thoughts on leadership
Oct. 20th, 2006 10:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
2eclipsei have been doing a lot of thinking about this subject lately. So i'm wondering...
Do you see yourself as a leader in your workplace, social group, family or community?
What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself? in others?
Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?
Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
What makes for a bad leader?
Do you see yourself as a leader in your workplace, social group, family or community?
What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself? in others?
Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?
Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
What makes for a bad leader?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
in reply....
Date: 2006-10-20 03:44 pm (UTC)Nah - I make a fabulous loyal henchman but not a good leader.
What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself?
I tend to see both sides too well to be a good effective leader.
in others?
Respect to me goes hand in hand with leadership.
Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?
I tend to follow - organize it all - but follow.
Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
No I think smaller groups can be lead by more comradery verses the force of personality that is needed to lead a large group.
What makes for a bad leader?
One that doesn't listen.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 04:31 pm (UTC)It totally depends on the group. If someone else is willing and capable I am 100% fine in letting them run things. In a leadership vacuum I do tend to step up.
--What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself? in others?
Empathy and seeing the "big picture." This applies to myself and others.
Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?
--Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
Not really. Small groups more about interpersonal ability. Larger groups require organization and prioritization skills.
--What makes for a bad leader?
Not seriously listening to the people they lead. Being arbitrary.
Re: in reply....
Date: 2006-10-20 04:34 pm (UTC)This is not because I have great organizational skills. It's more because I am talented in taking a vision or a thought from someone and making it happen (implementation).
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 05:04 pm (UTC)Not really. I'm the negotiator. I make sure everyone is more or less okay with what is going on. Or if I don't agree, I go ahead and organize a splinter group. I also have the sinking suspicion I may be too individualistic or selfish to be a good leader.
What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself? in others?
I guess the idea of being able to see the big picture. I admire the people that actually make it happen. I'm not too detail oriented.
Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?
I guess I'm an okay follower, because I'm too apathetic to do things. On the other hand, I don't like following because there is a certain sheep-like quality.
Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
Not necessarily. A larger group requires more consensus building and a bit more of crowd control. In either case, you need to be a good manipulator.
What makes for a bad leader?
Not checking your ego at the door. Not listening to what your followers want. Being selfish. Those that follow you are not your toys.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 05:13 pm (UTC)That depends entirely on what needs to get done.
What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself?
I don't value mine. That's not my job.
in others?
Awareness of their goals, lack of superfluous ego, loyalty.
Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?
Some things yes. Other things no.
What makes for a bad leader?
Superfluous ego, disregard for goals, disloyalty.
Re: in reply....
Date: 2006-10-20 05:27 pm (UTC)how do you account for shen being prince if you do not see yourself as being a leader?
it is sad, but you can't "fake" having those just because it's on your character sheet. you have to be able to role-play it in order for people to follow you, and if you don't have it, your character doesn't.
similarly, some things are so integral to one's personality that one can't get around them...like i've never seen
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 05:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 05:30 pm (UTC)Re: in reply....
Date: 2006-10-20 05:42 pm (UTC)Thanks but I've never seen myself as a leader & I really don't know why?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 08:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 08:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 09:05 pm (UTC)Ideas are only tangential to the practice. Ideas may inform your goals, or attract you to following someone who shares them, but a man with loyalty only to ideas should be considered a danger rather than a leader.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 09:26 pm (UTC)Id say a good leader can inspire/encourage people to do things, takes reposnibility for getting things done - or prodding other people to get things done. A Good leader can get other people to help him/her, doing everything yourself cause it's not getting done is not good leadership. Good leaders initiate activities, and encourage follow through. They are kind to people and listen to probelms being had in the group and work to resolve them. They are fair, and explain why they do the things they do. They are respected. They are often more knowledgable than thier followers - but not always - and can listen to other's points of view.
I'd agree with the comments made by others here - it's different being a leader in a small group than in a large one. Easier to lead by friendship in a smaller group - in a larger one some times you are not known as well.
I'm one of six officers in my World of Warcraft guild - (online leadership!) It's a fascinating experience.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 09:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 09:28 pm (UTC)so do you consider yourself a leader?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 09:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-20 11:26 pm (UTC)i very much do not see myself as a leader there. and this is gonna sound very bad, but i dont get paid to be a leader there. i get paid to be a drone.
somehow ive been tasked as a leader by the actual leaders. yet almost everything i do there is very anti-leader or anti-team. so i see myself as very much not a leader there.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-21 12:25 am (UTC)perhaps not in the workplace, but you have taken on leadership roles elsewhere. what do you think are your strengths there?
i'm not a leader in the workplace either. i'm a temp. they actually DO pay me to think, because i spend their money - i have to think. but they don't pay me for initiative and they don't get it....or not much...sometimes i can't help it. and hopefully when i get a job more suited to me, it will be one that challenges and teaches me more leadership skills.
what do you think makes a good leader?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-21 02:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-21 03:54 am (UTC)where did this thought come from?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-21 05:17 am (UTC)A Meme I actually am interested in...
Date: 2006-10-21 07:49 am (UTC)>Do you see yourself as a leader in your workplace, social group, family or >community?
Yes. I am a teacher (besides my other job) and frankly, if you are a teacher and not a leader, than all you are doing is filling up college student's schedule with 3 hours a week of class time, and six hours a week of homework. You are a time waster... I lead my students to understanding, to clarity in argument, and maybe to just more critical thinkers in general. In my other job, I am paid to be a drone, but I still come out as a leader. There are a lot of things at a job to do besides work... There are projects you can head up, there are volunteer (GASP) things you can do, etc. You can also be a passive leader and lead by example without ever giving an 'order'.
"What are the leadership skills you value most in yourself? in others?"
I believe that the most effective leader is a servant. A leader isn't just someone who leads a group to do a task, he or she is someone who has given himself or herself to that particular group to get a task accomplished. We have amazing examples of this in Jesus Christ, in Ghandhi, in Paul, and in many others. To be an effective leader, you need to give yourself wholeheartedly to your task, and you become a servant (WITH NO NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS) to the people you are leading.
"Do you like leading or do you prefer to follow?"
It depends on the situation. I think sometimes I SHOULD submit more, and be a follower, but unfortunately my personality tells me otherwise.
"Do you think the same things make for a good leader of a small group and a large group?"
There are some overlapping skills that are required such as transparancy, honesty, LOVE, and most importantly PATIENCE. Again, for both, you need to be a Servant first (can you tell this is one of my soapbox issues?). For large groups, however, you need to be a good speaker, you need to be able to make yourself understood to a wide variety of people all with different backgrounds, and you need to frankly be entertaining. For a small group, the emphasis is removed from your "public speaking" classes, and comes closer to "Psychology" classes. Things like small group dynamics, and learning to moderate discussions, learning to build trust and relationships within your small group. So the answe you are seeking is... "Yes."
"What makes for a bad leader?"
Bad followers? ;) Just kidding... I don't know, I think someone hit the spot when they said someone who doesn't listen (or 'pick up' hints) to the people they are leading/serving.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 03:41 pm (UTC)Re: A Meme I actually am interested in...
Date: 2006-10-22 03:47 pm (UTC)do you believe one can be an effective leader even without caring about the project?
that's my problem at work right now. i don't give two hoots about what i do except that it pays. i know, it's lousy. i'm looking for something better.
i agree with a lot of what you said about giving yourself to a cause/the people...but i don't think that means letting them dictate what you do or how. it means listening and sometimes being willing to tell people they are wrong and why.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 03:47 pm (UTC)i like a leader who isnt afraid to run with someone elses idea. credit where due and such, but to just go someone else route if it can work.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 04:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 05:45 pm (UTC)so far i'm enjoying hold on, hold on.....reminds me a bit of edie brickell crossed with mazzy star.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 05:50 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-22 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-23 12:14 pm (UTC)In leadership situations where tough and "hard and fast" decisions are required...I would not do so well.
Where consensus building and organizational ability (yes, organizational ability..I get these skills from work and I usually know what to do but my ADD makes it harder for me to do it)I can do very well.
Re: A Meme I actually am interested in...
Date: 2006-10-24 02:16 pm (UTC)And I think you can be an =effective= leader if you don't care about the project, but you wont be a =good= leader, or even a =long term= leader.