Why Should Anyone Be Lead by You

Week 1 HBR Reading Assignment

Name: Diego Rodrigues M Alves

The first article “Why Should Anyone be lead by You,” claims that to be a inspirational, leaders must have four qualities: vision, energy, authority, and strategic direction. Yet, leaders need all four qualities to be truly inspirational; one or two qualities are rarely sufficient. It is true that those qualities are important players on a leadership but this statement may be generalized. Leaders may lack of some qualities but still be inspirational leaders. Furthermore, some qualities can be replaced by other qualities. For example, a leader may not be energetic but still can compel people by teaching and being a role model.

The article highlights that leaders have to expose their weakness because it helps to establish trust and thus helps get folks on board. Indeed, leaders should not try to be perfect. If executives try to communicate that they're perfect at everything, there will be no need for anyone to help them with anything. They won't need followers. People can identify themselves when they realize that leaders also make mistakes; therefore they need help to improve and change. In addition, the article points out that leader rely heavily on their instincts to know when to reveal a weakness or a difference. Indeed, we have seen several situations where leaders follow their instincts even when they are against all their advisers. It is a risk that a leader must know how and when to take it. A good leader can transform a difference opinion into a unique one.

The second assigned article, “Can Leadership Be Taught? Perspectives From Management Educators,” claims that leadership can be taught, with some limitations however. The article was written by Jonathan P. Doh, where he interviewed several professors from different universities, asking them whether or not leadership can be taught. All interviewers answered “YES” to the question. Some o them compare leadership to parenting and being a player. For example, Kim Cameron says that “everyone would agree that effective parenting can be learned and improved. So can effective leadership.” This statement is true because no one was born being a father or a mother. Parenting happens when we plan or sometimes even when we don’t plan. However, some people have the desire and ability to be good parents. There are classes and books to help people on how to be good parent, or at least what supposed to be a good one. Adapting and adjusting their life style, people can always learn and improve new skills.