Modern leaders are moving away from the old mentoring system. They take the initiative, master new techniques, and change society. Moreover, they inspire people and guide entire nations. Combining the dedicated efforts of leaders, communities, and authorities can shift leadership in a new direction. Whatever the reform would be on paper, without quality and value leadership among citizens, no change is likely to happen. Leadership requires continuous skills and competence improvement from any person who wants to lead and guide people.
A unique historical example of leadership serving a common purpose and accomplishing a mission in the United States are Founding Fathers, who took responsibility to show leadership at a pivotal moment in New World history and to create a prosperous nation that has inspired many generations. One such example can be found in Carver’s short story displaying the power of generosity. The narrator and his wife support their blind friend, who desires to feel a part of the community and become a person, who has friends, senses the world, and is understood and accepted by others (Carver 10). The narrator in the story shows one of the key powers, which leaders have, the sensitivity and generosity to empower people and sympathize with their character and life situations.
On the contrary, the book The Things They Carried represents the moral struggle, which soldiers in Vietnam faced. The book shows that leaders always doubt their decisions and actions, as they tend to find the balance between what should be done and what is right (O’Brien). The book’s author explains through short stories how ordinary people strengthen their character and will in controversial situations relying on their moral code, humility, and sense of duty. Such a representation displays the origins of the leadership, where each action is a choice between personal needs and moral obligations.
Nonetheless, the modern example can be found within the business field and motivational leadership. Warren Bennis, the founder of the Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California Business School, believed that leaders are not born but are rather becoming ones (Bennis 168). A man who is considered a guru among leaders has seen the link between governance, ethics, morality, and business. And he hoped that everyone, not just those to whom the leadership was assigned, could become leaders. In his view, struggles and difficulties shape the leader. They face challenges every day and must find a way to give people advice (Bennis 170). Everything that happens serves to validate values, and every time raises the question of what we live for.
Leadership is more than management. Managers plan, analyze, control, solve problems, hire people, and more. Managers lead projects. Leaders lead people and create opportunities to enhance their best qualities. The secret is that leaders are focused on strengthening the strengths of their employees, and managers are at work with disadvantages (Brassell). Leaders create the conditions for the development of other personalities so that one day they too take responsibility and become leaders. The leader serves as a mentor. Companies and society are critically short on people with the courage and experience to take on this role. However, this is a prerequisite for the education of a new generation oriented towards the development of self, others, city, and country. In other words, the formation of an efficient model of social interaction.
Self-improvement and creativity are the traits of a teacher-leader who students and their parents want to see, a teacher who introduces the most effective forms and methods of work in the educational process. And the leader should be a spiritually accomplished person, highly moral, professional affairs, widely erudite, sociable. Such a teacher not only knows the language and literature perfectly but also knows the history, culture, traditions of the people, and has a clear civic position (Gan et al., 1464). It should be a scientist, a teacher, a psychologist, an organizer, and an artist. However, the crucial aspect of their positive image is to be an intellectual. The more intelligent a leader is, the more likely that his or her followers will grow up as people who can think independently, subtly feel beautiful, and are internally perfect.
The power is usually delegated to leaders or competent people who are believed to make a change or conduct improvements in the selected field. A leader is a person who can create, change public mood or opinion while pursuing specific goals (Brassell). A leader does not have to possess high intelligence, but he must be sufficiently developed in any field, able to create an idea, formulate it and so convey it to the public so that no one doubts the truth and correctness of his words.
As the leader change behavior due to the obtained powers, he or she should try to remain the same in thoughts, intentions, and practice. The leader should never wear the mask of who he or she sees him or herself, even if it is a desirable role. The idea is to use all energy at full power, talents, and abilities (Gan et al. 1468). To become a leader and develop leadership qualities, one should be involved in constant self-education, as well as the correct setting of priorities and goals. The leader is a polyhedron, each face of which is characterized by a symbol, character trait, and specificity. The main facets are:
- The ability to work is the key to success.
- The ability to play is the secret of youth.
- Willingness to study and self-study is the basis of knowledge.
- The ability to be friends is a guarantee of happiness.
- Being able to love is the joy of life.
From this perspective, to become an effective leader and use delegated powers appropriately, first, the person needs to educate him or herself accordingly, and secondly, learn to set priorities and goals. Many people are concerned about this leadership issue. A leader is a person who has good intuition, sociability, and discernment. Several qualities are attributed to the leader. But all these qualities appear only in the process of working on themselves. Therefore, anyone can become a leader following the main thing that is to be able to behave appropriately and construct a positive mindset.
Works Cited
Bennis, Warren G. “Post bureaucratic leadership.” American Bureaucracy, edited by Bennis, Warren G., Routledge, 2017, pp. 165-187.
Brassell, D. Good Leaders Are Good Leaders. 2015, Web.
Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. 1981, pp. 1-14.
Gan, Muping et al. “The Power in Being Yourself: Feeling Authentic Enhances the Sense of Power”. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, vol 44, no. 10, 2018, pp. 1460-1472. SAGE Publications.Â
O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. 1st ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.