Leadership Qualities: Theories, Development, and Personal Insights

This reflective essay delves into the multifaceted world of leadership, exploring various leadership theories such as trait theory, behavioral theories, and transformational leadership. The essay emphasizes the importance of key leadership qualities including honesty, integrity, communication, and decision-making. It contrasts different leadership styles and highlights the significance of aligning leadership approaches with organizational requirements. The author reflects on personal understanding of leadership features, including the need for innovation, communication, and the ability to motivate and influence followers. Furthermore, the essay outlines methods for developing leadership skills, such as improving strategic thinking, time management, and communication. The importance of recognizing and leveraging team members' strengths, fostering a democratic environment, and maintaining enthusiasm is also discussed. Overall, the essay underscores the critical role of effective leadership in achieving organizational goals and the continuous process of self-improvement necessary for leaders.

Running head: LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
Name of the student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

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Executive summary
This reflective essay aims to discuss the theories of leadership and the methods of developing
the skills. Appropriateness of the leadership style in matching the organizational requirements
is necessary for successfully attaining the goals. The personal traits of the good leader
differentiate them from others. They must have all necessary qualities in them to motivate
their followers effectively. The leadership qualities include, honesty, integrity, creativity,
innovation, diligence, accountability and communication. In case they lack some of the
leadership qualities, then they might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership.
The leadership theories capture the behavioral traits of the leaders and categories them. The
qualities like passion, commitment, honesty and integrity amalgamated good communication
skills and decision-making capabilities, they play vital roles in success as well as failure of
the leaders. Finally, innovation along with creative thinking and their futuristic vision help
the leaders to stand out of the crowd. Therefore, to become an effective leader one needs to
follow few methods to enhance their leadership qualities.

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Leadership is the capabilities of the individuals, that enables them to set as well as
achieve the challenges in the personal and professional lives by taking swift decisions and
decisive actions (Buble 2012). They effectively out perform their competitors and influence
others to follow the and perform well. It is the capability to guide the followers well with
their values, visions and charisma so that the desired goals can be achieved with no emotional
pressure. The tasks and responsibilities are recognized by the leaders in an organization and
they lead their people from the front. The efficient leaders recognize the importance to work
with the followers and consider their efforts to achieve the objectives (Coetsee and Flood
2017). These leaders have numerous qualities which they share with their subordinates.
Through their huge potential and strategies, the leaders aim to do a right thing in the right
time and gain success in the most impossible tasks. This paper aims to discuss the theories of
leadership and personal understanding of the leadership features.
Comparison and contrast of most important leadership theories:
Numerous studies have been conducted on how the leaders operate effectively and
identify the factors that influence the efficiency of the leaders (Wang et al. 2016). Various
theories of leadership explain that the psychology and personal traits can be the originating
factors of leadership. There are some core leadership theories which are Behavioral theories,
Trait theory, Contingency theories, Charismatic leadership theories, Transformational
leadership and Transactional leadership theories (Wambugu 2014). Trait theories reveals the
qualities o the leaders which improve their effectiveness. These traits are different among the
different leaders. Certain traits like confidence, knowledge and charisma help the leaders to
motivate their followers.
Behavioral theories discuss the fact that the leaders can demonstrate people oriented
behaviors and task oriented behaviors. Some of the leaders can be authoritative and dominate

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their employees effectively and some are democratic leaders hence the outcomes are also
different according to the behaviors (Trujillo 2014). Contingency model on the other hand
assumes that the efficiency of the leaders solely depends on the leadership traits, situation and
behaviors. The favorable situations can be utilized by any leader but performing in the
unfavorable situation discloses the actual efficient of the leaders (Lisak et al. 2016). The
charismatic leadership theory ascribes with the idea that the charismatic leaders do not
command authorities through formal virtue but win the subordinated by the virtue of their
charismatic personality. The transactional leadership theory assess leadership on the system
of reward and punishment which are contingent upon the performance of the followers
(Kennedy and Chen 2015). The transformational leaders inspire their followers with their
vision as well as personality to the change expectations, motivations and perceptions for
working towards the common goals. This leadership theory to me is the most stimulating and
inspiring as this have the most extraordinary outcomes.
Leadership qualities:
There are some basic differences with distinguish the leaders of the organization from
the managers. Despite the fact that these differences are very subtle to be identified because
both of these executives deal with the organizational process and the employee engagement.
However, to me, the leaders of the organization are the chief change makers of methods,
perspectives and functionality of the organization (Favaro 2013). They take responsibilities to
accomplish the specific goals of the organizations based on their understandings and their
potentials. With their visions and experience the leaders help their subordinates to cope up
with any kind of situation (Dinh et al.2014). This type of support provides the employees to
have more competitive advantage than other organizations.

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Like all other global leaders like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, who
conquered their rivals successfully and gained huge popularity internationally followed few
methods to get engaged with their followers. There global leaders had the emotional
attachment with their subordinates and they empathized with them. The quality of the leaders
encourages the followers to achieve the organizational goals in one hand and earn loyalty as
well as trust on the other.
For the leaders, communication skill is mandatory (Browne et al. 2016). They need to
be capable to share their thoughts to the followers and motivate them to connect with this
dream and gradually move towards the destination. Through proper communication styles the
leaders convey their strategies so that the subordinates can easily understand their parts and
give response accordingly. There are numerous issues which can be solved with good
communication style and intelligent message (Ehrhart 2015). Through their communication
style the leaders motivate the employees so that they can perform the most difficult thing
ever.
In order to reach the goal, the leaders may face various type of challenges which often
seem to be unfathomable but effective leaders can surmount such issues when they do not
hesitate to take risks. The employees when see their leaders to take courageous decisions feel
impetus to follow them and accomplish the task effectively (Anderson et al. 2017). The
effective leaders do not only command over the followers but participate with them and guide
them from front. The hard work which the employees do for their leaders, the leaders also do
the same for their organization. the leaders remain accountable for all the creativity and
productivity of the firms hence must be a part of the entire effect. Honesty is one of the most
important issue that can be boon for the organizations. The leaders when show honesty and
unbiased nature in all their decision and actions, can have a huge popularity among the
followers (Landis, Hill and Harvey 2014). They have a bond of trust to their leaders and

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follow them blindly. These leaders recognize their biases, predomination and prejudices
which give them extra power to motivate their followers efficiently.
The leaders’ abundant positivity which energizes every one of the followers around
them. this is because they motivate their followers with positive beliefs. This will propel the
leaders forward, not negative thinking that will weigh them down. This is the reason what the
leaders practice positive thinking as it becomes their powerful cognitive habit and allows the
leaders to reassure and motivate those around them.
Most of the global leaders who function in the international context may face
difficulties to encourage the cross-cultural employees as the value system of different cultures
are different (Ghemawat 2012). Therefore, the efficient leaders first gain ample knowledge
about the cultures they want to deal with, then communicate effectively so that they do not
show any disrespect to the different cultures or the employees. Amazing leaders always keep
their eyes on the ultimate result. Therefore, as a team leader I try to follow some of these
trails of these efficient leaders. I try to be very organized hence effectively plan ahead but
remain spontaneous enough for handling unexpected challenges. The leaders’ behaviors have
taught me to think out each strategy and their effect on the rest. I therefore, while making
decision first consult with the other group members so that there is a democratic environment
maintained in the team. I show loyalty to my subordinates so that they can return the same to
me. True enthusiasm of the leaders for their business, products and mission cannot be faked
(Latham 2014). Employees can recognize insincere leading hence themselves fail to connect
with the leader’s dreams. However, when leaders are sincerely enthusiastic as well as
passionate, this can be contagious and reflected to the employees.
Development process:

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According to the theorists, different leaders have different traits and individuality,
which decide their style of action and motivation. In addition to inherent qualities, some
qualities can be adopted with time and learning. Therefore, for being an effective leader, I
need to develop some of the qualities which can be a barrier for me.
Firstly, from the team management to organization one most important factor of the leaders is
the process of their thinking. I need to improve my capability to see the big picture and then
take a longer range as well as broader perspectives to solve any type of issues I need to think
deeper than the other team members are thinking in the process.
Secondly, the foresightedness is intrinsic quality which is essential for the leaders to
successfully achieve goals. This particular quality can be adopted with time and
communication. Proper understanding of the situation and ability to connect current situation
with past experience and judge the future outcome is the potential of a leader. this is the
reason why I need to assess the situation and must see the future results otherwise in will not
be able to influence mu fellow team members efficiently.
Thirdly time is a very important factor that I need to take care of. Procrastination creates
difficulty in the easiest tasks therefore, I need to motivate the team members to shift their
focus in more value added activities to achieve the goals.
Fourthly, the leaders are the most responsible persons in the organizations because they know
the start as well as the weaknesses of his workforce (Johansen 2012). This is the reason why I
need to assess the potential of the other team members and employ them in a task according
to their specialized area so that they can successfully do the task without any problem of
understanding.
Fifthly, as mentioned before, as an effective leader, I need to know the personal strength of
each and every member of my team. Based on the same, I will be able to arrange special

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resources to the chronic underperformers and maintain the balance of the functionality of the
team.
Sixthly, good communication methods are one of the most important factors in the leadership
qualities. Without a clear communication of my vision to the other team members, I will not
be able to make them understand the strategy in prefer to achieve the goals. In case I fail to
connect with them, I can no make them realize the path to reach the destination. Moreover,
without communication I will not be able to influence the fellow team members and motivate
them to make the most impossible thing to do successfully.
Seventhly, the team members of my team can be international students who may not have
proper knowledge about the methods of doing a task. They may also have issues with
language and communication styles. This is the reason why I need to distribute all the
resources available for doing task without being partial or biased.
Eighthly, I should be confident about while making decision. This is because what I am going
to decide will, be affecting much team members and their actions. With improving this factor
in me, I will be able to achieve the satisfaction of my subordinate. Good leaders are not afraid
of challenges this is why, I want to make decisions with consulting with other members
which will give me confidence to take any risk.
Finally, last but not the least, the quality to empathize with the team members, will take be to
the highest position of leadership. Unfortunately, I often like to spend time with the things
which interest me the most like interesting books and other creative things, I avoid
socializing with members but I need to work on this as early as possible. Socializing with
people will help me to make closer connection with my fellow members. Through this, I will
be able to understand the problems with the fellow members and feel their pain. Empathizing

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with others is one of the most important trait which will help me to reach the emerging issues
more clearly ad provide my followers with the suitable solution to their problems.
Therefore, it can be said that the leadership is not an easy task and not everyone can
perform these responsibilities effectively. The effective leaders have some inborn qualities
which can never be adopted by others but some of the qualities can be adopted to improve the
efficiency of the leaders. There are various theories to discuss the beliefs, attitude and
perceptions of the leaders so that these traits can be categorized. For maintaining creativity,
credibility and productivity of the firms, the leaders motivate their employees who help the
organizations to reach the desired position.

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References:
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world. Berrett-Koehler Publishers

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Appendices: