Agree With the Following Opinion: \"Leading Others

¶ … agree with the following opinion: "Leading others effectively requires the ability to lead oneself"

In order to be able to evaluate the assertion, we need to define the two separate levels on which this is functioning and decide on the correlations between the two. First of all, we have the individual, personal level on which we need to study the main characteristics of a successful leadership. Second, there is the interpersonal, where an efficient leader is able to complete the four functions of management (organizing, planning, coordinating, control), among other things. Finally, we need to determine how the first level influences the second.

A good leader has several qualities that he uses in his relations with his subordinates and that make his leadership efficient. First of all, a good leader has a vision that he bestows upon his subordinates. This vision is more than a strategic orientation or a long-term plan. It is something that the subordinates will believe in and something they will share and fight for. A vision will also be a common goal for those working for the leader.

On the individual plan, every successful leader will have a vision for himself. This may be a vision related to his management plans and objectives, to the way he will coordinate his team or to his own personal goals, but it is certain that a vision will help him concentrate his forces on achieving the goal and fulfilling the vision. This is very much related with what effectively leading others implies, with the exception that, in this case, the vision needs to be transmitted and implemented to the subordinates, whereas on the individual plan, a vision is not communicated.

The successful accomplishment of the four functions of management is one of the basic components of what an effective manager implies. We will be briefly discussing each in part. The organizing function means that the leader will be able to clarify the tasks, decide what the approach should be and how each will be attended to. On an individual level, every task you set to has to begin with a clear identification of what it implies and how to get around to it. The connection between the two levels is obvious here, as one is a projection of the other.

The planning function refers to a clear schedule that the leader decides upon, with separate phases for each task involved in the project. Both on the individual and interpersonal levels, the planning function is closely connected with the organizing function and are similar on both plans, accomplishing them successfully as a group leader requires their performance as an individual.

The control function is somewhat different on the two levels discussed, but has the same underlying general idea. Constant feedback and follow-up on the work developed mean that mistakes in the process can be corrected along the way. As an individual, you are often in situations where you need to evaluate your status on a certain task you are working on and decide what needs to be corrected and further improved. In a team, you need to centralize feedback from all the members involved and decide where things are not working the way they should.