Leadership Philosophy

This class has altered, shaped, and added to my definition of leadership in many aspects. Leadership is, in fact, the ability to lead a group; however, that does not even begin to cover it. The leadership skillset includes communication skills, used to delegate the group; honesty, to live up to the standards the group members set for one; openness, in which they listen to the ideas within the group; passion, used to complete their tasks to their fullest ability in every aspect; and finally, the ability to inspire others. I feel that the ability to inspire may be the single most important skill in leadership. A leader is the individual in which members of the group turn to. The leader has the power to stimulate passion within the group. When the leader ignites drive, and passion, within the group, it creates motivation, and enthusiasm, about the projects in which the group is participating. In a group that lacks motivation, and enthusiasm, there is lack of desire to complete any project. A leader takes on the role that involves igniting the members’ participation, and ensures completion of the project to its highest aptitude. Without this ability, the group will not have the ability to perform to its fullest ability. The leader must also be appreciative of the “followers”. Followers are the working force behind a group. A leader who neglects his followers, had no group to lead. I found a quote that states, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” I feel this quote illustrates the importance of the group members, or followers, quite evidently. The quote says that the best leader is barely there. This leader allows his group members to flourish on their own. The group members are crucial to the completion of a project, the operation of a group, and the power of the leader. This class has shown me the importance of the followers within a group. I believe that the followers, in any group setting, are more crucial to success than the leader. Although the leader is still very important, without the followers, the leader will have nothing to lead.