Can you Become an Effective Leader?
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Can You Become an Effective Leader?
What is it to become an Effective Leader? What is leadership?
Effective Leaders build on solid building traits
According to Shockley- Zalabak (2009) Leadership is a process of guiding individuals, groups, and entire organization in establishing goals and sustaining action to support goals.
What exactly is meant to become an Effective leader?
There are literally hundreds of definitions about who a leader is and what it is to become an Effective leader. Each definition may vary from one individual to another and may change from one situation to the other. For example you might call an individual a leader because of the persons’ election to the presidency of an institution. However, does that constitute effectiveness?
Other times you say he/she is not an effective leader because he/she does not exhibit leadership behaviors expected of the of an effective leader. In other words, you expect effective leadership from the legitimate position of the presidency to be one that evokes timely actions that are beneficial to the majority. What happens when that president does not exhibit such leadership behaviors, you say that the president is not effective, is not a leader.
According to Yukl, (2002). The definition of leadership is arbitrary and very subjective. Some definitions are more useful than others, but there is no “correct” definition.
To Become an Effective Leader theories:
Theories are most useful for influencing practice when they suggest new ways in which events and situations can be perceived. When applying theories to the fast paced business world today fresh insight applied is an absolute must.
Enable people with a sense of Hope
If the result is a better understanding of practice, the theory–practice gap is significantly reduced for those concerned. There are times when such practice, previously thought in-practical, can alter how previous practices are done from there forward.
The Trait Theory
(This theory concerning to become an effective leader can not be ignored.)
This theory first surfaced in the writings of early Greeks and Romans and is prevalent today among those who believe that leadership cannot be developed. This theory assumed that leaders have innate traits that made them effective.
(If you follow this logic then can you become an effective leader?)
Great leaders were considered to be born with the ability for leadership, so it is either you have leadership qualities or you don’t .
According to Shockley – Zalabak (2009) theory of leadership, leaders posses innate traits that make you effective; is commonly referred to as the “great man” theory
To Become an Effective Leader trait theory is the idea that you are born with certain character trait or qualities. Since certain traits are associated with proficient, effective leadership, it assumes that if you could identify people with the correct traits, you will be able to identify leaders and people with leadership potential.
The theory supposes you are born naturally with traits as part of your personality; this theory in summary believes that leaders are born not made.
While truly it seems some are born leaders, it is incorrect to generalize by saying that leadership traits are in born and unchangeable.
The theories from the Greek period of civilizations had very restraining social guide lines. Changing ones social standing was next to impossible. It’s true many of our dispositions and tendencies are influenced by our personalities and the way we are born and raised but are not poured in stone. To become an Effective Leader is more difficult for those in less prosperous areas but not impossible.
However, most people recognized that it is possible for someone to change their character trait for the worse. Someone known for being honest can learn to be deceitful, the whole idea of saying someone was “corrupted” is based on the fact that people can learn bad traits.
If people can learn character traits and become different from the way they were born naturally. Then it is argued that traits can be learned.
A person who is prone to being dishonest can learn to be honest. A person who avoids risks can learn to take risk. It may not be easy, but it can be done.
Therefore, the conclusion is: