what is leadership in your own words essay

Feb 15, 2023

Essays on Leadership for Students | 200 - 500 Word Essays

Are you writing an essay about leadership? Check out these examples!

Leadership is often defined as "the action of inspiring others to act in concert to achieve a particular goal." It signifies the harmony in actions that lead to a common objective. A genuine leader not only exudes confidence but also paves the way for their followers towards triumph. Over the years, various leadership styles have been identified and discussed by psychologists.

 Qualities such as intelligence, adaptability, extroversion, innate self-awareness, and social competence often emerge as the hallmarks of impactful leaders. There's a consensus that these traits mold an individual into an effective leader. Interestingly, some theories suggest that extraordinary situations can thrust an ordinary individual into the spotlight, bestowing upon them the mantle of leadership. It's also believed that leadership isn't a static trait but an evolving journey. It underscores the belief that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can hone their leadership abilities.

 True leadership goes beyond merely advocating for a cause. It involves taking responsibility, igniting motivation in others, and differentiating oneself from just being a 'boss'. A leader's essence lies in their ability to inspire and propel people towards grand visions, whereas a manager typically focuses on oversight and operational aspects.

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay falls under the category of student application essays and serves to provide student admissions officers with insight into your past leadership experiences. Despite appearing to be very specific, this type of essay acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can vary significantly depending on the individual and the context.

 If you find yourself in need of further insights or a unique angle for your leadership essay, consider exploring an expert essay-writing tool designed to assist students in crafting compelling narratives by analyzing vast data and generating fresh ideas within minutes. In this article, we'll also delve into various leadership essay examples to offer a clearer understanding of the genre and inspire your writing journey.

4 Examples of Leadership Essays

Qualities of a good leader, introduction.

Confidence is the most important attribute first of all. One of the most important qualities in a leader is confidence in one's own abilities. A lack of self-assurance is fatal to a person's leadership potential. If you want others to follow you, you need to exude self-assurance. It's imperative for a leader to have faith in his own judgment and actions. How can people want to follow him if he doesn't even know what he's doing?

Every effective leader knows that they need to be an inspiration to their followers. A leader needs to set an example for his team. In addition, he ought to inspire them whenever feasible. A leader must also maintain optimism in trying times.

What qualities a good leader must have?

Leadership is the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a common goal. A leader must possess several qualities to be effective, including:

Communication skills: A leader must be able to communicate their vision and goals clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. This requires excellent listening skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt to different communication styles.

Emotional intelligence: A leader must be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. This includes being able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, and handling conflicts in a constructive manner.

Visionary: A leader must have a clear and inspiring vision of the future, and be able to articulate this vision in a way that motivates others to work towards it.

Strategic thinking: A leader must be able to think critically and creatively to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans and strategies to achieve their goals.

Flexibility: A leader must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to new ideas and perspectives. This requires the ability to embrace change, be innovative, and continuously learn and grow.

Integrity: A leader must have strong ethics and values, and be willing to make difficult decisions that are consistent with their beliefs. This requires honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Decisiveness: A leader must be able to make tough decisions quickly, without undue hesitation or procrastination. This requires courage and the ability to take calculated risks.

Empowerment: A leader must be able to delegate responsibilities, give team members the resources they need to succeed, and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among their team.

Conclusion 

These qualities are essential for effective leadership, and when combined with hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence, can help leaders to achieve great things.

How one can be a Great Leader?

Leadership is the act of performing the duties of a leader. In the business world, for instance, it is essential to have someone in charge of a team to ensure everything runs well. Effective leadership is essential for any group that wants to maximize its prospects of success.

Leadership Comes from Experience

As we've shown, leadership can be innate in some cases but is more often learned through practice and exposure. Sometimes the best traits of a leader must be learned over a lengthy period of time, so that one can become a notable one, proving that leadership is not always about a person's innate qualities. Leaders should continuously be on the lookout for opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Nobody can disagree that experience is a key component of leadership. Numerous examples exist to back up this claim, such as:

Instance 1:

Our school's head boy or girl has traditionally been an older student who has been around for a while and thus has a better grasp of the ins and outs of school politics.

Instance 2:

When there is a vacancy for a team leader, it is common practice for the employee who has consistently put in the most effort and attention to the office job to receive a higher number of votes than their coworkers. 

“The best teacher for a leader is evaluated experience.” - John C. Maxwell

How one can be a Great Leader/Skills to be a Great Leader?

Effective leadership is a skill that develops through time. Developing into a leader with all the qualities that are needed takes a lot of hard work and potential. Being a prominent leader calls for a wide variety of traits. Some of these characteristics are addressed in further detail below:

One should be a Good Communicator

To be an effective leader, one must be able to convey his thoughts clearly to his/her/its subordinates.

Should have Confidence

The individual should have faith in what he says and does.

Give Credit to other Team Members too

A leader not only needs to impose his viewpoints and opinions instead he must also hear to the suggestions of other members of the team and offer them credit if their concept is appropriate.

Good Bond with the Team

A leader's ability to command respect from his team members depends on his ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with them.

Leads with Responsibility

A leader needs to be completely committed to his position. It's important that he takes on responsibility so that he can effectively deal with the various challenges he will inevitably face.

Any group or organization needs a leader above all else. Leadership development takes time and effort. One needs to have lived through a lot to be an effective leader. It's not enough to simply have years of experience in the field; one must also have the traits that make one an effective leader. You can't be a great leader unless you possess certain traits.

What makes a Good Leader?

Trying one's hand as a leader appears easy when viewed through this lens. Is that so tough? Of course not; leading is difficult, and not everyone aspires to be a leader. The vast majority of us have settled into well-established careers where we report to superiors and make a living. Still, not everyone is content to go along with the crowd. They become leaders in whatever field they pursue. A leader is an example to followers and will prioritize the needs of those around them.

Some Unique Qualities of a Leader

Many individuals resort to their leaders to vent their frustrations, therefore it's important for them to be good listeners.

A leader ought to be completely forthright; they can't play favorites or give anyone preferential treatment. One of the most essential qualities of a strong leader is the ability to make decisions with integrity.

They need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what makes an individual stand out or become a leader. It's their expertise in addition to other distinguishing traits. Their awareness of current events and the results of recent studies is essential. In many ways, this is helpful, and it's the leader's responsibility to stay current.

Since some might not understand them, they should utilize straightforward, easily comprehended language. Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively at all times. In reality, what sets them apart is their exceptional communication skills. Adolf Hitler was such a gifted orator that his followers believed every word he said.

No matter how you're feeling or what's going on in the world, if you listen to a leader, they may make you feel energized. Since leaders are in charge of inspiring confidence in their followers, they can't afford to be wary or unsure of themselves. People tend to blindly follow their leaders.

Whether you're a leader or a doctor, you should devote yourself completely to your chosen field. Everything we do is for the benefit of others; engineers, for example, spend much of their time designing and constructing buildings for other people. So, take pride in what you do, and if you possess the aforementioned traits, you are also a leader who doesn't have to rely on others to succeed. No matter what you do, aspiring to leadership positions will always benefit others.

What is Leadership in Management and what are the weaknesses and strengths of a Leader?

Simply said, leadership is acting as a supervisor or manager of a group. Different mental pictures pop up when we hear the word "leadership" used in conversation. One might think of a political leader, team leader, corporate leader, school leader, etc. Leaders facilitate order and efficiency in the workplace. Teamwork and success are fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders utilize their managerial abilities to establish courses and guide their teams to success.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership

Able to express oneself more clearly

Growth of character.

Self-awareness.

Possession of teamwork skills.

Gain assurance in yourself.

Weaknesses:

Acting favorably toward one's teammates.

Having no faith in the leader.

Thinks they're better than everyone else, but act hypocritically.

Not living up to the promised standard.

Insufficient morals.

Leadership and Management

Management and leadership are inextricably linked to one another. Leadership and management are both vital to the efficient operation of an organization; but, they accomplish very different things in the process. Leadership is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an effective manager. The terms management and leadership are synonymous with one another. In this manner, we are able to draw the conclusion that a manager who demonstrates the traits of a successful leader is, in fact, a manager who is effective.

Leadership in School

Leadership is essential in nearly every group, as we've seen above. That group includes one's educational institution. Every school needs an outstanding figure to serve as its head of school. Class monitor, assembly captain, cultural leader, etc. are all examples of leadership roles that can be taken on at school, but this raises the question of what makes a person a successful school leader.

Any student hoping to be chosen as a student body leader will need to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. He or she needs to be a consistent student who pays attention in class and does well in extracurricular activities. For the simple reason that no intelligent and hardworking kid would ever be considered for leadership. Student leaders are most often selected from among those who participate fully in all activities.

Leadership in Organization

Leadership in an organization, also known as organizational leadership, is the process of establishing long-term objectives that further the company's mission and help it reach its ultimate destination. This is a classic illustration of how Bill Gates often works with his team: they agree on a strategy, and Gates implements it. To the same extent, it is the responsibility of the leader in each given organization to determine what it is that the group is trying to accomplish.

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in politics, also known as political leadership, is the process of becoming actively involved in a political party in the role of a party leader. Knowledge of political processes, their outcomes, and the political agenda is central to the idea of political leadership.

An effective leader can be developed in anyone who has the determination and drives to do so. Both the strengths and the areas for improvement should be nurtured. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the political arena, leadership is always necessary. Therefore, one can exercise leadership anywhere they like inside their own organization.

What are the types of Leadership?

The ability to lead is a rare trait that not everyone possesses. The ability to do so is a gift, so count your blessings if you possess it. It's recommended that you hone it even more so that you can propel your career forward and serve as an example to people around you. However, it is crucial to grasp the various leadership styles before you go ahead and polish your skills.

Types of Leadership Styles

Democratic Leadership

In this style of management, subordinates are given a voice in decision-making. Although the subordinates' efforts are highlighted, the leader is ultimately held responsible for the group's actions. Many people find this type of leadership to be effective.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others to adopt new behaviors and ways of thinking in order to improve their own performance and that of their teams and organizations. A transformational leader is someone who encourages their team to strive for greater things and works to boost morale and output.

Team Leadership

A good leader fully incorporates his team into the task at hand. Members of the team are motivated to reach their goals and advance in their careers thanks to the leadership of the group.

Strategic Leadership

It requires a chief executive who doesn't restrict himself to brainstorming sessions with his superiors. He contributes on every level of the team. He is well-liked for his ability to unite the need for fresh ideas with the necessity of grounding them in reality.

Autocratic Leadership

The leader in a command and control structure is the center of attention. The chief executive has absolute power in this setting. He decides things on his own, without polling his staff. He relays this information to his staff and stresses the importance of swift action. The buck stops with him, and he alone must answer for his actions. Not much room for negotiation exists. It's no secret that this method of leading has its detractors.

Visionary Leadership

This kind of leader appreciates the abilities and requirements of his team members. He describes his ideal outcome and the teamwork that will be necessary to attain it.

Coaching Leadership

Leaders who coach their teams do so regularly in an effort to raise output. He inspires his employees to do better and works to keep them motivated. This approach to leadership has been much praised.

Facilitative Leadership

With occasional guidance, a facilitative leader ensures that the process runs smoothly for his team. As a precaution in case his team is ineffective. If the team is highly effective, the leader will take a hands-off approach.

Cross-Cultural Leadership

The leadership of this type is necessary when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. Because of the wide variety of cultures represented in the workforce across the United States, many managers and executives hold cross-cultural positions.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

The members of the team are given responsibility in this style of management. They are free to choose how they spend their time at work, with minimal oversight from the boss. It's not a good way to lead, according to experts.

Transactional Leadership

An interactive approach is integral to this kind of leadership. When team members successfully implement their leader's ideas and choices, they are rewarded with immediate, material benefits.

Charismatic Leadership

In order to bring out the best in his followers, this kind of leader makes the effort to change their attitudes, values, and actions.

This article should dispel the notion that leadership qualities can't be further subdivided. It should also assist you in pinpointing your own personal brand of leadership so you can perfect it over time.

Final Words

In conclusion, leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves various qualities and skills. Effective leaders possess traits such as integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are able to navigate challenges, make difficult decisions, and lead their team toward success. Leadership also involves continuous learning and self-improvement, as leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and remain relevant. Effective leadership can have a positive impact on both individuals and organizations, fostering growth and creating a culture of success.

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Essay on Leadership: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 7, 2023

The concept of leadership has been known to us since ancient times, from Ashoka: The Great to modern-day democratic leaders. Whether it’s politics or business, sports or entertainment, leadership is an essential part of human society, Leadership is the art of inspiring and guiding people towards a common goal. 

Critics might argue that being a leader is just about holding a prestigious position and living a fancy life. That might be 1 in 1000 cases, as leaders across the globe work for the welfare and development of their people and country. Below we have discussed some essays on leadership where the multifaceted roles of this position are highlighted. 

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Leadership in 100 Words
• 2 Essay on Leadership in 200 Words
• 3 Essay on Leadership in 300 Words

Also Read – Essay on Summer Vacation

Essay on Leadership in 100 Words

Leadership involves a set of qualities, values and actions, which are focused on the benefit of people and their country. A person holding the position of a leader plays a pivotal role in every facet of life, influencing the direction and success of organizations, communities, and nations. To become a leader, one must have a clear vision to understand a future state that is better than the present and communicate that vision to their team or followers.

A leader’s actions should be aligned with their words, and they must demonstrate their honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour. Trust is the foundation for any successful leadership, and it is built through consistent ethical conduct. 

Essay on Leadership in 200 Words

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept and is an essential part of developing a society or organisation. Leadership can involve various positions and types, from democratic to autocratic, where the leaders inspire and empower their teams, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

Effective leadership involves skilled communicators to can convey ideas, expectations, and feedback clearly and persuasively. They also listen actively to their team’s input and concerns. A great leader empowers a team of professionals by entrusting them with responsibilities and decision-making authority. With the formation of delegates, the power of leadership is divided among different authorities who are responsible for fostering growth and development among team members, making the organization more robust.

Some of the fundamentals of leadership are authenticity, integrity, ethical behaviour, a clear vision and other vital traits. Trust is the bedrock of leadership, and it is built through honesty, transparency, and consistency in actions and decisions. A leader who understands and cares about the needs and concerns of their team fosters strong relationships, promoting collaboration and cohesion.

At last, leadership is more than a title; it’s the embodiment of vision, integrity, empathy, communication and resilience. Effective leaders work to bring positive changes, inspire people around them and create a sense of purpose and direction in their terms and organizations.

Also Read – Essay on Cricket

Essay on Leadership in 300 Words

Leadership is a vital concept for the welfare of a society, community or country, depending on what the leadership is about. A leader transcends boundaries and is fundamental to human endeavours in various domains. Their job involves the ability to influence and guide a group of individuals toward achieving a common objective. Effective leadership is characterized by a combination of qualities, skills, and behaviours that inspire, motivate, and empower a team.

The first and most important aspect of a successful leader is having a clear vision. A clear vision works as a guiding light, outlining the desired future and providing a sense of purpose and direction for the team. Leaders with a compelling vision can inspire and rally their followers, creating a shared sense of purpose. 

The other cornerstone of leadership is integrity. Leaders must demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour. Trust, which is essential in any team or organization, is built on the foundation of integrity. When people believe that their leader acts with integrity, they are more likely to follow willingly and commit to the cause. 

Another trait that is essential for effective leadership is empathy. Leaders with empathy understand and connect with the emotions, needs, and perspectives of their team members. By showing compassion and actively listening, they create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters trust and collaboration.

Apart from these traits, other important qualities for effective leadership include effective communication and interpersonal skills. A leader must be able to articulate their vision, goals, and expectations clearly and persuasively. 

In conclusion, leadership is a multifaceted concept that plays a pivotal role towards the positive growth and development of organizations, communities, and societies. Effective leaders inspire their teams, create a sense of purpose, and drive positive change. Leadership is not merely a position; it is a journey of personal growth and a commitment to serving the greater good.

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Some of the synonyms for a leader are: Coach, Captain, Principal, Chairman, Kingpin, Boss, CEO, etc.

What makes a good leader is their ability to persuade people using their effective communication skills, having a clear vision working towards the welfare of society, and taking responsibility for their actions.

Writing an essay on leadership in 200 words must include the fundamental aspects of leadership and the qualities they must possess. Effective leaders around the world create a supportive and inclusive environment where people can thrive and contribute their best efforts. They inspire a shared sense of purpose, foster collaboration, and guide their teams toward achieving collective goals.

For more information about such informative articles, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Leadership Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on leadership.

First of all, Leadership refers to the quality of leading people. Probably, it is one of the most important aspects of life. Above all, Leadership has led to the progress of human civilization . Without good Leadership, no organization or group can succeed. Furthermore, not everyone has this quality. This is because effective Leadership requires certain important characteristics.

Qualities of a Good Leader

First of all, confidence is the most quality. A leader must have strong self-confidence. A person lacking in confidence can never be a good leader. A person must be confident enough to ensure others follow him. The leader must have confidence in his decisions and actions. If he is unsure, then how can people have the desire to follow him.

A good leader must certainly inspire others. A leader must be a role model for his followers. Furthermore, he must motivate them whenever possible. Also, in difficult situations, a leader must not lose hope. How can a leader inspire people if he himself is hopeless?

Honesty is another notable quality of a leader. Honesty and Integrity are important to earn the love of followers. Above all, honesty is essential to win the trust of the people. Probably, every Leadership which loses trust is bound to fail. People will not work with full effort due to an immoral leader.

Good communication is a must for a good leader. This is because poor communication means the wrong message to followers. Furthermore, good communication will increase the rate of work. Also, the chances of mistakes by followers will reduce.

Another important quality is decision making. Above all, if a leader makes poor decisions then other qualities will not matter. Furthermore, good decision making ensures the success of the entire group. If the leader makes poor decisions, then the efforts of followers won’t matter.

A good leader must be an excellent innovator. He must display a creative attitude in his work. Most noteworthy, innovation is a guarantee of survival of a group or innovation. Without creative thinking, progress is not possible.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Real-Life Examples of Good Leadership

Mahatma Gandhi was an excellent example of a good leader. He was a staunch believer in non-violence. With his brilliant Leadership skills, he made the British leave India. Probably, this was the most unique independence struggle. This is because Gandhi got freedom without any violence.

Abraham Lincoln was another notable leader. Most noteworthy, he ended the slavery system in the United States. Consequently, he made many enemies. However, he was a man of massive self-confidence. His struggle against slavery certainly became an inspiration.

Sir Winston Churchill was a great patriotic Englishman. Most noteworthy, he led Britain in the 2nd World War. Furthermore, he was extremely inspirational. He inspired Britain to fight against Nazi Germany. His great communication motivated the entire country at a time of hopelessness.

To conclude, Leadership is required in probably every sphere of life. Good leadership is the door to success. In contrast, bad leadership is a guarantee of failure. Consequently, good leaders are what make the world go round.

FAQs on Leadership

Q.1 Which is the most important quality for being a good leader? A.1 The most important quality for being a good leader is self-confidence.

Q.2 Why Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader? A.2 Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader because he inspired Britain to fight in 2nd World War. Furthermore, his excellent communication also raised the motivation of his people.

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Leadership Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

As a college student, you must write essays on a regular basis since the latter is one of the most common types of home assignments. All this means is that in order to get good grades and be successful with writing the papers, you need to have a sound understanding of the structure. Additionally, what you should never neglect is the variety of essay types. Indeed, your essay will significantly differ from one type to another: description essay will most likely have a structure that is slightly different from an argumentative one.

What you may have already encountered in your academic life is the work on a leadership essay. Although it sounds pretty complicated and vague, it is mostly possible to master an essay on leadership. Below is a guide for you to get an insight into this particular essay type.

What is a good leadership essay?

A good leadership essay is the one in which the essay writer has fully covered the topic of leadership and understood its core ideas. More specifically, to end up with a flawless leadership essay, you will need to indicate what makes a person a good leader. For achieving the latter, you will most likely need to conduct research and trace how a particular person reaches his or her goals. In other words, the task is to discover which actions the person undertakes, what their followers say about him or her, and how the person organizes the work. So, a leadership essay implies providing real-life success examples and further revealing them.

Above all, a good leadership essay is the one that follows a precise, clear, comprehensive structure. Structuring your essay about leadership in the most coherent way leads to a win-win situation: you have fewer troubles and barriers to writing a brilliant essay, and your teacher is able to comprehend the essay easily. This guide is what you will need to refer to to get an insight into how the flawless structure for a leadership essay looks like and how it will let you take a benefit.

How to write a Leadership essay?

To write a leadership essay that stands out, you first need to brainstorm all the ideas that you have and come up with a topic for your essay. If you are struggling with this step, you may think of some of the most influential people, read about them, and find out what makes them unique. Or, you can pick any topic which is mentioned at the end of this article. After you have chosen an issue, it is time to structure your essay appropriately.

As you already know, an essay constitutes three essential sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Below is the more detailed description of each of the parts.

Introduction

Of course, your leadership essay introduction will always vary depending on the topic of the essay. However, you can always begin by stating your vision of leadership regardless of the topic. Additionally, to motivate the reader and instantly catch his or her attention, you may use a quote of a famous leader, or simply a quote which you find relevant to the topic. Be aware that you should avoid outlining the essence and the role of the leadership in your introduction; leave it for the body paragraphs.

What you may also do in your leadership essay is ask a question, which will most likely intrigue the leader. Or it will at least give your reader an overview of what you will dwell on  in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

You will need to divide the main body into 3-5 paragraphs to make the structure more comprehensive. What you have to do at this point  is  give your reader a sound understanding of your ideas. Therefore, try to fit each idea in a single body paragraph so that you do not confuse your reader. Do not hesitate to indicate your examples to strengthen your arguments. For instance, you may explain a fact that makes a particular person you are writing about a real leader.

Also, always stick to your thesis statement and don’t forget that the body paragraphs should reveal the parts of your thesis statement.

As you may already know, you need to restate your opinion and briefly summarize all the points from the main body in conclusion. For instance, if you wrote your essay on qualities of an effective leader, state the most fundamental qualities and indicate why they matter the most. Besides, try not to copy what you have already written in the body – it is better to restate your opinion using different words. And, of course, beware adding any new and extra information; indicate only those points that you have already outlined in the text. Finally, keep in mind that it is always favorable to keep your concluding remarks short.

Leadership Essay Examples

Writing a leadership essay requires some research and time. In case you feel the necessity to go through an essay example, below is a leadership essay sample you can refer to.

Is leadership an inborn or an acquired feature?

Is everyone capable of becoming a leader, or is this ability innate? A lot of researchers have been struggling to answer this question. One assumption about leadership implies that the leader is the person who possesses particular characteristics. Another assumption claims that leaders are capable of acquiring specific features over their life span. As the evidence shows, leaders own many features that distinguish them among others and make more and more people become their followers. These might be cognitive abilities, psychological traits, professional qualities, and a lot more, and all of them will be either acquired or innate. Based on the importance of leadership qualities, such as commitment, stress resistance, and the ability to make quality decisions, it is reasonable to claim that leaders are made, not born. 

One can deem commitment as one of the top fundamental qualities of the leader. In essence, such a feature indicates that a person is passionate about the common goal, strives to be a team player, and makes every effort to reach a shared goal. As the history shows, none of the successful companies was uncoordinated by an influential, committed leader: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft – all of these companies are examples of dominant teams led by a dedicated leader. A committed leader also inspires his or her team to achieve common goals and put more effort into the shared activity. Besides, commitment is unlikely to be an innate feature; it instead comes with experience. This is so, since commitment implies dedicating oneself to the shared task, and one can reach it only via learning and continuous self-improvement.

Stress resistance is another incredibly important feature that every good leader should possess. This is because only a stress-resistant leader has sufficient capabilities to overcome any complexity and not let the anxiety and stress prevent him or her from making proper decisions. Besides, such a leader will most likely have a positive influence on the team, as long as leading by example will motivate the team members to attain the same emotional stability. What is so far familiar about stress resistance as an effective leader’s feature is that it can be either innate or attained. However, although some researchers admit that emotional stability is something one is born with, it is not entirely true; many people still put a great effort into self-improvement, changing the attitude to unfortunate situations, and so on. Therefore, being resistant to stress can be mostly attributed to a personality.

An ability to make high-quality decisions most likely determines the chances for an enterprise’s success. In particular, such quality is incredibly fundamental for a company of any size and professional orientation. Additionally, it is one of the top tasks of a good leader to make final decisions. What he or she should do implies brainstorming, discussing various opinions in the group, making forecasts, analyzing all the pros and cons. However, the leader is the one to make a final decision. Thereby, he is in charge of researching the market, discovering all the hidden truths, and analyzing the organization’s potential and capabilities to result in the most effective decision. As it flows logically from the latter, an ability to make sound quality decisions is purely a professional quality. This leads to the conclusion that one has to work hard to become a genuine leader and master the skill of making effective decisions. 

Overall, the leader may possess a multitude of different skills and master them perfectly. However, what has so far become transparent is that any leader, regardless of which team he leads, must possess three essential qualities. These qualities are commitment to the common goal, ability to handle and resist stress, and, finally, an ability to make effective decisions. All of the three qualities are most likely to be acquired over a lifetime. The statement below leads to the conclusion that even though some qualities can be innate, most are not the ones that leaders are born with. Hence, this answers an essential question: leadership feature is acquired, and not necessarily inborn.  

20 leadership essay topics

When coming up with your next leadership essay topic, it is imperative to brainstorm ideas and think of what leadership might be related to. If you are struggling with a topic of the importance of leadership essay or any relevant type of essay, you may quickly take a look at some of the possible topics we prepared for you:

• What are the main qualities of the leader?
• Successful Time Management as a feature of an effective leader
• The role that rhetoric plays in leadership
• The most exceptional leader in the history of the 20-th century
• The role of female leadership
• What are the challenges of the leader of the 21-st century?
• How college helps students develop leadership skills?
• Qualities of the leader that motivate people to follow them 
• Top things to avoid doing to become a team leader
• Examples of effective and ineffective leadership in the history
• Top techniques for developing leadership skills
• The interconnection of creativity and leadership 
• Is a university’s role fundamental in developing leadership skills?
• Dictatorship as an anti-example of leadership
• Liberal vs Authoritative leadership: which one works better?
• The influence of the leader’s role model on the followers’ mindset
• Main difficulties that the new leader may face in a new team
• Leadership of today vs leadership of the past: what has changed?
• Reasons why I want to become a member if the leadership program
• The role of cognitive abilities for the leader 

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Essay Samples on Leadership

What type of leader i am: examining my leadership.

What type of leader are you? This question delves into the unique qualities, values, and approaches that define my leadership style. As a leader, I recognize that my actions and decisions influence others, and understanding my leadership style is crucial for effective collaboration and impact....

• Leadership Styles

How to Be an Effective Leader: Guiding with Excellence

Becoming an effective leader requires more than just holding a position of authority; it entails embodying qualities that inspire and guide individuals toward shared goals. Whether leading a team, an organization, or a community, effective leadership is marked by the ability to foster collaboration, motivate...

• Effective Leadership

How to Be a Good Leader: The Path to Effective Leadership

Leadership is a multifaceted skill that involves guiding and inspiring individuals or groups toward a common goal. While leadership styles may vary, there are essential qualities and practices that define effective leadership. In this essay, we will explore how to be a good leader, discuss...

Are Leaders Born or Made: the Nature vs Nurture Debate

Are leaders born or made? This age-old question has ignited debates, discussions, and exploration into the realms of leadership. The inquiry into whether leadership is an innate trait or a cultivated skill has intrigued scholars, practitioners, and curious minds. This essay delves into the heart...

• Leadership Development

Analysis of President Barack Obama as a Leader

Successful leaders possess distinct traits and qualities that set them apart. One such leader is Barack Obama, who exemplifies several key leadership characteristics. Inspirational communication, unwavering conviction, and a willingness to take risks are among the qualities that have contributed to Obama's success. Furthermore, Obama's...

• Barack Obama
• President of The United States

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Leadership and Management: My Personal Philosophy of Leadership

Everybody can be a leader. Nevertheless, I feel that not every individual can lead effectively. I also believe that it is not a position but a process. Leadership is an action to influence other people to move and accomplish the same goal. Leaders are ineffective...

• Leadership and Management

Leadership Development: Analysis of My Leadership Experience

This reflective essay is an analytical look into my leadership experience not only as a leader but also as a member of a group. I specifically adopted the situational approach and the path-goal theory when presented with different leadership challenges hence the adoption of changing...

My Chevening Leadership: Leadership Skills that I Developed

I acquired leadership skills from early adulthood based on my experiences in church and my family. I developed organisational, resilience and other leadership skills which have been honed over the years. My leadership skills continued in secondary school when I started volunteering and campaigning against...

What Is Leadership For You

It is a general term that can have very different meanings with broader possibilities and scales associated with it, and it goes through some evolution with constant permutations and combinations that go on forever. It starts from ancient times and then into the Middle Ages...

Important Role of Leadership Quality and Professionalism

Dedication, strength, honor, and integrity, are just a few of the descriptive words that can be used to define a leadership role. Accountability, knowledge, as well as integrity are words used to help describe professionalism. Notice how the words used to describe these roles are...

The Meaning Of Leadership To Me: Qualities That Create A Leader

For countless millennia, we had witnessed the birth of several societies and organizations that had flourished from successful leadership. Today, in modern businesses you could immediately tell how the leadership it had evolved into at present and the leadership it had decades earlier. Take for...

• Personal Qualities

The Definition Of Leadership: What Does Leadership Mean To Me

My leadership philosophy is established about the need for a leader to encourage and inspire to do what motivates them. It can be accomplished by a leader and at the same time attaining the goals and the task of the team, department, institution, or corporation...

• Personal Beliefs

Chelladurai's Model Of The Leadership

The model that is used for leadership in sports would be the Chelladurai's model of leadership. Chelladurai's model is a framework which builds on research from non-sporting settings in order to analyze effective leadership in sport. The fundamental target of the leader is to achieve...

Example Of Effective Leadership In Jeff Bezos Life Path

Since the beginning of people’s lives, everyone makes choices and decisions which gradually define a person itself. It is often difficult to identify whether the decision was good or bad because each person has a different level of awareness of the importance. Some things which...

Leadership Style Of Jeff Bezos

Jeffrey Preston Bezos is an American technology entrepreneur and the founder, CEO, and president of Amazon.com. Since high school, he has had an interest in computer science which led to him pursuing a degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University in 1986....

Management Vs Leadership: The Good And The Bad Of Being A Manager

Being a manager is a job. Being a leader is a role. Increasingly companies are seeing that you need both skills for an effective work environment. In the article, “What Leaders Really Do” by John Kotter, John highlights the differences between a leaders and managers,...

Ender's Game Character Analysis Essay

A mission that decides the destiny of humanity, its survival or obliteration, is a challenge many will succumb to. Failure is not an option. Ender’s Game, a science fiction novel written by Orson Scott Card, tells the story of Andrew “Ender” Wiggin who fights in...

• Ender's Game

The Rule of Charlemagne: The Development of Europe Under Successful Leadership

“Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.”- Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles I, Charles the Great and the Father of Europe was an important Germanic figure in medieval times and has...

• Charlemagne

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Transformational Leadership Style

Transformational Leadership deals with the motivation, inspiration, and encouragement of the personnel in order to carry out the innovative and creative change. This change directly helps the company in the growth and allows the scope for development. This leadership style is based on improving the...

• Charismatic Leadership

What Makes a Leader Charismatic

Leadership is a dense genre that had remained under debate regarding the difference in opinions of the definition and components of leadership, and either it is intrinsic quality or learned behavior. Despite all the debate, Leadership can be contributed as a personal impact that is...

The Influence of Mansa Musa's Leadership

The most important aspects of this topic would be the importance of Mansa rebuilding the Mali empire. After he helped rebuild the empire they were more powerful and had a more important standing within society. The emperor who came to make a difference within their...

My Motivation to Obtain the Darwin T. Turner Scholarship

The Darwin T. Turner Scholarship is a program of diversity and leadership initiatives. Hello, my name is Simratdeep Kaur and I believe I should be a Turner Scholar because I show great potential in the future. I have maintained great academics, participated in many school...

• Scholarship

What Does Being Inducted into National Honor Society Mean to Me

From the time I was inducted into National Junior Honor Society in seventh grade, I had always dreamed of the day when I would walk across the stage to become a part of National Honor Society. I have been continuously determined to do my very...

• National Honor Society

The Four Tenets of National Honor Society I Exemplify in My Everyday Life

Induction into the National Honor Society validates academic goals that I have worked extremely hard towards thus far. Membership would not only help maintain my academic performance, but assist me in accomplishing further goals of my school career. Getting accepted into NHS has been a...

A Brave Leader: The Success of Rosa Parks Leadership

Refusing to give up your seat on the bus; a seemingly trivial decision in the goings-on of everyday life. Maybe one would be considered rude, or irritate others – but beyond that, the effects of the refusal would seem relatively insignificant. How is it then,...

• Racial Segregation

Implementation of Leadership and Personal Development Planning in South Africa

Introduction Post-1994, the dream of the masses (previously disadvantaged groups), was a vision of self-governance, prosperity, equality, liberation and a sense of belonging and patriotism. Most of all, the yoke of Apartheid was demolished, it was a new future that held promise, a better life...

• Personal Development Planning

The History of Syrian Leadership and Its Impact on the State of a Country

Syria became one of the most discussed and controversial countries in the world in recent years due to its ongoing armed conflict. Millions of Syrians escaped from their homeland looking for a shelter and a better future abroad causing internal conflicts in highly developed countries...

The Concept of Leadership and Mother Teresa as Its Vivid Illustration

Leaders have the power and the intellect behind the organization, and they have the capability to influence the ones working for the company to accomplish and reach the company’s goal. According to Patel (2017), a strong manager or leader must reach and develop eleven traits...

• Mother Teresa

Investigating the Losses and Leadership Positions in Starbucks

The Starbucks brand started in 1971 by opening its to begin with store area in Seattle, Washington. Within the 1970s and 1980s, Starbucks Corporation experienced victory within the U.S. market. By 1987, Howard Schultz purchased Starbucks after serving for 5 years within the operation division...

The Humor Style Suitable for Leadership Positions

Throughout this report, the main topic in focus will be the Leader Humor Style. The definition of humor is not straightforward, “Over the years, researchers have been trying to arrive at one definition of humour which is both comprehensive and universal. All their efforts have...

The Results Of My S.M.A.R.T. Leadership Experience

Leadership, S.M.A.R.T. goals, and the Seven Habits profile are all interconnected in many ways. Throughout the course of this paper I will address the results of my Seven Habits profile, servant leadership, and make S.M.A.R.T. goals. They will assist me in becoming a better leader...

• Emotional Intelligence

The Definition of Leadership: Barack Obama's Presidency

Leadership can mean various things a success, power, efficiency, andintelligence. Among other qualities. However, leadership is taken into accountwhen the leader or the person who is the heads of a movement has the abilityto influence others and make a positive impact on the world around...

Leadership Is My Strong Side

Mustering the courage, penetrating the challenge, and engendering the creativity are the abilities to define myself as a visionary leader. After the head of Corporate Social Responsibility of PT Pertamina Region VII awarded me as the best presenter in Pertamina Technology Challenge, an opportunity as...

• About Myself

The Importance of Good Ethics and Leadership in Society

One of the most important, yet least understood phenomena on earth is leadership. The research was done to investigate leadership traits, activities, behaviour, and processes; yet, until Burns (1978), a few researchers were able to distinguish between leadership that is "transactional" and leadership that is...

• Human Behavior

Change Management in Organizations Dependency on Leadership

This paper seeks to establish how change can be effectively introduced to the challenging global business environment of today. However, to establish this, one has to first understand what a change management strategy is and to critically analyze the key composition of an ideal change...

• Change Management

Analysis Of Individual Aspects Of Leadership

The first factor for business success is empowering leadership. Leadership has taken companies to its peak of success. This report will look into the leadership style of Sandberg in the different companies she had worked. How her leadership skills influenced and impacted the people she...

Application Of Engineering Leadership To Improve Group's Performance

This case occurred during a practical lab session where my group and I were tasked with a graded lab report based on that session’s experiment. That week’s experimental procedure was knowledge-intensive and rigorous, requiring a good understanding of that week’s lecture content while involving many...

• Engineering

Best Way For Society To Prepare It's Youth For Leadership

The provided memo brings a lot of questions to mind. These need to properly addressed before jumping to the conclusion that increasing the advertising budget will help increase the attendance of people in movies produced by Super Screen Movie Production Company. Firstly, the memo talks...

• Modern Society

Classic Leadership And Organization Dilemmas

The main challenge of any organization is to perform tasks in the right time. If they cannot perform it within the prescribed time, their ongoing work can be interrupted. Therefore, if the job is to be executed at a given time, it is necessary to...

• Organizational Behavior

Jim Davis Case Study Analysis: The Problem Of Leadership And Power

Leadership and power have a fine line in which they were most effectively together. In that relationship it is important that a good sense of credibility is established in order to achieve and maintain a status. The problem at hand is how Jim is going...

Leadership – The Art Of Managing People

The capacity to sort out a gathering of individuals or an organization is called leadership. The individual who directs the gathering is characterized as a Leader. Despite the fact that the bigger fault and less credit come to them, a pioneer is the foundation of...

Leadership And Management In International Hospitality Business

Introduction Leadership includes giving the data, information, and techniques to understand that vision, and organizing and adjusting the clashing interests of all individuals and partners. Be that as it may, the initiative has changed after some time and has made numerous difficulties for the individuals...

• Hospitality
• Marketing Management

Leadership In Different Aspects Of Life

Introduction Leadership is defined to be the action of leading a group of people or an organization. In the coaching profession, coaches lead their teams. If you were to ask me what my personal definition and general philosophy of leadership is, I would say, “Leadership...

• Personal Life

The Challenges in the Leadership School: Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

I applied to leadership school and I was told it was going to easy but boy was I wrong. As soon we got on the bus things turned for worse. First, all phones were confiscated as we got on the bus then we to be...

Leadership Style And Influence Of Two Historical Figure

This is an extensive study of leadership styles and scope of influence of 2 historical figures of Nepal. “Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha) and Prithivi Narayan Shah. They can be seen as an effective and influential leader known to whole world. I found difference in their...

Leadership Theories And Personal Evaluation

Trait Theory Of the eight trait theories presented in the textbook I feel that I possess predominantly the desire to lead, honesty, integrity and emotional intelligence. In most jobs that I have been employed, I often find myself thinking of ways that the manager could...

Psychology Of Work: Organizational Leadership Theories

In lieu of the changing business environments globally, companies strive to be competent enough to be able to respond to customer expectations, have sound and healthy relationships with all the stakeholders, have operations that are transparent and accountable and increase their bottom line fulfilling their...

• Social Psychology

Revitalization Through New Leadership For Success In Any Field

The topic presented here makes a very valid argument that revitalization through new leadership is crucial for success in any field, be it politics, education or government. I am in concord with the claim that those in power should graciously make way at regular intervals...

An Overview of the Five Levels of Leadership

Nowadays the word ¨leadership¨ is used in all spheres of society, from the political field to the business and religious fields. One of the modern precursors of the study of leadership is John C. Maxwell, who for years has used and taught an instrument of...

The Social Influence Of Leadership On Human

For many years, many people (scholars) have had lot of interest in leadership, there have been many debates and some occasional confusion explaining the concept of leadership or what it really means. (Bass 1981) (Northouse, P 2016) Even now, defining it is not as easy...

Value Proposition Of Investing In It Leadership

Companies that invests in IT leadership perform much better than the companies that don’t. IT Leadership development is very important for creating competition and having an upper hand over other companies. A standout amongst the most important internal features to implement change is IT Leadership...

Essay About What Leadership Means To Me

For me, leadership means not only pursue success for myself but also to motivate and empower others to do the same by setting the perfect example to follow. For me, leadership means knowing where to go, leading the right path, taking new challenges and not...

Best topics on Leadership

1. What Type of Leader I Am: Examining My Leadership

2. How to Be an Effective Leader: Guiding with Excellence

3. How to Be a Good Leader: The Path to Effective Leadership

4. Are Leaders Born or Made: the Nature vs Nurture Debate

5. Analysis of President Barack Obama as a Leader

6. Leadership and Management: My Personal Philosophy of Leadership

7. Leadership Development: Analysis of My Leadership Experience

8. My Chevening Leadership: Leadership Skills that I Developed

9. What Is Leadership For You

10. Important Role of Leadership Quality and Professionalism

11. The Meaning Of Leadership To Me: Qualities That Create A Leader

12. The Definition Of Leadership: What Does Leadership Mean To Me

13. Chelladurai’s Model Of The Leadership

14. Example Of Effective Leadership In Jeff Bezos Life Path

15. Leadership Style Of Jeff Bezos

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• How to Structure a Leadership Essay (Samples to Consider)

Leadership is a complex concept, but it’s essential for boosting your career. That’s why a leadership essay focuses on applying the theoretical models and concepts of successful management to real-life situations. 

If you don’t know where to start writing such a paper, please read on for professional tips!

What Is Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay is a paper that analyzes leadership concepts and their application to real-life situations that may involve everyday business management, crisis situations, and other scenarios. 

Every essay on leadership is about defining a concept. Then, it’s either comparing it to similar management tools or proving that it’s useful (or not).

While some students enjoy writing such papers, other learners hate them. The below samples will come in handy, no matter which group is yours.

What Does Leadership Mean to You? (Essay Sample)

It is one of the most popular topics for a leadership essay. If you need to write a paper like that, ask yourself:

• Who is a good leader?  
• What style do they use?  
• What are the situations when they might switch styles?

You may take a more personal approach to such an essay if your professor allows you to. In the example below, you will see the academic approach to this topic. It analyzes three leadership styles to discover which one corresponds to the meaning of leadership if one thinks of it as guidance and support.

Why I Want to Participate in a Leadership Program (Essay Sample)

It’s another example of a popular topic. Such papers often have a meaning beyond the classroom since they may decide whether you plan to participate in a specific program. It’s critical to make them as effective and compelling as possible.

A personalized approach is the best when it comes to essays like this. In the example below, you will see the paper that relies on individual beliefs and a personal life story to explain why it’s so important for the specific student to participate in the chosen program.

How to Write a Leadership Essay

Like every other essay, this paper has an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion summarizing your thoughts. (1) The most important part of the introduction is the final sentence,  aka  a thesis statement. That’s where you state your claim to prove or develop in your leadership essay.

Each body paragraph should correspond to the purpose of your essay. To ensure you don’t stray from the aim you’ve established in the thesis statement, write the topic sentences for all your paragraphs in the outline . In simple words, write the first sentence of every paragraph to define its development in advance and see if you cover everything you need.

And now, to the conclusion:

Its most essential element is thesis restatement or the first sentence of that paragraph. It’s not just paraphrasing your thesis; it’s also considering the new information you’ve discovered while writing the essay.

Structure :

• Introduction (End it with a thesis statement.)
• Body paragraphs (Each one starts with a topic sentence.)
• Conclusion (Start it with a thesis restatement.)

Understand the purpose of a leadership essay

When starting to write, think about why you’re creating this paper. Before you sit down and type the words, think about the ideas you want to convey and their meaning in your life:

Can this essay teach you to take responsibility? Or maybe will it help you understand how to be a leader in crisis situations? When you’ve answered the “why” question, begin outlining.

Build a strong thesis

Always start with your thesis statement. It will help incorporate your answer to that notorious “why” question into your essay. Once done, you can plan out the rest of the paper and start working on the body paragraphs as soon as you finish the introduction.

There’s another important tip —don’t rush into writing the conclusion before you finish everything else!

It might seem like a good idea to create a thesis statement and thesis restatement right off the bat. However, you’ll find yourself with more refreshing ideas after completing all the research and thinking necessary for the introduction and each body paragraph.

Decide on a structure; format accordingly

Even if your essay about leadership seems not so formal, and you can use personal pronouns, you still need a clear structure.

The best way to write any academic paper is to keep your introduction and conclusion as short as possible. (But no shorter than three sentences and four lines of text). 

Another important tip is to try making all your body paragraphs equal in length. That way, you’ll give the same attention to all the vital points of your essay.

Ready to Write Your Essay on Leadership Now?

Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the most critical elements of a leadership essay. 

Remember the structure, grammar, and appropriate academic style to create a top-level paper. Please don’t forget to answer the “why” question and remember  why  you’re writing. Then you’ll impress everyone with your results!

References:

• https://lsa.umich.edu/onsf/news-events/all-news/directors-blog/writing-leadership-essays.html
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100 Answers to the Question: What Is Leadership?

There are as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders. here are 100 of the best ways to define leadership..

If you Google the word leadership you can get about 479,000,000 results, each definition as unique as an individual leader.

It's a difficult concept to define, perhaps because it means so many things to different people.

Here are 100 of the best ways to define leadership--choose the ones that fits best for you.

1.     "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." --Lao Tzu

2.     "A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit."  --Arnold Glasow

3.      "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." --Martin Luther King Jr

4.    "You don't need a title to be a leader." --Mark Sanborn 

5.      "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership." --Nelson Mandela

6.     "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." --John F. Kennedy 

7.     "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." --Ronald Reagan

8.     "Successful leadership is leading with the heart, not just the head. They possess qualities like empathy, compassion and courage." --Bill George

9.      "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already." --John Buchan

10.   "A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together." --Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

11.   "When the leadership is right and the time is right, the people can always be counted upon to follow--to the end at all costs." --Harold J. Seymour

12.   "Leaders must be self-reliant individuals with great tenacity and stamina." --Thomas E. Cronin 

13.  "Leadership: The capacity and will to rally people to a common purpose together with the character that inspires confidence and trust." --Bernard Montgomery

14.  "All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership." --John Kenneth Galbraith

15.  "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." --Warren Bennis    

16.  "Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen, despite the obstacles." --John Kotter

17. " I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." --Ralph Nader   

18.   "I think leadership comes from integrity--that you do whatever you ask others to do. I think there are non-obvious ways to lead. Just by providing a good example as a parent, a friend, a neighbor makes it possible for other people to see better ways to do things. Leadership does not need to be a dramatic, fist in the air and trumpets blaring, activity." --Scott Berkun

19.  "Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose." --Myles Munroe

20. "Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better." -- Bill Bradley

21. "The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes." ----Tony Blair  

22.  "Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes."  --Peter F. Drucker  

23. "One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you." --Dennis Peer

24.   "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." --Steve Jobs

25. "Leadership is simply causing other people to do what the leaders want. Good leadership, whether formal or informal, is helping other people rise to their full potential while accomplishing the mission and goals of the organization. All members of an organization, who are responsible for the work of others, have the potential to be good leaders if properly developed." --Bob Mason

26. "Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it. " --Dwight Eisenhower

27. "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet." --Theodore Hesburgh

28 . "Leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations." --James Kouzes and Barry Posner

29. "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." --Rosalynn Carter

30. "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." -- John Quincy Adams

31. "Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people, based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good." --Joanne Ciulla

32. "The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." --Jim Rohn 

33. " Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations." --Peter Drucker

34. "Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance." --J. Donald Walters

35.  " Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." --Tom Landry  36.   "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."  --John Maxwell

37. "Leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by the leader and his or her followers." --John W. Gardner

38.   "My definition of a leader... is a man who can persuade people to do what they don't want to do, or do what they're too lazy to do, and like it." --Harry S. Truman

39. "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." --Warren Bennis

40.   "A leader is a dealer in hope." --Napoleon Bonaparte

41. Leadership is the collective action of everyone you influence. Your behavior--your actions and your words--determines how you influence. Our job as leaders is to energize whatever marshals action within others. --David Caullo

42 .  "A leader has to be somebody who's getting people to do things which don't seem to make sense to them or are not in their best interest--like convincing people that they should work 14 hours a day so that someone else can make more money." --Scott Adams

43.  "Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished." --Lisa Cash Hanson

44.  "The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been." --Henry Kissinger

45. "Leadership is about service to others and a commitment to developing more servants as leaders. It involves co-creation of a commitment to a mission." --Robert Greenleaf

46. "Leadership is working with and through others to achieve objectives." --Paul Hersey 47. "Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing." --Tom Peters

48. "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy ." --Norman Schwarzkopf  49.   "A leader's role is to raise people's aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there." --David R. Gergen

50. "Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better. " --Bill Bradley

51. "Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out."  --Stephen Covey

52. "Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." --Colin Powell

53. "Leadership is the key to 99 percent of all successful efforts." --Erskine Bowles  

54.   "Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do it." --Frances Hesselbein

55. "Leadership is the ability to establish standards and manage a creative climate where people are self-motivated toward the mastery of long-term constructive goals, in a participatory environment of mutual respect, compatible with personal values." --Mike Vance

56. "Leadership is getting people to work for you when they are not obligated." -- Fred Smith

57. "One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency." --Arnold Glasow

58. "Leadership is the art of influencing others to their maximum performance to accomplish any task, objective or project." --W.A. Cohen

59. "A good leader is a caring leader -- he not only cares about his people, he actively takes care of them." --Harald Anderson

60. "There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept." --Ralph Stogdill

61. "The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." --Harvey S. Firestone

62. "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others." --Robert Louis Stevenson

63. "Without passion, a person will have very little influence as a leader." --Michele Payn-Knoper  64.   "Leadership is an intangible quality with no clear definition. That's probably a good thing, because if the people who were being led knew the definition, they would hunt down their leaders and kill them." --Scott Adams.

65. "Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching." --George Van Valkenburg

66. "Leadership is someone who demonstrates what's possible." --Mark Yarnell

67.   "Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions." --Harold Geneen

68. "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."   --George Smith Patton

69. "Leadership by example is the only kind of real leadership. Everything else is dictatorship." --Albert Emerson

70.  "The leader is one who mobilizes others toward a goal shared by leaders and followers. ... Leaders, followers and goals make up the three equally necessary supports for leadership." --Gary Wills

71. "The leader must know, must know that he knows, and must be able to make it abundantly clear to those around him that he knows."   --Clarence Randall

72. "Leadership is about taking responsibility and not making excuses." --Mitt Romney

73. "Leadership is difficult but it is not complex." --Michael McKinney

74. "Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others." --Lance Secretan

75. "Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal." --P.G. Northouse

76. "Followers are the gem cutters of leadership coaxing out its full brilliance." --Ira Chaleff 77. "A leader cannot lead until he knows where he is going." --Anonymous 

78. "Leaders aren't born, they are made." ―Vince Lombardi

79.   "The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on." --Walter Lippmann

80.  "The function of a leader within any institution: to provide that regulation through his or her non-anxious, self-defined presence."  --Edwin H. Friedman

81.   "The greatness of a leader is measured by the achievements of the led.  This is the ultimate test of his effectiveness." --Omar Bradley

82.   "The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it." --Elaine Agather

83. "The best way to lead people into the future is to connect with them deeply in the present." --James Kouzes and Barry Posner 84. "Leadership consists of picking good men and helping them do their best." -- Chester W. Nimitz

85.  "To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead." --William Hazlitt

86. "Leadership requires using power to influence the thoughts and actions of other people." --A. Zalenik

87.   "The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones." --Brandon Sanderson

88.  "Our work is our most important resource to develop our people." --Jim Trinka and Les Wallace

89.   "Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity." --Reed Markham

90.  "The most important thing about a commander is his effect on morale." --Viscount Slim

91.   "While a good leader sustains momentum, a great leader increases it." --John C. Maxwell

92. "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." --William Arthur Ward

93. "He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader." ―Aristotle

94.   "For me, leadership is making a difference. It's using your agency to bring about change." --Melanne Verveer

95.   "That is what leadership is all about: staking your ground ahead of where opinion is and convincing people, not simply following the popular opinion of the moment." --Doris Kearns Goodwin 96.   "The way I would measure leadership is this: of the people that are working with me, how many wake up in the morning thinking that the company is theirs?" --David M. Kelley 97. "You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case." --Ken Kesey

98. "Not the cry, but the flight of a wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow." --Chinese Proverb

99. "To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less." --Andre Malraux

100. "Leadership is leading people with your whole heart." - Lolly Daskal  

A refreshed look at leadership from the desk of CEO and chief content officer Stephanie Mehta

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What is leadership?

All leaders, to a certain degree, do the same thing. Whether you’re talking about an executive, manager, sports coach, or schoolteacher, leadership is about guiding and impacting outcomes, enabling groups of people to work together to accomplish what they couldn’t do working individually. In this sense, leadership is something you do, not something you are. Some people in formal leadership positions are poor leaders, and many people exercising leadership have no formal authority. It is their actions, not their words, that inspire trust and energy.

Get to know and directly engage with senior McKinsey experts on leadership

Aaron De Smet is a senior partner in McKinsey’s New Jersey office, Carolyn Dewar is a senior partner in the Bay Area office, Scott Keller is a senior partner in the Southern California office, and Vik Malhotra and Ramesh Srinivasan are senior partners in the New York office.

What’s more, leadership is not something people are born with—it is a skill you can learn. At the core are mindsets, which are expressed through observable behaviors , which then lead to measurable outcomes. Is a leader communicating effectively or engaging others by being a good listener? Focusing on behaviors lets us be more objective when assessing leadership effectiveness. The key to unlocking shifts in behavior is focusing on mindsets, becoming more conscious about our thoughts and beliefs, and showing up with integrity as our full authentic selves.

There are many contexts and ways in which leadership is exercised. But, according to McKinsey analysis of academic literature as well as a survey of nearly 200,000 people in 81 organizations all over the world, there are four types of behavior that account for 89 percent of leadership effectiveness :

• being supportive
• operating with a strong results orientation
• seeking different perspectives
• solving problems effectively

Effective leaders know that what works in one situation will not necessarily work every time. Leadership strategies must reflect each organization’s context and stage of evolution. One important lens is organizational health, a holistic set of factors that enable organizations to grow and succeed over time. A situational approach  enables leaders to focus on the behaviors that are most relevant as an organization becomes healthier.

Senior leaders must develop a broad range of skills to guide organizations. Ten timeless topics are important for leading nearly any organization, from attracting and retaining talent  to making culture a competitive advantage. A 2017 McKinsey book, Leading Organizations: Ten Timeless Truths (Bloomsbury, 2017), goes deep on each aspect.

How is leadership evolving?

In the past, leadership was called “management,” with an emphasis on providing technical expertise and direction. The context was the traditional industrial economy command-and-control organization, where leaders focused exclusively on maximizing value for shareholders. In these organizations, leaders had three roles: planners (who develop strategy, then translate that strategy into concrete steps), directors (who assign responsibilities), or controllers (who ensure people do what they’ve been assigned and plans are adhered to).

What are the limits of traditional management styles?

Traditional management was revolutionary in its day and enormously effective in building large-scale global enterprises that have materially improved lives over the past 200 years. However, with the advent of the 21st century, this approach is reaching its limits.

For one thing, this approach doesn’t guarantee happy or loyal managers or workers. Indeed, a large portion of American workers—56 percent— claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic , while 75 percent say dealing with their manager is the most stressful part of their workday.

For 21st-century organizations operating in today’s complex business environment, a fundamentally new and more effective approach to leadership is emerging. Leaders today are beginning to focus on building agile, human-centered, and digitally enabled organizations able to thrive in today’s unprecedented environment and meet the needs of a broader range of stakeholders (customers, employees, suppliers, and communities, in addition to investors).

What is the emerging new approach to leadership?

This new approach to leadership is sometimes described as “ servant leadership .” While there has been some criticism of the nomenclature, the idea itself is simple: rather than being a manager directing and controlling people, a more effective approach is for leaders to be in service of the people they lead. The focus is on how leaders can make the lives of their team members easier—physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Research suggests this mentality can enhance both team performance and satisfaction.

In this new approach, leaders practice empathy, compassion, vulnerability, gratitude, self-awareness, and self-care. They provide appreciation and support, creating psychological safety so their employees are able to collaborate, innovate, and raise issues as appropriate. This includes celebrating achieving the small steps on the way to reaching big goals and enhancing people’s well-being through better human connections. These conditions have been shown to allow for a team’s best performance.

More broadly, developing this new approach to leadership can be expressed as making five key shifts that include, build on, and extend beyond traditional approaches:

• beyond executive to visionary, shaping a clear purpose that resonates with and generates holistic impact for all stakeholders
• beyond planner to architect, reimagining industries and innovating business systems that are able to create new levels of value
• beyond director to catalyst, engaging people to collaborate in open, empowered networks
• beyond controller to coach, enabling the organization to constantly evolve through rapid learning, and enabling colleagues to build new mindsets, knowledge, and skills
• beyond boss to human, showing up as one’s whole, authentic self

Together, these shifts can help a leader expand their repertoire and create a new level of value for an organization’s stakeholders. The last shift is the most important, as it is based on developing a new level of consciousness and awareness of our inner state. Leaders who look inward  and take a journey of genuine self-discovery make profound shifts in themselves and their lives; this means they are better able to benefit their organization. That involves developing “profile awareness” (a combination of a person’s habits of thought, emotions, hopes, and behavior in different circumstances) and “state awareness” (the recognition of what’s driving a person to take action). Combining individual, inward-looking work with outward-facing actions can help create lasting change.

Introducing McKinsey Explainers : Direct answers to complex questions

Leaders must learn to make these five shifts at three levels : transforming and evolving personal mindsets and behaviors; transforming teams to work in new ways; and transforming the broader organization by building new levels of agility, human-centeredness, and value creation into the entire enterprise’s design and culture.

An example from the COVID-19 era offers a useful illustration of this new approach to leadership. In pursuit of a vaccine breakthrough, at the start of the pandemic Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel increased the frequency of executive meetings  from once a month to twice a week. The company implemented a decentralized model enabling teams to work independently and deliver on the bold goal of providing 100 million doses of vaccines in 12 months. “The pace was unprecedented,” Bancel said.

What is the impact of this new approach to leadership?

This new approach to leadership is far more effective. While the dynamics are complex, countless studies show empirical links among effective leadership, employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and profitability.

How can leaders empower employees?

Empowering employees , surprisingly enough, might mean taking a more hands-on leadership approach. Organizations whose leaders successfully empower others through coaching are nearly four times more likely to make swift, good decisions and outperform other companies . But this type of coaching isn’t always natural for those with a more controlling or autocratic style.

Here are five tips to get started  if you’re a leader looking to empower others:

• Provide clear rules, for example, by providing guardrails for what success looks like and communicating who makes which decisions. Clarity and boundary structures like role remits and responsibilities help to contain any anxiety associated with work and help teams stay focused on their primary tasks.
• Establish clear roles, say, by assigning one person the authority to make certain decisions.
• Avoid being a complicit manager—for instance, if you’ve delegated a decision to a team, don’t step in and solve the problem for them.
• Address culture and skills, for instance, by helping employees learn how to have difficult conversations.
• Begin soliciting personal feedback from others, at all levels of your organization, on how you are experienced as a leader.

How can leaders communicate effectively?

Good, clear communication is a leadership hallmark. Fundamental tools of effective communication  include:

• defining and pointing to long-term goals
• listening to and understanding stakeholders
• creating openings for dialogue
• communicating proactively

And in times of uncertainty, these things are important for crisis communicators :

• give people what they need, when they need it
• communicate clearly, simply, and frequently
• choose candor over charisma
• revitalize a spirit of resilience
• distill meaning from chaos
• support people, teams, and organizations to build the capability for self-sufficiency

Learn more about our People & Organizational Performance Practice .

Is leadership different in a hybrid workplace?

A leader’s role may look slightly different in remote or hybrid workplace settings . Rather than walking around a physical site, these leaders might instead model what hybrid looks like, or orchestrate work based on tasks, interactions, or purpose. Being communicative and radiating positivity  can go a long way. Leaders need to find other ways to be present and accessible, for example, via virtual drop-in sessions, regular company podcasts, or virtual townhalls. Leaders in these settings may also need to find new ways to get authentic feedback. These tactics can include pulse surveys or learning to ask thoughtful follow-up questions that reveal useful management insights.

Additional considerations, such as making sure that in-person work and togetherness has a purpose, are important. Keeping an eye on inclusivity in hybrid work  is also crucial. Listening to what employees want, with an eye to their lived experience, will be vital to leaders in these settings. And a focus on output, outcomes, results, and impact—rather than arbitrary norms about time spent in offices— may be a necessary adaptation in the hybrid era .

How should CEOs lead in this new world?

Just as for leadership more broadly, today’s environment requires CEOs to lead very differently. Recent research indicates that one-third to one-half of new CEOs fail within 18 months.

What helps top performers thrive today? To find out, McKinsey led a research effort to identify the CEOs who achieved breakaway success. We examined 20 years’ worth of data on 7,800 CEOs—from 3,500 public companies across 70 countries and 24 industries. The result is the McKinsey book CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest (Scribner, March 2022). Watch an interview with the authors for more on what separates the best CEOs from the rest .

Getting perspective on leadership from CEOs themselves is enlightening—and illustrates the nuanced ways in which the new approach to leadership described above can be implemented in practice. Here are a few quotes drawn from McKinsey’s interviews with these top-level leaders :

• “I think the fundamental role of a leader is to look for ways to shape the decades ahead, not just react to the present, and to help others accept the discomfort of disruptions to the status quo.” — Indra Nooyi , former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
• “The single most important thing I have to do as CEO is ensure that our brand continues to be relevant.” — Chris Kempczinski , CEO of McDonald’s
• “Leaders of other enterprises often define themselves as captains of the ship, but I think I’m more the ship’s architect or designer. That’s different from a captain’s role, in which the route is often fixed and the destination defined.” — Zhang Ruimin , CEO of Haier
• “I think my leadership style [can be called] ‘collaborative command.’ You bring different opinions into the room, you allow for a really great debate, but you understand that, at the end of the day, a decision has to be made quickly.” — Adena Friedman , CEO of Nasdaq
• “We need an urgent refoundation of business and capitalism around purpose and humanity. To find new ways for all of us to lead so that we can create a better future, a more sustainable future.” — Hubert Joly , former chairman and CEO of Best Buy

What is leadership development?

Leaders aren’t born; they learn to lead over time. Neuroplasticity refers to the power of the brain to form new pathways and connections through exposure to novel, unfamiliar experiences. This allows adults to adapt, grow, and learn new practices throughout our lifetimes.

When it comes to leadership within organizations, this is often referred to as leadership development. Programs, books, and courses on leadership development abound, but results vary.

Leadership development efforts fail for a variety of reasons. Some overlook context; in those cases, asking a simple question (something like “What, precisely, is this program for?”) can help. Others separate reflections on leadership from real work, or they shortchange the role of adjusting leaders’ mindsets, feelings, assumptions, and beliefs, or they fail to measure results.

So what’s needed for successful leadership development? Generally, developing leaders is about creating contexts where there is sufficient psychological safety in combination with enough novelty and unfamiliarity to cultivate new leadership practices in response to stimuli. Leadership programs that successfully cultivate leaders are also built around “placescapes”—these are novel experiences, like exploring wilderness trails, practicing performing arts, or writing poetry.

When crafting a leadership development program, there are six ingredients to incorporate  that lead to true organizational impact:

• Set up for success:
• Focus your leadership transformation on driving strategic objectives and initiatives.
• Commit the people and resources needed.
• Be clear about focus:
• Engage a critical mass of leaders to reach a tipping point for sustained impact.
• Zero in on the leadership shifts that drive the greatest value.
• Execute well:
• Architect experiential journeys to maximize shifts in mindsets, capabilities, and practices.
• Measure for holistic impact.

A well-designed and executed leadership development program can help organizations build leaders’ capabilities broadly, at scale. And these programs can be built around coaching, mentoring, and having people try to solve challenging problems—learning skills by applying them in real time to real work.

What are mentorship, sponsorship, and apprenticeship?

Mentorship, sponsorship, and apprenticeship can also be part of leadership development efforts. What are they? Mentorship refers to trusted counselors offering guidance and support on various professional issues, such as career progression. Sponsorship is used to describe senior leaders who create opportunities to help junior colleagues succeed. These roles are typically held by more senior colleagues, whereas apprenticeship could be more distributed. Apprenticeship  describes the way any colleague with domain expertise might teach others, model behaviors, or transfer skills. These approaches can be useful not only for developing leaders but also for helping your company upskill or reskill employees quickly and at scale.

For more in-depth exploration of these topics, see McKinsey’s insights on People & Organizational Performance . Learn more about McKinsey’s Leadership & Management  work—and check out job opportunities if you’re interested in working at McKinsey.

Articles referenced include:

• “ Author Talks: What separates the best CEOs from the rest? ,” December 15, 2021, Carolyn Dewar , Scott Keller , and Vik Malhotra
• “ From the great attrition to the great adaptation ,” November 3, 2021, Aaron De Smet  and Bill Schaninger
• “ The boss factor: Making the world a better place through workplace relationships ,” September 22, 2020, Tera Allas  and Bill Schaninger
• " Leading agile transformation: The new capabilities leaders need to build 21st century organizations ," October 1, 2018, Aaron De Smet , Michael Lurie , and Andrew St. George
• " Leading Organizations: Ten Timeless Truths ," 2017, Scott Keller  and Mary Meaney
• “ Leadership in context ,” January 1, 2016, Michael Bazigos, Chris Gagnon, and Bill Schaninger
• “ Decoding leadership: What really matters ,” January 1, 2015, Claudio Feser, Fernanda Mayol, and Ramesh Srinivasan

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What does leadership mean to you? Sample answers & more

Every team needs a leader . Be it a family, a group of friends, a sports team, or a department in a big corporation. Someone always leads and others follow , though it may not always be obvious to the people who are led, or to an eye of an outside observer. You may get a question about leadership in any job interview . Because in every single job you will either lead someone, or someone will lead you . Formally or informally, liberally or with an iron fist, with love or with hate. The relationship of the leader and the follower is always present in the workplace.

They may ask you a few questions about leadership . “Are you a leader or a follower?”, “Tell us about a time when you demonstrated leadership”, “Describe the best leader you’ve ever had.” And we analyze all these questions on the pages of InterviewPenguin.com. In this post, however, we will look at perhaps the toughest leadership question of all: What does leadership mean to you?

Let’s start directly with seven sample answers to the question. I tried to include on my list answers fitting for different corporate roles and interviews . Answers for people who will lead, and people who will be led. I also added a couple of unconventional answers to the list, just to give you a better selection. Once you get through the answers (and hopefully find one you modify slightly and use in your interview), do not forget to read also my notes below, for additional hints and explanations.

7 sample answers to “What does leadership mean to you?” interview question

• For me personally, it means empowering people . Helping them to grow under my leadership , and realize their full potential in the workplace. The best leaders help their people discover qualities and strengths they were not even aware of before. They help them overcome prejudice and any self-imposed limitations. Leaders simply help their team members become the best versions of themselves . That’s what leadership means to me.
• In my eyes, leadership is the most important quality of every employee . Because we have many levels of leadership. Even when you do not manage or lead anyone else in the job, you have to be the leader of your own working day . You need to prioritize your tasks, find inner motivation to try hard day after day, organize your day in a meaningful way, and work on your personal growth. Though most people do not realize it, everyone has to be a leader , at least if they want to progress in life, and do something good for the others. Of course, once you are responsible for a team, a department, or for an entire company , it’s yet another level of leadership and requires additional layer of skills. Still, in both cases, it is the most important quality of an employee.
• More than anything else, it is something I haven’t experienced in my two previous jobs . I was a new force in the company, I did not know anyone, and I was new in the field. More than anything else I was looking for a mentor , someone who would guide me and help understand the cash-flow. Someone who would help me grow and become a valuable member of the FP&A team. But it did not happen. I do not know if they were afraid of me, of my intelligence. Perhaps they worried that I could eventually replace them in their managerial roles . One way or another, they’ve never really let me in, and it is one of the reasons why I left the company and am here with you in this interview today.
• In my opinion, leadership means going by example . I cannot expect my subordinates to stay an hour overtime at work, and to spend just 45 minutes at lunch, if I leave every day at 4pm, and spent 90 minutes each day eating in a fancy restaurant. That’s not going to inspire anyone. All words are empty, if we do not follow up on them with action.  I do not want to be a leader–talker. Someone with a full mouth of big words in daily meetings, expecting a lot from others, but doing a little on my own. That’s not my style of leadership. On the contrary, I want to be the one who goes an extra mile for the company , and I hope to inspire my subordinates to do the same. Of course, they have to understand the benefits–the relation of their personal goals and the goals we try to achieve as a business. As a good leader, however, you should not struggle to explain it to your people.
• What does leadership mean to me? It means a lot of things: Responsibility, commitment, empathy, communication, positive attitude . This is my first job application , so I have not had a chance yet to be a leader in a corporation, or to experience a leadership of a manager. But I believe to understand quite well what the concept entails , and I definitely want to promote the right values in my team . Regardless of my position in the team–even if I am the lowest ranked employee, I want to be a leader . Not necessarily a leader of decisions, or a leader of innovation, but leader of values , someone who brings responsibility, empathy, and positive attitude to the team.
• In my opinion, real leadership is something we are missing in this country . And I do not speak only about politics. When you look at the corporate world, how irresponsibly it acts towards the nature , how it ignores the global warming, and at the fact that two thirds of employees are mentally drained or at least unsatisfied with their jobs , it is obvious that something has gone terribly wrong in the recent years. More often than not, fish stinks from the head . If an organization (of any kind, private or public) experience a high employee turnover, and if the people go to work only because they have to , there is definitely something wrong with leadership of that organization. And it is something I witness a lot in talks with my friends, the employees of various corporations. But I do not want to sound negative . I do not see this as an irreversible trend. I hope to be the leader of a positive change , regardless of my position in the team, or in the company. Empowering people and helping them find a meaningful purpose in their jobs, I can definitely change something to better. Perhaps not in the world or even in the entire company, but certainly in my team, in the lives of people I share the workplace with. It is highly motivating to me.
• Speaking honestly, it is just another empty buzzword to me . Diversity, ambiguity, equal opportunity, leadership–we hear them way too often in the interviews. But what do they mean in the real corporate landscape ? Only naive people believe that something like equality exists, or can ever exist in the world. And diversity? Sure enough, everyone embraces it in the interviews, but when it comes to real work, we prefer to have colleagues who share the same values and religious beliefs . And leadership? Corporate managers talk a lot about it. Once you have a job, however, you quickly realize that the big corp has a process in place for absolutely everything . There’s a line you have to follow in everything you do. No room to bring new ideas onboard, or perhaps challenge the status quo. Sure, you can lead by example, spending twelve hours a day at work. But is it eventually good for anyone? I doubt it. For me, all these corporate values and buzzwords, including leadership, are just smoke and mirror. But I would love to work for a corporation that can convince me of the opposite . Can it be your corporation?

You can always be the leader–one they are looking for in every interview

Let’s face it. Regardless of whether the concept of leadership is a real thing, or just a fad in your future place of work, companies want to hire leaders . And it doesn’t matter if you apply for a job of an office assistant, supervisor, or manager of an entire marketing department. Because leadership has many forms. Even when you do not lead anyone formally, you can be an informal leader within your group, team, squad, department.

Ensure them that you aspire to become one . You can talk about going by example, bringing positive attitude onboard, empowering people, or simply effectively managing and leading each day at work, getting done as much as possible . That’s the attitude they are looking for in the very best job applicants.

* Special Tip: This isn’t the most difficult question you will face while interviewing for any leadership or managerial role. You will face questions about prioritization, dealing with pressure, solving problems , and other tricky scenarios that happen in the workplace. If you want to make sure that you stand out with your answers and outclass your competitors, have a look at our Interview Success Package . Up to 10 premium answers to 50 tricky scenario based questions (+ more) will make your life much easier in the interviews. Thank you for checking it out!

Do not be afraid of an unconventional answer–it can easily win you the job

Life’s not black and white, but interviews sometimes are black and white . I’ve led enough interviews back in the day to tell. Most candidates giving the same answers, coming perfectly prepared, saying what is expected from a typical mainstream corporate employee .

And while this technique isn’t bad, and it can win you the job in many cases, it won’t do you any good in competitive interviews and situations . If you compete with twenty or hundred other people for some really good job–let’s say a leadership position with a six figure annual salary , you have to stand out with something . Not all interview questions offer you an opportunity to stand out, to make the hiring managers think, to make sure they will remember you long after the end of the interviews . But this question offers you such an opportunity.

You can talk about a failure of leadership in your country . Or even say that fish stinks from the head. And if you are brave enough, or have nothing to lose in the interview, you can even say that leadership is just another corporate buzzword , and has nothing to do with the reality in the workplace.

Such answers are risky. But they can stir an interesting discussion in an interview, and they will almost always help you stand out from the crowd. In certain competitive scenarios, they are your best bet…

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions :

• What is your leadership style?
• Are you a leader, or a follower?
• Are you a leader, or a manager?
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Leadership Style: Reflection and Analysis Essay

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Introduction

Analysis of the results, explanation of the test results, the influence of chosen traits on my leadership style, test results.

The concept of leadership is an essential part of the modern world due to the fact that it is one of the key determinants of successful management. Therefore, it is critical to be able to properly assess and evaluate one’s personality and its corresponding leadership style. The main reason is that leadership can be expressed in various forms. However, it is also important for a potential leader to have the capacity to communicate his or her vision.

The test results suggest that as a leader, I possess a clear and precise vision for a company, but the biggest issue is that I might have trouble communicating my ideas. It also states that I should develop a specific set of communication skills, which will match my personality. In addition, I might lack self-assurance, which is crucial for any leader. Therefore, the main point of the test result is to encourage improving my communication skills.

According to the test results, my biggest strengths are that I have a clear vision, I am mentally resilient, I do not get distracted by staying focused, and I have a great deal of determination. In the traditional culture of organizations built on hierarchy and control, personal power was probably the most important argument for persuasion. Employees who do not believe in the goal set for them will work with enthusiasm, by force, following the orders of the boss. As far as upbringing is concerned, here, it is necessary to take into account that sympathy greatly affects human relations and interaction (Crawford, Dawkins, Martin, & Lewis, 2019). The more people like a leader, the more willing they are to persuade and influence, and this is one of the keys to effective communication.

Nevertheless, my weakest leadership and personality traits are that I do not excel at communicating my ideas, I might lack self-assurance, I can have problems in keeping employees motivated, and employees might not share my passion. In addition, it is absolutely essential to build trust and be competent. Even if they like a leader, people may doubt that he or she has enough experience, knowledge, or information that would add weight to your words. The ability to build trust plays a huge role in persuasion, influence, and effective communication. A leader should think about how much the interlocutor sympathizes and trusts him/her and his/her words.

Having a clear vision is a vital trait for a leader, thus, I will share it by communicating it through texts and images, because they do not directly require person-to-person interaction. My mental resilience will not only help me to stay focused, but it also can be used to make the company as resilient as possible. In addition, I, as a leader, who cannot get distracted, will remove all unnecessary distractions among employees and the workplace.

However, it is critical for me to develop strong communication skills in order to better communicate my vision and goal. My introverted personality can be used to my advantage by assigning personal meetings with my employees. Although I can have problems with keeping employees motivated, I can solve that by setting up an effective reward system in the workplace. My perceived lack of self-assurance can be eliminated by using my resilience during difficult times.

In conclusion, it is highly important for a leader to have a clear vision and to be able to communicate it to his or her followers. My greatest strength is my resilience, which means that I always stay focused on the primary goal. However, I have issues in transferring the given determination and motivation to my employees. Thus, I should use my strengths to cover my weaknesses by communicating with my key employees on a personal level.

“Even if you have a clear vision for your company, it is not an easy task for you to communicate these plans in a way that excites others. Employees likely won’t put a great deal of effort into achieving goals for which they share little or no passion. The manner in which you communicate your vision is essential. For instance, if you present your ideas to others in a manner that sometimes lacks self-assurance, they likely won’t go over well. People who excel in this area are innovative visionaries who are confident in their ability to persuade and convince others. They consider it essential to make those they lead aware of, as well as part of, their vision.”

Crawford, J. A., Dawkins, S., Martin, A., & Lewis, G. (2019). Putting the leader back into authentic leadership: Reconceptualising and rethinking leaders. Australian Journal of Management, 1 (1), 2-9.

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A Full Guide On How To Create Good Leadership Essay

Attempting a leadership essay isn’t such a daunting task, provided you have a grasp of the necessary information needed for a leadership paper. To write this special essay, you’ll need to redefine what exactly an essay on leadership is, how to choose the perfect topic, what should be in the content, and how to organize and structure the paper. Let’s delve deeper!

What Is A Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay is a well-formatted, organized and specialized type of formal writing which elaborates on a generic leadership topic or a superior human figure exercising a great influence on people and transmitting desire and optimism to achieve goals.

What Makes A Good Leader Essay?

There are some peculiarities needed to infuse in your write-up if, for example, you’re trying to learn how to write a leadership essay about yourself.

Also, if you’re just trying to produce leadership essays for college, then you’d first and foremost, learn  how to structure an essay , among other skills needed for this type of essay. Here are some qualities which can be found in a good essay about leadership.

• Choose a creative topic
• Avoid the passive voice (the active voice sounds stronger)
• Search for and study leadership essay examples
• Follow the appropriate essay style
• Focus on the essay structure
• Review the essay

How To Choose A Topic And Make A Great Title?

To choose a topic for a paper on leadership, you need to do some research on the concept of a leader (whether in the corporate industry, political society or even in the criminal world). You have to know the current leadership tendencies in organizational groups or society. You can choose to make a leader the point of your reference by explaining the consequences of their leadership abilities or inabilities.

In the body of your essay, don’t forget to mention several types of leadership styles and point out which one the subject portrays. Finally, you should not rule out making comparisons of famous leaders in the modern world or in history. An example of a great prompt for a leadership essay that deploys the comparison technique would be the leadership styles of President Trump and The Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte as both leadership styles have been subjected to political reviews in recent times since their emergence as president of their respective countries.

Outline For A Leadership Essay

When writing a college or professional essay such as -long and short essays on leadership, planning is the key to perfection. The general outline for any essay, including leadership papers, include an introduction, the body paragraphs (which must be properly linked with transition words and/or phrases) and a recapitulating or finding-based conclusions. Here’s what your outline should look like:

Introduction

Knowing how to start a leadership essay depends on your introduction writing ability. The introduction is the gateway to the essay. Aided by punchy opening words, which are the hook, the purpose of the introduction is to draw the reader’s attention. The introduction presents the thesis statement and leaves the body paragraphs to sustain the reader’s interest.

Body Paragraphs

Having informed the readers of the topic of the essay in the introductory paragraph(s), the body paragraphs follow immediately.

Here, you can elaborate on the concept of leadership and do a meaningful interpretation of the subject – the topic or the thesis statement. Don’t forget to talk about your leadership philosophies and leadership experience in whatever capacity you might have found yourself in. Remember, people are more interested in personal experiences. They are great in helping to sustain readers’ attention.

Remember to state a thesis or hypothesis in the opening paragraphs – which is the intro. In each of the body paragraphs of the essay, try to relate your points to the thesis and use each point to prove its validity.

The conclusion is the end part of any well-structured essay. Its purpose is a no-brainer. You don’t want to leave your reader hanging by ending the essay cold turkey. Any standard essay without a conclusion is just as useless as an essay with no purpose. However, be careful not to present new ideas not mentioned in the body.

As mentioned, the conclusion serves to summarize the developed points, restate the thesis and/or present the findings. It is your last opportunity to create an impression on the reader, and this is where they take the message away. If your conclusion is weak, then we might say the essay’s objectives are not achieved.

What To Include In A Leadership Essay?

Here are some tips on what your leadership essay should include.

Your Definition Of A Good Leader And Why He Or She Is Important

Since your essay revolves around leadership and the traits of a good leader, you’ll need to define what it takes to be one. You may also take this opportunity to trash some common myths on what a leader is (i.e., a manager being confused for a leader).

For reference purposes, the concepts of leadership and being a good leader are explained:

Leadership is the quality of a leader and is that person capable of exercising a great influence on people and transmitting desire and optimism to achieve goals. A leader is a guide; someone with ideas and goals that can spread to a large group of people who still believe he or she can lead them in the right direction.

There are many types of leaders and therefore, of leadership since people generally always look for a person or group that shows them a direction to follow. You can find religious, political, social, or philosophical leadership. Leadership can be exercised in a traditional way. In many countries, there is a monarchy. The king or queen is a leader with limited political power, at least in western democracies, but still have the respect and consideration of the people. Their words continue to be heard and taken into account, especially in problematic times. There are other types of leadership that are not given by birth, such as legitimate leadership exercised by, for example, political leaders freely chosen by their people, or charismatic leaders.

In a way, charismatic leaders are what many understand as leaders since they are people who, by their way of behavior and characteristics, get many people to follow and adhere to their ideas. Some charismatic leaders can become legitimate leaders if they choose the path of politics. A traditional leader can also be charismatic. There have always been kings loved by his people more than others. But it can also be a person who prefers independent movements outside of power.

Charisma is the personal magnetism a person has. It is something very difficult to define but makes one capable of convincing others without too much effort, making people follow and trust the leading figure. Charisma can be used positively or negatively. The leaders of the most destructive sects are very charismatic people that are capable of convincing their followers of the eeriest ideas, including donating all their belongings or committing collective suicide.

Examples Of Your Leadership Style

In the content of your essay, you may consider giving an interpretation to your (or your chosen leader’s) leadership traits. Below are some examples of leadership qualities that separate a good leader from a bad leader.

What qualities are necessary for leadership

• Communication
• Emotional intelligence
• Strategic thinking
• Commitment and passion
• Knowledge and experience
• Leading by example
• Active listening
• Ability to enhance talent
• Setting goals and expectations
• People investment
• Discernment
• Concentration
• Positive attitude
• Problem-solving
• Self-discipline

Leadership Essay Example

To know how to do essay fast, you’ll need some ready-made essay examples for the sake of guidance and inspiration. You may find below a leadership essay written by Oliver Smith useful in your leadership paper.

Writing a leadership essay should be easy. A good essay on leadership starts from the hook, and the thesis statement in the introduction. The points developed in the body paragraphs help affirm the hypothesis. Finally, the conclusion offers the reader a summary through the restatement of the essay’s main idea.

As required for every essay type, your essay on leadership has to follow a definite style and format. Examples are MLA, APA, Chicago and AP styles. Take your time in choosing a creative but new topic and also in writing the content. By following this guide, everything should be as perfect as possible.

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“What Does Leadership Mean To You?” Answers & Tips

February 2, 2023 by Hannah Morgan

“What does leadership mean to you?” is an interview question that makes many applicants stumble. It can feel like a trick question, especially if you’re not even applying for a leadership position!

This guide will teach you how to answer this question effectively and make a great impression.

Table of contents

The reason interviewers ask this question, how to answer “what does leadership mean to you”, what should you avoid including in your answer, example answers.

Questions about your leadership are common during job interviewers, and it doesn’t only come up for managerial positions. And interestingly enough, “What does leadership mean to you?” might get asked even if the position you’re interviewing for doesn’t require you to lead.

So why do interviewers ask it?

Ultimately, this question is a gateway for you to highlight your personal values. Hiring managers want to learn as much about you as possible to assess how you’d fit into the organization. They want to know what you have to bring to the table and gain insight into the type of employee you’d be.

This question matters because it gives you the opportunity to talk about what you value in a leader. Everyone has experience dealing with leadership in one form or another. If you’re not the leader (in terms of your work position), you answer to someone who is.

Explaining what leadership means to you can say a lot about how you interact with those above you in the corporate hierarchy. Discussing what values matter most to you as a leader gives hiring managers a better idea of what form of leadership you respond to and whether or not that fits the organization.

Your answer may also put your skills and confidence in the spotlight. Companies love to hire people who can collaborate as part of a team and work with leaders to accomplish objectives. But they also want individuals who can shine on their own and succeed without a leader holding their hand.

A good response can speak volumes about how you approach your work, possibly showing good potential for the future.

Of course, “What does leadership mean to you?” will also get asked if you’re interviewing for a manager or supervisor position. In that case, the question can help interviewers get a glimpse of what leadership styles you’ll bring to the table and why you think they are effective.

This is a complex question with many layers. It’s not as cut-and-dry as others you might hear in a job interview. And because of this, it deserves a great deal of thought.

Failing to deliver a solid answer could make hiring managers second-guess your abilities to succeed in the role. On the other hand, providing a thoughtful response can move you closer to the top of the consideration list. Here are a few tips that can make all the difference.

1. Reflect on Past Leaders, Good and Bad

The best approach is to draw on your personal experience. You might not have thought much about how your former managers and leaders performed, but now is your chance to reflect on the past.

Answering “What does leadership mean to you?” effectively requires you to develop your own philosophy on how people should lead. Start by thinking of the leaders who positively impacted your life. It doesn’t have to be a work manager. Personal leaders like teachers, mentors, and even prominent figures all apply.

What traits did those individuals possess? What was it about their approach that resonated with you most? Figure those things out and reflect on real-world examples illustrating those traits in action.

Once you do that, you can focus on the lackluster leaders you’ve encountered. Maybe you had a manager who treated you and your colleagues poorly. Or perhaps you had a teacher who didn’t do much to ensure that you understood the material they presented.

Again, figure out what traits they possessed and why they didn’t work for you. Then, ponder what you would have done differently.

After understanding what traits you like and don’t like in a leader, you can compare the two sides of the spectrum to nail down your leadership philosophy.

2. Read Up on Leadership Styles and Qualities

In addition to pulling from real experience, consider reading up on leadership and common techniques employed by working professionals. You don’t have to dive too deep into research, but it pays to familiarize yourself with certain terms.

For example, you should know how to define traits like decisiveness or good communication in the context of leadership. Understanding how that fits into a manager’s duties is also helpful.

3. Think Outside the Box

When giving your response, be bold and give the interviewer a little food for thought. This is one of those questions where providing a standout answer can benefit you. Interviewers hear tons of different responses to open-ended queries like this.

Saying something the interviewer has never heard before is a great way to stick out in their mind. Leading by example, being a strong communicator, and looking out for their team are all answers they hear regularly. And while those are definitely solid traits to look for in a leader, you should aim to go beyond the standard responses.

For example, you might say that leadership is when someone takes accountability and digs in with their team to get the job done when something goes wrong. Or perhaps you believe leadership means celebrating wins with the whole team when they find success because that helps the company culture and also results in lower staff turnover.

Don’t make something up just for the sake of being different, but do a little extra brainstorming to find an angle with your answer that might not be a little less common.

4. Practice Your Response

Our final tip is to practice as much as you can.

Avoid having an over-rehearsed answer. You don’t want to recite anything verbatim because it can come off as inauthentic. Instead, try to have key points you want to hit.

Practice saying them in several ways so that you truly understand the points you’re trying to get across. Aim to have the response locked and loaded so you can deliver it confidently.

Let’s talk about some common mistakes that applicants make when answering “What does leadership mean to you?” While a unique answer can work in your favor, making one of the following missteps can hurt your chances of getting a job offer. Avoid them at all costs!

Avoid Incoherent Answers

Unfortunately, this question catches many job-seekers by surprise. When you have to come up with a response on the fly, it’s easy to get your thoughts mixed up and say something that doesn’t make sense.

Avoid this by preparing early. Only your interviewer knows what they will ask, but you can sidestep those awkward responses by coming up with rough answers to as many interview questions as possible. This isn’t a response you want to think up on the fly, so give it thought and have a strong reply ready.

Steer Clear of Extreme Attitudes

You may not like having a leader breathe down your neck, but you should avoid implying you would prefer not to have a leader at all. That’s not realistic. Every job has a hierarchy of positions. It doesn’t matter what you do, there will likely be someone above you.

Having an anti-authority mentality isn’t a good look either. It could make the interviewer think that you’re not a team player and might be a problem later on.

Don’t Ramble

Finally, don’t deliver an answer that’s too long. Aim for two minutes or less.

Open-ended questions like “What does being a leader mean to you?” can invite wordy responses. Once again, practicing your answer will help you avoid this. Know what you’re going to say, and keep it concise.

There are many ways to answer this question, and ultimately what matters most is how you deliver your answer and what values you mention. Here are a few examples to inspire you.

In the first sample answer, the candidate provides a simple statement. But despite its simplicity, it shows strong values and a willingness to pull their weight as part of a team. It’s a solid answer because it provides food for thought while reassuring the interviewer that this individual has much to offer the company.

“To me, leadership is about inspiring others and leading by example to reach a common goal. A good leader is someone who encourages and enables people to reach their full potential while providing support every step of the way. It’s about understanding one’s own strengths and weaknesses while learning to identify the capabilities of others. To accomplish goals, those in charge need to leverage strengths to overcome team challenges. In my opinion, leadership requires you to understand that a group is more than a sum of individual parts. While individual strengths matter, it’s how people put those strengths to use as part of a collective that makes a difference.”

Our second example offers a more critical approach. While it’s not accusatory or negative, the answer is passionately delivered. The candidate knows what type of leader they want, and they’re not afraid to say it.

“Leadership is about leading by example. I strongly believe that leaders must join their teams on the ground floor to inspire others. If you want people to go above and beyond, you have to do the same. I wouldn’t expect people I supervise to double down and do overtime if I couldn’t join them. Leaders are responsible for motivating and uplifting, but words can only do so much. They have to show that they’re working just as hard. While supervisors usually have different duties, a good leader will put in as much effort as their subordinates to ensure success across the board.”

Our final answer has a bit more depth. The interviewee describes past work experiences to illustrate why they have the values they do. Their response is well thought-out and concise, but it’s memorable enough to stand out.

“Leadership means several different things to me. One of the most important traits of leadership is inspiring others. One of the most effective managers I’ve ever had had a knack for uplifting the team and supporting us when needed. It helped us maintain a high level of productivity, and I believe he was the recipe for our success. Secondly, leadership means putting people in the right place at the right time. Great leaders will recognize someone’s strengths and help them use those skills to benefit the company. I once had a supervisor who identified my aptitude for customer service. So, they reprioritized my duties to focus entirely on answering support calls. I was able to find my groove. Not only was I happier, but we experienced better call satisfaction rates. Finally, leadership means trust and respect. The street goes both ways. Leaders need to trust every individual on the team. Otherwise, those people can’t be productive members of the group or gain enough respect for leaders to trust their judgment.”            

Being able to talk about what leadership means to you will help you craft a fantastic answer to this question and improve your chance of getting hired.

But that’s not all.

Going through this thought exercise will allow you to better identify good leadership and bad leadership during your career. This will help you find opportunities that are a good fit, and be a better leader yourself!

Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including  Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success .

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How to Answer ‘What Does Leadership Mean to You?’

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Why employers ask, ‘What does leadership mean to you?’

Surprising ways employers ask, ‘what does leadership mean to you’, how to answer, ‘what does leadership mean to you’, ‘what does leadership mean to you’ example answer.

Employers value employees with a strong leadership philosophy regardless of the position. Even if you are not applying for a managerial role, you may be asked to describe what leadership means to you during an interview. This question allows employers to better understand you as a person and assess how well you will fit in the organization. This article will help you prepare for the interview question, ‘What does leadership mean to you?’

Employers ask this question to learn about your views on leadership, what you consider a leader to be and what you value in a leader. This information provides insight into your personality and helps employers assess your fit in the organization. Regardless of whether you are applying for a managerial position or not, how you answer this question speaks volumes about your confidence and personal values.

If you are applying for a managerial position, this question helps employers assess what kind of leader you will be and if your leadership philosophy is a good fit in the organization. It gives them insight into how you will manage a team of employees and what employees can expect from you as a manager.

If you are not applying for a managerial position, this question helps employers assess what you value in a leader, what  style of leadership  you respond to and your confidence in your skills and abilities. Leadership does not only reside with people in managerial positions but can come from all levels of an organization. Employers use this question to estimate your ability to collaborate on a team and drive innovation even when you are not in a managerial position.

Employers may gather information about your leadership philosophy through more subtle questions. 

Here are some surprising ways employers ask about leadership during an interview:

• What major problems or challenges did you face in your last position and how did you handle them?
• How do you handle situations when you disagree with your manager or believe they are wrong?
• What advice would you give your previous boss?
• How would you persuade someone to do something they didn’t want to do?

Asking this question in different and surprising ways prompts answers with greater honesty and perspective, which allows employers to develop a more accurate image of your leadership philosophy. 

Here are some steps to help prepare for questions about leadership during an interview:

1. First, consider the traits of good leaders that you admire

Make a list of people in your life who represent good leaders. It can include people you’ve worked with, managers you’ve had, family, friends or prominent figures. For each person on your list, consider what  qualities demonstrate good leadership . Consider the traits that you admire and would like to develop in yourself. Think about if your examples of good leaders share any traits. Those are the traits that make a good leader.

2. Second, consider the traits of poor leaders you might know

Repeat the first step for people in your life who represent poor leaders. Consider what it is about their leadership style that makes them poor leaders. Consider what traits they share; these are traits that make a poor leader. Think about how you would change their leadership styles to make it more effective. 

3. Then, study leadership skills

Research  leadership skills  to further understand the different components that make up a good leader. Identify the skills you currently have and the skills you would like to develop. Leadership is as much about how you treat yourself as it is how you treat others. You can be a good leader without a title or position of authority.

4. Next, define your own leadership philosophy

Compare and contrast the traits of good and poor leaders to help you define what leadership means to you. Identify the traits that align with your character and which you can improve to develop stronger leadership skills. Developing your own leadership philosophy helps you clearly articulate what leadership means to you. 

5. Lastly, use the S.T.A.R. method

When you understand what leadership means to you, think back on your work experience and identify an example of a time when you demonstrated leadership. Describe the event using the S.T.A.R. (situation, task, action, results) method by explaining the situation, the task you had to complete, the action you took and the results you achieved. This allows you to answer the question, ‘What does leadership mean to you?’ and provide an example of when you have demonstrated leadership accordingly.

Here is an example answer for the question, ‘What does leadership meant to you?’:

‘Leadership means inspiring others to work together toward a common goal. It encourages and enables people to do their best work. Leadership is understanding your own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of the team, then leveraging individual strengths to compensate for individual weaknesses and overcome insurmountable challenges. It is recognizing that a team is more than the sum of its parts, and people work best when they work together.’

When answering this question for yourself, think about what a good leader is to you, what qualities good leaders demonstrate and what skills are important to be a good leader.

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1000 Word on Leadership

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Published: Jun 24, 2024

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On writing , author David Sedaris once said, “You need to do the best that you can do, and then you need to take the best that you can do and you need to rewrite it, and rewrite it, and rewrite it.” That’s the dynamic essence of the writing process. Writers refine their drafts, just like they continually refine their craft. I didn’t study writing or literature, so I was intimidated when I began contributing to major publications. But my confidence grew with each byline, and I began to find my voice.

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Here are seven that you can use to level up your writing skills.

Automate Your Busywork

There are no shortcuts to becoming a better writer. The prolific author Stephen King once said, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” That said, you can use AI tools to eliminate some of the tedious tasks involved in writing and leave more time for honing your craft. Here are some prompts to delegate your writing “busywork” to ChatGPT.

1. Generating Ideas And Topics

AI shouldn’t do your writing for you. It lacks the necessary human context and isn’t immune to errors. But it can be a powerful writing partner. As Wharton professor Christian Terwiesch (who challenged ChatGPT to come up with product ideas and compared those ideas to student ideas —ChatGPT won), has said , “Everybody should be using ChatGPT to help them generate ideas.” At worst, you reject all of them. At best, you enrich your pool of ideas.

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Here is a prompt you can use to help get the idea wheels turning:

"I'm an [role/title] writing for [outlet description] targeting [target audience]. Can you suggest some fresh and engaging topics that would appeal to this audience?"

If you’d like ideas related to a certain topic or tailored to a specific style (e.g., a “hot take” versus a personal essay), remember: the more context you provide, the more concise the results.

2. Editing For Grammar And Style

Whether you’re sending an email or publishing an article on a high-traffic website, typos are an embarrassing—and avoidable—faux pas. In today’s world, where internet content exists in perpetuity, anything attached to your name should be error-free. ChatGPT can be a near-instantaneous proofreader. Test out the following prompt:

"Can you proofread this [content] for grammar, punctuation, and style consistency? The intended audience is [audience/recipient]. Please provide a list of any suggested improvements.”

3. Hitting The Right Tone

Spelling and grammar are a crucial part of editing, but they’re relatively objective. Perfecting the tone is more subjective and sometimes more challenging—but just as crucial.

The proper tone can ensure that your text is engaging. It can foster trust and understanding with colleagues and business partners. It can persuade your audience to get on board with your viewpoint. Writing that misses the mark on tone, however, can cause misunderstandings, hurt feelings, damage your credibility, and lose your reader’s interest.

With that in mind, here’s a prompt that can help you achieve the right tone in your writing:

"Can you help me rewrite this [content] for [audience], ensuring it maintains a [describe the desired tone]?

Add context to make ChatGPT’s reply more helpful. For example, if your content should show sensitivity to a certain issue or audience, add it to the prompt.

4. Adding Data And Research

One lesson I’ve learned from contributing to Forbes and other widely-read publications is that my word alone is rarely enough. I can share my personal experiences, but research and data can strengthen any piece of writing.

Instead of researching the traditional way—reviewing your writing and identifying facts that need outside sourcing, then Googling for relevant insight—ChatGPT can speed up the process, leaving you more time to polish those personal anecdotes. Try this prompt:

"I’m writing [describe the content and subject matter] for [target audience] and want to include relevant data and research. Can you review the following text and provide researched-backed statistics and insights on this topic?"

Importantly, always check the sources that ChatGPT generates. It will almost certainly come up with helpful results but they’re not always accurate—that’s where you, human editor, come into play.

Refine Your Craft

To continually improve your writing skills, you can take a page from the habits of professional writers. The following prompts can help you develop practices to become a stronger writer.

5. Daily Writing Prompts

I’ve written before about my morning pages . It’s a great way to clear my head before the day begins and to practice fluidly translating my thoughts into words on paper. If a blank page feels intimidating, writing prompts are a great way to get started. ChatGPT can generate writing prompts in an instant. You can keep it general:

“Can you suggest a couple of writing prompts that I can use to practice the craft of writing?”

Or, if you have a goal in mind, add more context. For example:

“I'm trying to improve engagement with my readers. Can you generate a couple of writing prompts to practice writing engaging content?”

6. Experiment With Different Styles And Voices

If you call your grandmother on the telephone, I’d bet your voice and speaking style sound vastly different from when you’re chatting with your best friend. Writing is the same.

ChatGPT can help you practice toggling between different styles and voices, and in doing so, help you find yours. You can ask ChatGPT for writing prompts to practice a certain style. For example:

“Can you generate three short exercises to help me practice writing in different voices and styles?”

ChatGPT will not only generate exercises, it will also break down the structure and elements of different writing styles and specify the tone.

Or, you can submit text to ChatGPT and ask it to analyze the style and voice. Try this prompt:

“Can you analyze the voice and style of the following text: [insert text].”

I used this prompt to assess the introduction to one of my recent Forbes stories, and ChatGPT said it was “Conversational and Relatable,” “Encouraging and Reassuring,” and “Informative and Practical”—encouraging feedback from my AI editor.

7. Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite

In A Moveable Feast , Ernest Hemingway wrote, “The only kind of writing is rewriting.”

If you want to become a writer, you have to embrace rewriting, whether you’re retyping every word or pouring over (and over) a Google Doc draft. Here are a couple of prompts you can use so that ChatGPT can assist in the rewriting process, one excerpt at a time:

“Rewrite this paragraph in the style of [Ernest Hemingway or any other author]."

“Rewrite this introduction so that it sounds like a story in [publication]”

“Rewrite this email so that it will resonate with [audience].”

“Rewrite this paragraph for clarity and concision.”

Importantly, ChatGPT only does part of the work. It falls to the writer to analyze the results, apply those lessons in future drafts, and, of course, to keep writing.

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The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy

This essay about the role of a president during a civil war focuses on the leadership and legacy of Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. It examines Lincoln’s strategies to preserve the Union amidst secession and conflict, highlighting his communication skills, political maneuvering, and strategic decisions. The essay discusses the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln’s handling of wartime dissent, and his ability to maintain national morale. It also reflects on Lincoln’s personal resilience and his profound empathy, which were crucial in guiding the nation through its darkest period. Lincoln’s leadership is portrayed as a standard of wisdom and dedication that significantly shaped American history.

How it works

The presidency during a civil war stands as one of the most daunting and defining tests of leadership. When a nation is torn apart by internal conflict, the president’s role transcends routine governance to encompass the preservation of national unity, the maintenance of morale, and the navigation through unparalleled political and social turmoil. This essay explores the multifaceted responsibilities and enduring legacy of presidents who have led their countries through such tumultuous times, with a particular focus on the United States during the Civil War under Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln’s presidency during the American Civil War (1861-1865) offers a profound example of leadership in crisis. Elected in 1860, Lincoln inherited a nation on the brink of division, with deep-seated tensions over slavery and states’ rights threatening to erupt into conflict. His election, seen by the Southern states as a direct threat to their way of life, precipitated the secession of eleven states and the formation of the Confederacy. Faced with this unprecedented challenge, Lincoln’s primary goal was clear: to preserve the Union.

From the outset, Lincoln demonstrated a remarkable ability to communicate his vision and rally support. His inaugural address in March 1861 sought to balance firmness with conciliation, asserting the perpetual nature of the Union while appealing to the South to reconsider secession. Despite his efforts, the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861 marked the beginning of open conflict. Lincoln’s response was swift; he called for volunteers to suppress the rebellion, thus beginning the long and bloody Civil War.

Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War was characterized by his astute political maneuvering and strategic military decisions. He navigated the complex landscape of wartime politics, balancing the interests of various factions within the Union. His issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 was a strategic masterstroke that redefined the war’s purpose, transforming it from a fight to preserve the Union into a moral crusade against slavery. This move not only galvanized abolitionist support in the North but also undermined the Confederacy by encouraging enslaved people to flee to Union lines, thereby depleting the South’s labor force.

Moreover, Lincoln’s ability to handle dissent and criticism was crucial. His suspension of habeas corpus and the arrest of suspected Confederate sympathizers were controversial but deemed necessary to maintain national security. Despite facing immense pressure from Radical Republicans, who demanded more aggressive measures against the South, and Peace Democrats, who favored a negotiated settlement, Lincoln remained steadfast in his commitment to restoring the Union. His adept handling of his cabinet, often referred to as a “team of rivals,” showcased his political acumen in managing conflicting viewpoints to serve the greater good.

Lincoln’s legacy as a wartime president is also marked by his profound empathy and resilience. He frequently visited troops, providing much-needed encouragement and demonstrating his deep personal commitment to their cause. His speeches, most notably the Gettysburg Address, encapsulated the profound human cost of the war and reiterated the principles of liberty and equality. Despite personal tragedies, including the death of his son Willie in 1862, Lincoln’s resolve remained unshaken.

The culmination of Lincoln’s leadership came with the Union’s victory in 1865, followed by his assassination just days later. His death underscored the immense personal toll of his presidency, yet his vision of a united and free nation endured. The Civil War and Lincoln’s leadership during this period have left an indelible mark on American history, shaping the nation’s trajectory towards greater equality and federal unity.

In reflecting on the role of a president during a civil war, Lincoln’s tenure provides a compelling case study in the balance of moral conviction, political strategy, and unyielding dedication to national unity. His ability to navigate the extreme challenges of his time with wisdom and compassion set a standard for leadership that resonates through history. The preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery stand as testaments to his enduring legacy, reminding us of the profound impact that a president can have in guiding a nation through its darkest hours.

Cite this page

The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy. (2024, Jun 28). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/

"The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy." PapersOwl.com , 28 Jun 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/ [Accessed: 30 Jun. 2024]

"The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy." PapersOwl.com, Jun 28, 2024. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/

"The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy," PapersOwl.com , 28-Jun-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/. [Accessed: 30-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Role of a President in Times of Civil War: Leadership and Legacy . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-role-of-a-president-in-times-of-civil-war-leadership-and-legacy/ [Accessed: 30-Jun-2024]

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