leader also has to be a successful leader. A leader has to have a humble confidence, a strong intuition, and a great amount of intelligence. A leader who consumed and perused these qualities was a young girl fighting for her education rights: Malala Yousafzai. Malala was the first girl to stand up to the Taliban and fought for her feminist and education rights. As a leader, you have to be intuitive and come across situations where you don’t know that’s on the other side of the trees. You need to know and picture the outcome of your actions to the highest extent, positive or negative. As a woman who rebelled, Malala knew that what she was doing could get her killed. But she fought through direct attacks from the Taliban and continued to try to make schools for women and helped women get the rights that they deserved.
Jaden Diaz
9/11/2015 04:55:02 pm
Three qualities of a good leader would be someone who attains preparation, willingness to communicate and at the same time the ability to work well with others. Most people overlook it but preparation is arguably the most important principle of successful leadership; and unfortunately the first to be neglected. Having readiness as a quality won’t only provide a stable environment, but it will also contribute to the outcome of attempted objectives. Preparation will positively affect a situation or problem when acted upon. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe” -Abraham Lincoln. A leader should also display the characteristics of someone willing to communicate. This is essential in a society or group of people who are striving to work better with one another. For example, Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India's independence movement and the architect of a form of civil disobedience that influenced the world. Communicating effectively with others is to deliver information the way others need to receive it. This is exactly what he portrayed when spreading peace and prosperity throughout India. Gandhi also demonstrated the importance of working well with others. He cared for everyone in his life; never failing to provide support and encouragement. He considered obstacles as challenges that are able to be accomplished with the right mindset. A person who seizes adversity as an opportunity, as appose to a burden, would be a great leader.
Jessica Bawlick
9/13/2015 10:51:35 am
I agree with Jaden's perspective on this blog. She made good points and opened my eyes a little more to other good leaders that this world has seen. She came up with more characteristics that I did not think of and I respect everything she said.
Ariana Terlaga
9/11/2015 08:29:51 pm
A successful leader is a crucial component for the development of a society. Though anyone can deem himself a “leader,” the question comes down to what attributes make a good leader. Three of these traits include an accepting disposition, an inquisitive mind, and being comparable to the “common man”. While some may disagree with the idea of it being essential for a leader to possess an inquisitive mind and similarities to the common man, the majority of people can come to a consensus when deciding that a leader should always have an accepting disposition to him. When a leader keeps the idea that all individuals should be treated as equals in mind, he is bound to accommodate the people more efficiently due to the fact that he will not let prejudices get in the way of his management of the population. Letting bias get in the way of one’s duties as a leader is sure to set his society up for failure, as he may begin committing unjust behavior toward certain individuals without realizing so, thus creating an oppressive system.
Brianna Lum
9/12/2015 11:18:47 am
A good leader must be adaptable and open minded. A leader isn’t always right, and has to be able to accept that, and consider the ideas other people are suggesting. No problem is ever solved by just one person; they only a small percentage of the answer. But if a leader uses the ideas of all of his peers and put it together, it will all add up to a good solution. To do this, a leader must have a good way of communicating, whether it’s communicating what he’s saying well for everyone to understand, or it’s spreading what his or her plans are with the workers. Without communicating skills, the followers are lost, and have no direction to go in. It just stops any real work from getting done. Rewarding your peers is another important characteristic of being a leader. If a leader keeps doesn’t keep his followers happy with what they’re getting, they will probably leave, and find someone who has a better offer, or not try as hard when working.
Christina Constantinou
9/12/2015 07:01:20 pm
Brianna, I agree with the qualities of open mindedness and communication skills. However I have to disagree with your point of rewarding people. By possessing the other traits and being a good, strong leader, you will automatically gain respect and commitment from the people, even if you're not giving them everything they want.
Kaitlyn Remond
9/12/2015 12:32:21 pm
There are many qualities that a good leader needs to be successful. However, I believe that three of the most important ones are open-mindedness, organization and enthusiasm. A strong leader should be open-minded and willing to consider all the options when making a decision. They should evaluate the input that they are given from interested parties and make a decision that will work best for the people. Being organized is also a quality that a good leader needs to thrive. This means that they must be prepared for meeting, conferences, presentations and anything else that they have to do so that they can look good in front of the public. This also includes looking neat and keeping things in an organizational manner. A good leader must always be prepared and organized as well as the people that they work with. Enthusiasm is another important quality a leader must possess to be successful. Being enthusiastic and motivated about something can help you and others accomplish more. This goes for a leader as well. If a leader is motivated to get things done and help their people, others are likely to follow. Simply stated, enthusiasm is contagious. These qualities, along with several others, work together to create a successful leader.
Erin Bishop
9/12/2015 09:25:47 pm
While I agree with your ideas, they may be better supported if you had used real life examples of real life people. Your ideas are less likely to be taken seriously. Overall, it really is a good argument.
Robert Sergiyenko
9/12/2015 01:03:24 pm
It takes much more that 3 qualities to make a good leader, but the three most important are political open-mindedness, approachability, and the ability to lead by example. A leader who was able to display all these qualities was Nelson Mandela.
Tyler Passerine
9/12/2015 10:03:59 pm
Rob, you made some great points and gave a great example with Nelson Mandela. However, while I agree with the fact that a leader needs to be open minded and be able to lead by example, I do not agree with the fact that a leader needs to be approachable. While I do think it is a good quality to have, I do not think it is essential for a leader to have this quality. For example, many managers and bosses in general say that you can’t be a boss and a friend. A good example of this is a professional sports coach. During training camp in football, coaches typically do not form relationships with players, because they know that they may have to cut them later on, and it is much easier the less attached they are. Also, becoming emotionally attached in any case can make it difficult to make tough decisions, thus making the person an ineffective leader.
Tyler Pranger
9/12/2015 02:48:45 pm
I believe that the three qualities necessary for a good leader are respect, confidence, and kindness. In order to be a leader, you must have respect for your citizens and their opinions. If you act on what you say, then the people will try and overthrow you because their voice is not being heard. Their opinions have to be taken into account so that citizens will want to stay in the country. This happens in a democracy, through our President and Congress approving laws that are submitted by the people. In order to have success as a leader, you need to have confidence that you can lead a country. It is hard to go to war if you are not confident that your military can defeat the enemy. Without confidence in your abilities as a leader, you are vulnerable and cannot take charge as easily as other leaders. In order for your citizens to accept you as a leader, you must show your kind-hearted side, and stick with it. This includes staying true to your word, by doing everything for your country. You have to put your citizens first. An example of this is from "Lord of the Flies", where Ralph feels that building shelter is more important than killing a pig. he is trying to give the younger children a roof over their heads before they get to eat meat. If you possess all of these qualities, I believe that you can be successful as a leader.
Nick D'Amico
9/12/2015 08:35:30 pm
Tyler- I do agree that a good leader must have confidence. However, a good leader does not always need to be respectful and kind towards his followers. This is because some leaders like to lead by being strict and enforcing tough rules. This does not, in any way, make them a bad leader, but more of a harsh leader.
Bethany Sherback
9/12/2015 03:44:39 pm
An effective and respected leader should possess traits of intelligence and awareness, and should be hardworking. Lacking smartness, leaders can possibly make poor decisions in regards to their country and followers. Wrong actions as a result of being uninformed could forever Leaders need to be educated on their country’s rules and regulations, laws, policies so they can abide by them and know in which ways they can be improved for the benefit of the country. Those who are intelligent can thoroughly realize flaws in the system. Leaders must also be aware of the potential dangers and threats to their land; this goes hand-in-hand with intelligence. If a leader ignores certain aspects of their workplace or government, someone else could seize their position and take over. In the case of a president or other main country leader, if they aren’t aware of foreign affairs and conflicts another country could easily invade, making that leader weaker. Lastly, good leaders are hardworking and have a drive to maintain their power and help others. Leaders that work diligently and complete their tasks on time are not only more successful but also encourage their followers to develop the same work ethic and improve themselves. If a leader wants to propose a new bill or change to their workplace, working hard to completely outline the aspects of the bill can avoid it being declined in cases of flaws or misinterpretations. Always striving to improve the lives of their followers can prove to be beneficial to the prosperity of leaders. Franklin D. Roosevelt is a good example of a leader who possessed these qualities. He enjoyed talking to everyone he met to gain any possible knowledge from them. He used the teachings of other people to improve his own. He was aware of his enemies that could possibly damage his reputation, such as Wendell Willkie. Willkie and he were opponents in the 1940 presidential election, but FDR later appointed him to help minimize one idea of the right-wing Republicans. He was hard-working in the sense that he was paralyzed from the waist-down but was still capable of serving three terms as President.
Alexandra Adames
9/12/2015 06:27:38 pm
Throughout history we can find many great leaders with qualities that allowed them to excel, however some qualities are more important than other. I believe the three qualities of a good leader are decision making, confidence, and listening skills. A good leader needs to be a decision maker. In more cases than not a leader needs to make a decision in a short amount of time. The leader has to think what is best for the people. This goes along with the second quality of a good leader, confidence, because a leader must stick to the decision and not doubt it. A good leader makes smaller decisions as well, such as jobs. A leader must assign roles to his assistants. This allows him/her to focus on a larger topic and have his assistants help him/her on a smaller one. Any good leader needs to have confidence; not only when in the public’s eye, but inside the leaders mind. It might seem strange that a leader needs to have self-confidence rather than just putting on a brave face, but self-confidence is key to success. A leader must believe that the decisions that are being made will help the people, lack of this will show. When making public appearances natural confidence wins over the public. People have a tendency to follow someone with confidence because they overall seem more trustworthy. To reach certain goals leaders need to make/take smart risks. A risk, such as war must be carefully thought out, but also taken (under certain circumstances) to protect the lives of the people. A confident leader will take a smart risk because he/she is not afraid of the consequences and will make a plan to fix any risks that were unsuccessful. A shy leader would most likely not take these risks, therefore leaving his control at a standstill. Decision making and confidence are not the only important qualities of a good leader. A good leader must be able to listen. Listening skills are essential to a good leader’s success. He/she must be open to the opinions of other, especially those of the public. What the public wants the public should get, as long as it is good for everyone. If a leader rules without any input from others he/she would not be liked, and in some situations they would lose leadership. A perfect example of leaders listening to their people is a democracy. In a democracy people vote for a person to represent them; a representative. This person listens to the people and attempts to give them what they want. Decision making, confidence, and listening are all crucial to a good leaders success.
Christina Constantinou
9/12/2015 06:40:56 pm
Every leader has their own style of leadership that is innate to them. However, a successful leader should possess the qualities of integrity, good communication skills, as well as confidence and the ability to inspire others. More people will support and respect someone who is known to always be honest and trustworthy, and has good morals and values supporting their actions. Because trust is the quality that binds all relationships together, a trusted leader will have committed followers. Also, it’s important as a leader to establish core values and to then live and lead by those values as an example to the people. Alongside integrity, the ability to communicate is a key factor in a successful leadership. A good leader should share their visions, goals, and strategies to the public so everyone can be informed of the game plan. Knowing what you want done may seem clear in your head, but in order to work towards getting it done, you must be able to illustrate the idea to everyone else as well. If people are not on the same page with each other, turmoil and confusion may arise, and the end goal will take longer to accomplish. Last but not least, a strong leader should be confident and radiate their confidence to inspire everyone surrounding them. People will naturally seek advice from a person who is confident in their actions and decisions, and knows exactly what they are doing. When something goes wrong, people will look to the leader for their reaction. In times of struggle, a good leader will not panic and fall, but will remain calm and confident to set an example. This action will inspire others to keep focus on the main goal and not give up immediately. An example of a leader who possesses these traits is Winston Churchill. He was the Prime Minister of Britain and led them during World War II. Churchill portrayed acts of integrity and communicated well amongst his fellow government leaders as well as the people of Britain. He is known for the massive amount of confidence he exhibited during the war. He inspired and motivated the British soldiers to go forward with confidence and win the war. He told them, “Keep calm and carry on,” a quote still commonly used today.
Quinn Hillman
9/12/2015 07:01:16 pm
One attribute that is essential for a leader to have is intelligence. A leader that is smart can make good decisions. No matter what is being lead, decisions will always need to be made. If a leader is not intelligent enough to make good decisions then they can end up tearing apart their followers. Another attribute that is essential for a leader is to be outgoing. An outgoing leader will not be afraid to voice their opinion or make big decisions. An example of an outgoing leader would be Martin Luther King Jr. In a nation that was racist and segregated between black and whites, Martin Luther King Jr. was outgoing in fought for what he believed. He was not afraid of the hatred he would receive, which made him an excellent leader. Lastly, a leader should have the attribute of being nice. More people will enjoy having a nice leader because this will allow the followers to trust the leader. If a leader is not nice, then the people will not like him and it will make them want to go against the leader. A nice leader is approachable and will take the people's thoughts and ideas into consideration. These three attributes are in every good leader.
Nick D'Amico
9/12/2015 08:37:55 pm
In today’s society there are many different ideas of the “perfect leader”. However, some ideas are not ideal. I believe that a leader should possess courage, confidence, and the ability to persuade. A leader should be courageous because no one wants to follow in the footsteps of someone who is sacred to do a particular task. In other words, nobody wants to be led by a scaredy-cat. Instead, people would rather be led by someone who is brave enough to get the job done, without fear. An ideal leader should also have the confidence to believe that they will succeed and get his objective done well. This is because people will not trust a leader that doesn’t sound like he knows what he is doing and having people trust you is an important part of leading a society. The last skill that a successful leader possesses is the ability to persuade. This skill comes in handy as a leader because in a society not everybody is going to agree with a decision that a leader suggests. So, a leader will have to persuade these people to agree with him, thus causing the decision to be approved by that society and put into action at an earlier time. Thus, causing the leader to have a very efficient system of creating and making decisions to better the civilization that he is leading. One leader that I believe possesses all of these qualities is Franklin Roosevelt. I can conclude this because through his presidential rule, he became paralyzed in both legs, but was still able to make America rise to power. Without a doubt, this shows how Roosevelt was filled with courage, because despite his disability he was not afraid to be the leader of an entire nation, which also shows how much confidence that he had in himself as a leader. Furthermore, he later persuaded the people of the U.S. that they must be a part of World War II, which would then cause America to rise to power. People loved him so much as a leader that he is the only President who has been elected four consecutive times. Thus, proving that these qualities make up a good leader.
Erin Bishop
9/12/2015 09:10:34 pm
A good leader must be a respected person, but in order to be respected, and not feared, there are several qualities that choice person should possess. These attributes include, but are not limited to confidence, righteousness, and adaptability.
Tyler Passerine
9/12/2015 09:18:32 pm
In order to be good at what they do, leaders need to possess many qualities. Arguably the most important qualities, however, are the abilities to keep calm under pressure, be open-minded, and work well/communicate well with others.
Robert Sweeney
9/12/2015 10:26:32 pm
Three qualities that are found in good leaders are intelligence, courage, and the ability to communicate. Intelligence is necessary in every leader; this characteristic is what allows them to be able to make the decision that will best benefit their people and also what allows them to adapt to each new situation. A prime example of this is the owner of Microsoft, which is Bill Gates, and he displays intelligence because even though he did not finish college, he still grew his company to be worth billions and led the way, or cleared a path for everyone else in that business in the future. A good leader shows people what to do, and does not just tell them what to do like a boss, and Bill Gates set an example and blazed a path for all other people in his business like a leader would. Courage is also a very important characteristic of a leader because this is what allows a leader to make a tough decision or do things that will help their people regardless of how much controversy will result from it. This courage is evident in all good leaders, and one good example of a leader with a lot of courage is Malala Yousafzai. She shows a great deal of courage because she is a leader and advocate for women’s education in Pakistan and in doing so she defied the Islamic extremist group, the Taliban. This group is known for their violence and even killing people so the fact that she stood up to them as a kid shows an exemplary amount of courage. Lastly, communication is quality of a good leader as it is what allows people to stay in control and in touch with their colleagues and the people they lead. A good example of this would be Ronald Reagan who was known as the “Great Communicator”. Ronald Reagan was able to keep the country and everyone in it in touch with one another and with the other countries of the world when it mattered. He was able to talk to everyone and make sure that everything was going smoothly and that is why he is regarded as one of the greatest presidents that the United States has ever had. These skills and characteristics are the difference between someone being a leader and someone being a great leader.
Casey Marshall
9/13/2015 09:31:45 pm
An effective leader must possess many things that would qualify them as a good leader. One of those qualities are the ability to keep calm under pressure and not make rash decisions. This is essential because if under mass amounts of pressure, someone may falter and make a decision that is not in everyone's best interest. However, a good leader must not make this mistake. Comments are closed.
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