Leadership And Persuasion

Leadership And Persuasion

Leaders are born. Do you agree or disagree?

Sorry, there are no scientific proofs or guiding rules to substantiate this allegation.

Simply put, the potential to lead is based on the ability of a person to persuade or make others follow willingly. Leadership is a skill. Like any other skill, such as driving and biking, it can be learned.

Most of the well-known leaders started from zero, hardly knowing anything related to leadership. Others were even a burden to society until some twist of fate or circumstance brought forth their good side and provided the opportunity for them to show their leadership abilities.

If leadership can be acquired, it is worth considering what constitutes a great leader:

1. Some leaders did not plan to become one. They just made the right action at the right place and at the right time. A person who makes wise decisions and equates the right action in pressing times has the capacity to become a great leader.

2. The ability to command or delegate without coercion or intimidation is essential in a leader.

3. A leader takes responsibility for his follower’s actions. This is under the principle of chain of command.

4. The attainment of objectives and welfare of his followers are of paramount importance to the leader.

5. Leaders do not have the monopoly of knowledge. In certain cases, the follower is more intelligent than the leader. This is especially true when it comes to specialized fields.

6. A leader knows how to give credit where it is due. He recognizes the help and inputs of his team and followers.

7. In making decisions, a leader must be objective. He seeks all information and listens to opinion of his team. From there, he makes his own decision.

8. A leader must know the best time to utilize monetary and non-monetary compensation to motivate followers to the achievement of the team’s objectives. Uninspiring leaders only use material compensation to command obedience from his followers.

9. A leader knows how to capitalize on his followers’ capabilities and strengths for the attainment of their objective.

10. A leader must be able to inspire others, show enthusiasm, and arouse interest among his followers.

Leadership is a skill that can be learned. It hones the persuasive abilities of a person in order to convince other people to take the best option.

With this checklist on hand, are you ready to lead?