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There are elements of leadership, however, that cannot be taught. In particular, the inspirational aspect of leadership is very difficult to teach. Leaders can reach their subjects in a number of different ways, using a wide range of triggers. While to a certain extent these ways can be identified through scientific study -- psychology and sociology in particular -- there is an element of relating to other people than is entirely inherent. Some leaders are simply born with better charisma and interpersonal skills than others. The former in particular is nearly impossible to teach -- those with charisma that makes others want to follow seldom can identify what it is they do that makes them so charismatic -- they simply are.
Even the core skills that leaders need can be difficult to teach. It has been noted, for example, that leaders typically must be able to allocate resources well, but there is a core underlying talent to this task that will make some leaders inherently better than others. The ability to think in abstract is difficult to teach, yet for a leader this is a critical skill. I believe that thinking in abstract allows a leader to piece together disparate resources and objectives in ways that others simply are unable to conceive of. As a result, a leader with strong abstract...
While problem solving can be taught to some extent, beyond that extent there are leaders who will simply be better than others.
Thus, while many of the key traits of leadership can be explained and at least to some degree taught, there remain many elements of leadership that cannot be taught and as a result there is no clear answer as to whether or not leadership skills can be taught. By understanding the different leadership roles, a person can have a better sense of which skills they already have, and which they will need to develop. It is not impossible to improve one's leadership abilities dramatically, because there are a number of functional areas in particular where skills can be acquired by learning. However, the ceiling of one's leadership potential is also going to be guided by the leadership traits that are inherent. In particular, these reflect the strong interpersonal dimension. With these traits, the prospective leader should understand them and how they can be improved upon, but must also find ways to work within the constraints provided by one's own skill set, in order to maximize one's own leadership potential.
Critical Thinking for Homeland Security The capacity of a government to protect its citizens pivots on the ability of its leaders and high-placed specialists to think critically. Few times in history point so clearly to this principle than the 9/11 disaster. In 1941, the same year that the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, Edward M. Glaser published a book titled, An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking. Glaser's practice of
Leadership Theory in a Changing and Globalizing Marketplace Modern business practice is permeated by the complexities of a changing world. The impact of globalization on the cultural makeup of companies, the effects of the global recession on the conventions of daily business and the evolutionary shifts brought on by emergent technology all call for an orientation toward simultaneous stability and adaptability. Only under the stewardship of a qualified, communicative, flexible and
Leadership Portfolio Political tactics are essential for quality leadership. It is important to be tactful in all situations, and to understand the confounding variables that can impact communication clarity. Politics refers to skillful communications and strategic decision-making. Compromises are critical to good politics. For example, we were working with a large team of over 25 people. Each person had a clearly defined role, but there came a time when egos started
Leadership, Team Building & Communication Leadership theories continue to evolve as the complexity, nature and scope of organizations shift from command-and-control structures to more agile frameworks for managing change. The pace of disruptive innovation is accelerating, forcing reliance on the latest theories of leadership to keep organizations competitive in rapidly changing markets. The intent of this analysis is to evaluate the traditional, contemporary and emerging leadership theories and interpersonal forms of
Leadership and Organizations: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs The theories of leadership date way back to when dynasties existed and people were led by kings. The leader took control and made decisions whenever disputes arose. The question of leadership qualities may not have been all that important then, but people still considered some to be better leaders than others. It would be prudent to begin by giving the fundamentals of the
Leadership Technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills Interpersonal skills entail knowing how to interact with others. No employee desires to have a boss who is inconsiderate or rude or one who has poor human skills. All these could reduce productivity and employee morale. Managers with effective human skills tend to have subordinates who have positive attitudes and strong desires to increase productivity. Managers are always expected in any organization to have harmonious relationships