Tome,leadershipismorethanatitle.Itismorethanjustbeingincharge.Leadershipishonestly, learning,listening,andmostimportantlyapplication.Leadershipmeansgoingtheextramileortwo, doingtherightthingnomatterwho'slooking,stayingencouragedandencouragingotherevenwhen timesarehardandyouhaveeveryreasontoquit.Leadershipdoesn'tmeanyou'rerich,wellknown, liked,orrespectedbutitdoesmeanyouareapassionate,caring,andauthentic.Leadershipmeans youcareaboutsomethingsomuchyouarewillingtoriskeverythingyouhaveforthisbelieforidea. Leadershipisdoingwhateveryoucaninyourpowertomakethingsbetterforthosearoundyou.
Although,thatisthedefinitionofleadershipis...showmorecontent...
Youdon'thavetobesureofeverysingleactionbutyoucan'tfearthefutureorchangebecausein ordertoaccomplishyourgoalchangeisoftennecessaryAboldattitudeisadefinitemustLeaders willalwayscomeagainstsomeoneorsomethingthatopposeswhattheybelieve,boldnesswillgive themthestrengthtokeepgoingevenwhenthepeopletheyleadhavestarttodisappearortheyhave grownweak.Atthefirstthatyouarereadytogiveuptheywillabandonshipastheleaderitmustbe apartofyourcharactertobeboldandkeepgoingnomatterhowhardthingsmayseem.This characteristicstieinwiththeearliertraitofinspirationWhenotherseehowboldyouaretheywill realizethatjustmaybeifyou'rewillingtoputthismuchontheline,facetheprobabilityofbeing ridiculedanddisownedbyyourandtherestofsocietyjustmaybeyoustandforsomethingthatis rightandmaybetheyshouldtoo.
Thesecharacteristicsareallgreatbuttohavetheabilitytotrulyleadyouneedconviction Convictiontokeepgoingyougoingwhenyourboldnesshaseliminatedyourfriends,whenyour yourselfneedsinspiration,whenyoudon'twanttobegenuine,whenyouwanttogiveupandtake theeasywayoutConvictionisthatthingthatkeepsusgoing,ithelpsusstaytruetoourtaskno matterwhereyougoorwhatyoudo.Ourconvictionareourroots,theykeepusgroundedand preventusfrom
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NotallleadersarefamouslikeMartinLutherKing,mostleadersareordinarypeople;youcanwalk downthestreetandrunintosomeoneandnotknowthattheyareaverypowerfulleader.I personallyknowofagoodleaderthatisanordinaryperson;myfather.Althoughsomepeople believethatleadersarebornandnotmade,Ibelievethatanyonecanbecomealeaderiftheyhave enoughcourageandarethickskinnedTherearemanywordsthatpeoplecomeupwithwhenthey areaskedtodescribewhatmakesagoodleader.Themostpopularcharacteristicsusedtodescribea goodleaderwouldbeagoodlistener,responsible,anddecisive.Whenyouthinkofwhatmakesa goodleaderyoushouldalsoaskwhatkindofeducationtheyhaveandwhatshowmorecontent Manybelievelisteningskillsareanecessitytobeingsuccessful.It'ssaidthatgodgaveustwoears sowecanlistentwiceasmuchaswetalk,andleadersshouldfollowthissayingsotheydonotmiss anyimportantinformation(Rai).Communicationwouldfallunderthegoodlistenercategoryof beingaleader.Communicationisakeycomponenttobeingagoodlistenerbecauseifyoudon't communicatetowhomeveryouarespeakingwiththensomethingsmightgetlostintheprocess Theleaderofateamwillhavetolistentotheirbossthenrelaythemessagetohisorherteam,and that'swhereparaphrasingtakesagoodpartincommunicationandlisteningskills.Agoodleaderis alwayscommunicatingwithotherleadersandtryingtofindoutothergoodideastheycanuseto improvesomeoftheirtechniques.Tobecomeagoodleader,thepersonmustberesponsible, becausenoonewantsanunreliableleaderThewayaleaderisresponsibleisbyalwaysbeing preparedandorganizedwithalloftheinformationneededonamomentsnoticeforwhatissupposed tohappenandalsowhatmighthappen(Rich).Theleadershouldbeabletotakenotesonthe directionsthattheirbosstoldthemanddothetaskwithouthavingtoaskmorequestions;instead theywouldusetheirnotes.Itistheleaders'responsibilitytomakesurethattheirteamisontrack withtheirprojectandthatitiscompletedbyitsdeadline
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But,really,whatmakesaleader?Isitthebaseskillset,acertainkindofmindattunedtothegoals ahead?Isitwhattheydo,orwhotheyare?Isitboth?Neither?Whenstudentsthinkabout leadership,especiallyontheircollegecampuses,therearemanyimagesthatcouldpossiblycomeup forthem––theycouldimaginetheirresidentassistants,stern–facedandcold–heartedintheir imaginations,ormaybethepresidentsoforganizations,toochipperandtoopushyButwhoelsedo theythinkof?DotheythinkofGreekorganizationexecutiveboardmembers?Dotheythinkof footballplayers?Dotheythinkofthegraduatestudentsandprofessionalstheyinteractwith?Do theythinkofthemselves?Inthispaper,Iwillintroducenotonlythetopicofmenandmasculinities incollegiateleadership(andwhatallthatmeans),butalsoexplaintheseparateidentitiesof"male" and"leader",elaborateonwhattheintersectionofthoseidentitieslooklike,giveinformationon otherintersectionsofidentities(suchasLGBT+identityorreligiousidentity,amongothers),and makerecommendationsonhowtobettersupportmaleandmasculineleaders(andinturn,all leaders)onourcollegecampusesMasculinities,inregardstothisresearch,isasfollowed:Practices, behaviors,attitudes,sexualities,emotions,positions,bodies,organizations,institutions,andall mannerofexpectationsculturallyassociatedwith(thoughnotlimitedto)peopleunderstoodtobe males(Pascoe
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Leadershipisatermonwhichnoonecandevelopamutualconsensusasitcarriesadifferent meaningforachindividual.Somepeoplemayconsiderapersonastheirleaderwhoiscapableof takingthemawayfromhardships,somepeoplemayconsidertheoneastheirleaderwhoisquite charismaticandcanshowthemdreamsofabrightfutureorsomepeoplemayconsiderthatmanasa leaderwhocanmakethemprogressbydevisingwisestrategiesforthemetcThereis,somehow, somethingverycommoninalltheperspectivesthatarethephilosophybehindthedefinition,which isrelatedtochoosingabestofthebestpersonastheirleader.Nobodywantstohaveapersonashis leaderwhodoesn'thaveknowledgeoftheneedsandaspirationsofhisshowmorecontent Noonecangetsuccesswithouthavingthetrustofpeopleonhiscapabilitiesbecausewithoutthathe won'tbeabletogainenoughconfidencetotakedesiredactionswithoutthefearofbeingrejected. Lastly,hemusttakesomestepsinordertoprovehimaleaderandalsotomakehimrealizehisvery ownpotential(JimMurray).So,fromtheabovedefinitionswemaydrawadifferencebetween leadersandmanagersasleadersdohaveavision,goalandobjective,whichhetriestomake effectiveandpurposeful.Onthecontrary,themanagersonlyhavetomaintaintheirefficiencyon day–to–daybasis.Inotherwordsadministrationisthetaskofmanagersbutinnovationisthe characteristicofleadersandthereisapossibilityofamanagerbecomingaleaderbysettinghigh standardsandgoalsforhispeople.Itisnotthetaskofthispapertopresentadifferencebetween bothbutitisimportanttopresentitonlybecauseofitsbeingnecessarytocleartheconceptofa leader.So,agoodleaderisapersonwhocanlookhighintothehorizonswhenthepeopleare lookingdowninthebottomline.Thismakesotherpeoplefollowtheirfootstepsaseveryonewants tomovetowardshorizontoexplorenewdimensionsofpracticalitySo,firstandforemostqualityof aleaderisnotonlytoseeathighthingsbutalsomakethepeopleseeandstriveforthesamething. Forthispurpose,theyhavetomonitorevenminorthingsbymakingpeoplefeelvaluedandinspired.
Agood
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Whatisaleader?WhenthinkingaboutthisquestionIfeellikeyouhavetoreallyknowwhatit meanstobealeader.WebsterDictionarydefinitionis:atimewhenapersonholdsthepositionofa leader.Nooneisbornaleader,leadershipsskillscomesfromlifeexperiences,educationand employment.Everyonegrowsintoaleaderandthenafterwardsgrowintoaleadershipstylethatwill eventuallybegintoshapeandinspireotherleadersHavingatitleorhighabovepowerdoesnot makeyoualeader.Inspiringandprovidinggreatcommunication,confidence,advice,laughs, knowledge,honestyandreality.Thosegreatskillshelpyoubecomeagreatleader.Evenwiththese greatleadershipskills,therearemanydifferentkindsofleadershipstyles
"Becomingthekindofleaderthatpeoplewouldfollowvoluntarily;evenifyouhadnotitleor position."–BrianTracy
Areyouaparticipativeleader?Participativeleadersorbetterknownasdemocraticleadersinclude teammembersandothers,butmakingthefinaldecisionisuptotheparticipativeleader. Participativeleadersbuildconfidenceandknowledgewithinteammembersbecausetheirinputs matterwithindecisionmaking.Ithelpsteammembersthinktheiropinions,helpwithdecisions.If thereisachangethatneedstobeimplementedaparticipativeleaderhelpsteammembersunderstand thechangeinapositiveway.IwoulddefinitelyconsidermyselfaparticipativeleaderbecauseIlove gatheringasmany
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Certainleadersstandoutinourmemorieswhenthinkingaboutleadership.Werememberthemfor theircharmandcharismaormaybewerememberthewaytheypresentedthemselves.Weremember thatimportantconversationwesharedwhichwassoimportanttous,andthatspeechthatleftthe crowdspeechlessandinspired.Werecalltheleaderwhopickedusupwhenweweredownandthe leaderwhohadfaithinuswhennooneelsedidThoseleaderswerespecialanduniqueTheywere greatandhadtheabilitytoleadlikenoother.Greatleaderspossessmanyleadershiptraitsthatmake themexceptional.Agreatleaderhasempathy.Hewillgotheextramiletogainabetter understandingofyouasapersonAgreatleaderwillstrivetoshowmorecontent
Anempatheticleaderwillnotmakesnapdecisionsoninformationhehearsforthefirsttime.Hewill alwaysgainknowledgeofthepartiesinvolvedandcalluponthemtogainaclarificationofthe situation.Hewilldigintothethoughtsandfeelingsofthoseinvolvedinordertogainanoverall betterunderstandingofthesituation.Theempatheticleaderbelievesthatthemoreinformationhe has,thebetterhisdecisionwillbeHeknowsthatbyaskingforyourclarityinthetopic,heis showingyouthathecaresaboutyouropinion.MahatmaGandhi,apoliticalandspiritualleader duringthemovementforIndia'sindependenceinthe20thcentury,isapersonwhoclearly exemplifiedempathytowardshisfollowersduringhistime.Communicationisanotherleadership traitthatagreatleadermustpossess.Agreatleaderwilleffectivelycommunicatewithhis personnelCommunicationisonethemostvitaltraitshemusthaveEvenifhismessageisnot alwayspositive,agreatleaderwillknowitisbesttobeupfront,truthful,andtimely.Aleaderthat communicateswellwilluseseveraltoolsinwhichtointerconnectwithhispersonnel.Hewill alwaysfindawaytoconnectwithhisworkforcethroughemails,meetings,speeches,phonecalls, videoteleconferences,andtweets.Hewillsharehisvision,plans,andgoals.Agreatleaderwill alwaystalkaboutanddiscussthechallengesandbarriersahead.Hiswordsofwisdomwillalways motivatehis
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7.Betheexample
Manytimepeopleinchargewillleadbythemotto"DoasIsaynotasIdo".Bydoingthisonesets acrossthenotionthatallanemployeehastodoispromotethentheycanslackoff.Imaginewhat willhappentoanorganizationifthatmindsetwasthenormforitsmanagers.Acompanyor organizationwouldhitascreechinghaltinproductivityAleadermustsetthebarfortheir employeesbybeingtheexample.Goodleaderswilloftenrolluptheirsleeveswiththerestofthe organization.Evenifyouarenotinaleadershippositionyouarestillaleader.Showinghowthe expectationsaremetinaconsistentmannerandnotgivingamixedmessagetoothersisvitalto goodleadership.
8.Focusonthedevelopmentofothers
Agoodleaderwillhaveotherstofollowintheirfootsteps.Beingamentortootherswillhelpensure thattruegrowthwillcomefromthosethatfollowyou.Evenifyourorganizationdoesnothavea mentorshipprogram,takingituponyourselftodirectthepersonaldevelopmentofotherswillnot onlyincreasesthesuccessoftheindividualandthecompany,butalsowillincreaseyourown development.Whatgoodisaleadertoanorganizationwhentheyleaveandeverythingfallsapart? Showingothershowtoleadandteachingthemthetoolstheyneedtoleadwillhelptoestablish longevity.
Thementorshipofemployeesisnotonlyforthebrighteststar,butalsoforonesthathavepotential butfailtoreachsaidpotential.
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AsJohnQuincyAdamssaid,"Ifyouractionsinspireotherstodreammore,learnmore,domoreand becomemore,youarealeader."Whenpeoplethinkofaleadertheymightthinkofthepresidentof theUnitedStatesor,forsports,aquarterback.Everyoneknowsthataleaderhastoknowhowto leadpeopletothegoal,whetheritsbeingasuccessfulbusinessmanorwinningthesuperbowl. However,peoplehavedifferentopinionsonwhatqualitiesaleaderhastohaveSomepeoplesaya leaderneedstobedetermined;otherssayleadersneedtobehonest.Therearemanypeoplethatare leadersinhistoryandinourownlives.Leadersarenotalwaysagoodperson,therearealsobad leadersTherearethingsthataleadercandothatcanshowmorecontent
Theyarebothleadersbut,theyhavedifferentgoalsObama'sgoalistohelpAmericabeasuccessful country;Brady'sgoalistowintheSuperBowl.Eventhoughtheyhavedifferentgoalstheyhavethe somesimilartraitssuchas,responsibilityandtrustworthy.Therearealsopeoplethatcriticizeyou whenyoubecomealeader.Althoughpeoplehavedifferentopinionsonwhataleaderqualitiesa leaderneedstohave,theyareallrightIinterviewedafewpeopleandasked,"Whatqualitiesdoyou thinkaleadershouldhave?"Onepersonsaidaleaderneedstobeambitiousanddetermined.The leadermustwanttomaketheircompanyorteamsuccessfulandbewillingtodomanythingsto succeed.Anotherpersonsaidaleaderneedstobehonestandhaveintegrity.Aleadercannotlie aboutwhattheydidbecauseitmighthaveanegativeaffectontheorganization.Ialsoquotedoneof thepeopleIinterviewed,"Aleadermustbeabletodowhatheisorderingotherpeopletodo"A leadermustbeabletodowhattheyguideotherpeoplebecauseithelpswiththeexperience.Lou Tzuoncesaid,"Toleadthepeoplewalkbehindthem."Leadersmustnotonlydowhattheythinkis rightbutalsotakeadvicefromtheirownworkersTheycanalsolearnfromhowtheirworkerswork thebestbyhelpingoutaroundthecompanywiththeworkers.Allofthesequalitiescanbepartof beingofaleader.Aleaderalsoneedstobea
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