Martin Luther King, Jr has often been quoted that the measure of a man cannot be seen in times of comfort but where he stands in times of adversity. In difficult moments, the true values, convictions and beliefs of the leader surface. Sometimes the leader himself does not realize what the foundation of his or her life had been until adversity reveals it. Leaders must face the difficult realities of the influence he or she has the privilege of obtaining. One in pursuit of great leadership cannot deny these realities. Coming to grips with these realities, certain myths must be exposed.
Myth #1: Leadership is found in position. Many are in pursuit of certain positions in life believing lies that the position is what holds the success or influence. Many find as they "climb the ladder" certain compromises are made that go against his or her core values slowly decaying the foundation that makes great leaders great. Rather than being in pursuit of the position, pursue the character needed for the position and the promotions will occur at the appropriate times. Leadership is influence, period. Great leaders have influence with or without position.
Myth #2: Leadership is innate. In other words, many believe great leaders are born with the natural ability to lead. There may be some truth to this as innate personalities and temperaments certainly gift individuals with abilities and skills to lead. However, EVERYONE has the ability to develop the leader within them. The key is learning what defines leadership and the foundation of leadership is character. Everyone has the ability to develop character and as this character manifests itself through one's personality, skills and abilities the "uniqueness" of that person's leadership is revealed.
Myth #3: Leadership is easy. This is probably the most obvious myth of leadership and most widely accepted for those who have attempted leadership. Developing great leadership abilities and skills takes time and a lot of effort. More than just a lot of effort, this effort must be a focused effort. The type of effort needed must be rooted in purposeful leadership - a purpose higher than just self-fulfillment. When leaders have a purpose aimed at benefiting others, he or she finds additional strength to work through adversity and hindrances.
Count the cost. Knowing the challenges and costs ahead of time prepares one's expectations of the realities of leadership and helps avoid the pitfalls of falling prey to the myths of leadership.
I think most people believe these myths are true but they have too realize that they are false. Whoever follows these myths won't be an effective leader. In myth #1 you can be a leader no matter what position you are at whether it be at the top or the bottom you influence others. I believe that leadership comes with that person develops them, in my case I believe I am one of those. Leadership is defiantly not easy at all, it takes effort, belief, time, and any other strengths you may have.
ReplyDeleteIn difficult moments like in economic crises,wars,fighting against poverty true values and ledaership skills are most seen.
ReplyDeleteMyth 1 :It doesnt matter what position you have to be a leader,you can be a president and show your leadership skills but also Mr.Jepson or Mr.Atkins have the same leadership skills or they are better leaders but president has more people around him and has better team,it only matters how good leader are you!?
Myth 2 :Leaders are made they arent born,that is true for me and most people on world,but there are some people who parents were good leaders like royal family or something like that and they always had ledership title.Everyone has power to devolop their ledaership skills if they belaive in themselfes and they can step out their fear zone and break a limit.
Myth 3:Ledaership is not easy,you gotta go throw a lot of pain and figure some hard stuff out brfore you figure out what you wanna do in your life.A lot of efford has to be there to have a full leadership skills and make it work great.
You just need to think diffrwet and you will make a change you want to see in world,but first see chsnge in yourself !
Some people believe in these myths. I dont. Leadership, true leadership in never found in position. Its how you handle situations and get your self up in positions and lead when you are there. Some people are born with the ablility to lead and have leadership. Leadership can be learned though and others can have it with out being born with it. Leadership is NEVER easy. It is hard and very difficult at times. Leadership is a hard quality to have and keep.
ReplyDeleteI think that these are leadership myths and that many do believe them. Some of these myths can be seen as something that could be taken seriously by those who didn't know what it was like to be a leader. I could see where an insecure person who thinks they can't become a leader would believe that one is a born leader. I thinks as leaders we need to help others realize these as myths so they can become strong leaders someday.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in these myths. No one is born with leadership skills. They come over time. From other people and what they learn from things around them. Leadership can not be easy, leaders have to know what they are trying to accopmplish.
ReplyDeleteYou always hear of myths that people talk about daily, but you never hear of people saying that they are going to overcome the myth and prove it wrong. As a leader, you have to recognize there will be bumps, but you have to get over them. Same with myths. There are myths about leadership, but being a leader you have to figure out how to overcome the myths. As a leader, you can't believe everything you hear because you don't know if everything is true. You have to get out there yourself and find out yourself.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these myths are false. Leadership is learned, it's not something you're born with. Sometimes leadership comes easier to some people than others though. You can lead no matter what your position is, you don't have to be in a high authority position. Anyone can be a leader, don't think you can't just because you aren't the head guy at your job.
ReplyDeleteLeadership is more than just something that you can achieve. A lot of people evidently think that if you follow the myths that you listed will help them achieve it. I think that truthfully in order to become a leader it takes a lot of time and trust building. And you have to learn how to make yourself a leader. It's a long process but I'm sure it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteall these myths do not seem, true leadership is not in position but in being a servant and most people are born to lead but leadership does not come to them if they do not work hard and also leadership is not easy because a leader faces a lot of trials and the way a leader handles these trials helps a leader to stand out among others
ReplyDeleteI think it's very important to have good leaders in the authority positions, otherwise they might bring negative effects to the people under them. However, all great leaders were defined by their toughest moments, not success that was handed to them through others. While all leaders make mistakes, it is important to learn when times are still good so you are prepared to succeed when times become tougher and define yourself as a leader.
ReplyDeleteI think that leaders with today's problems must be the strongest leaders of any. The world is going through the most chaotic times and hostility is on the rise. A leader in this time most stand up and fight against this adversity. It will take a great leader put the time has come. It won't be easy and the leader will have to be flexible to deal with all sorts of problems. So who will it be?
ReplyDeleteyes these are all myths, 1 and 3 are easy to tell, but 2 is different. I think its understandable to assume that some leaders are born. how ever, its not that they are born, so much as, they are raised with certain beliefs, for example, in my family, i was raised not to believe something, unless the facts make sence, and add up. some one from outside my family may confuse, my having parents who teach me this, for my just having been born like that.
ReplyDelete