Leadership Traits

Leadership Traits

Francesco states that leadership is “the influential increment over and above mechanical compliance with the routine directives of the organization” (Katz and Kahn 1978, p. 528). Leadership focuses on creativity, vision, and long-term organizational development, whereas management deals with routine operations (Francesco et al., 2005). Successful leaders share three abilities.

The first is the ability to get along with others and build teams. Another ability is to have good decision making in a timely matter. And the last ability is to able to get tasks done (Hughes. p. 220). Competent Managers are good at building teams and getting results through others. A competent manager put the right people in the right place to get the job done. If they have the ability to hire the people they want they hire people they know can get the job done.

Early research tried to identify the traits physical, intellectual, or personality characteristics that differed between leaders and non leaders or between successful and unsuccessful leaders. Leadership traits do not necessarily guarantee successful leadership. They are best viewed as personal competencies or resources that may or may not be developed and used (Newstrom et al., 2002) (p. 164).

How can leader be successful they have to remove self and concentrate on getting the job done. When less attention is placed on their personal wants, likes and personal honor they have more room to build their team with the necessary tools and skills to be successful. They build a relationship with their team by, most importantly, being open and honest. Trust is defined as firm reliance on the integrity, ability or character of a person or thing; confident belief (Fritz. 2005. p. 204)

Looking at research that shows the correlation between intelligent leaders and fast learners, it shows that these leaders are able to make better decisions, assumptions and are able to create a vision with strategies that were developed to help make these visions a reality. These leaders are also better problem solver and work well under pressure. These leaders have multiple plans and are able to use the best plan within the nest situation while still keeping a backup plan just in case.

When you work for a supervisor that has the get up and go that is willing to work as hard as you are if not harder and looks at the big picture and not just what’s in front of you more goals are reached and they team as a whole is successful. You are as only strong as your weakest link. With that being said each player should compliment they other therefore leaving no gaps in the team structure.

Every leader has to have an emotional side. You have to have care and concern for your team. Morals play a strong role in this because being leader means you must set an example for your followers. Although you need to show emotions within the group, you need to