Leadership Style of Martin Luther King Jr.

Running head: LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

LEADERSHIP1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following report attempted to shed light on the leadership style that was followed by the
celebrated leader, Martin Luther King Jr. The report discussed the transformational leadership
style as had been observed during the Selma March for the gain of the voting rights.

LEADERSHIP2
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................3
Leadership traits of King.....................................................................................................3
Implication of leadership style.............................................................................................5
Leading the protest..............................................................................................................7
Overall leadership of King...................................................................................................9
Leadership style of other leaders involved in the case......................................................10
Knowledge, understanding and leadership....................................................................11
Leadership theory..........................................................................................................13
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................14
References..........................................................................................................................16

LEADERSHIP3
Introduction
Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to
achieve a common goal. Leaders come from all types of backgrounds, which brings different
aspects of leading into their organizations. One can be a leader within a group, organization, or
team. There is usually one person within a group that is willing to take charge and lead. Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a phenomenal leader and some of the traits that he possessed were
intelligence, self-confidence, and determination. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was a successful
leader of the African American civil rights movement in the United States. He was intelligent in
the fact that he was able to lead African Americans in a nonviolent way to the advancement of
civil rights. He was powerful and he used his power to influence the believers. Dr. King was
educated receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from Boston University.
Having strong verbal ability, perceptual ability, and reasoning appears to make one a better
leader. His verbal ability was extremely strong. The “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered
during the march on Washington where he called for an end to racism. Over 40 years later the
powerful speech lives on. Dr. King inspired many with his speech. Leaders set the path for the
future by building a collective vision of justice. This vision then inspires other to lift their voices
for justice and join in the struggle to advance social change. Bloody Sunday is one such example.
On March 7, 1965, civil rights leaders and community members marched with the fierce
determination to make the vision of equal access to voting rights a lived reality for all.
Leadership traits of King
The six traits of the leadership style of Martin Luther King are enlisted below.