Leadership
On an admission application I was asked to choose an essay question. After pondering my choices I found my choice to be easy. The essay question was this:
"Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for heroes," Margaret J. Wheatley said. What behaviors define your leadership style? Describe a time you behaved like a leader. What impact did your actions have on yourself and others?
I believe the true characteristic of leadership is the exchange that develops between the leader and the follower. There is a sense of respect that only occurs when good leadership is present. That respect, as one might refer to, derives from both parties. When a sense of respect is present, the follower admires his leader; and the leader acknowledges his need for the follower and his ever-present skill.
The relationship that is formed between the two is one in which is a necessary part of any human interaction. The "leader" respects his "follower" in the gift of his production and the "follower" respects his leader and admires his quality of admiration; and the direction that such a leader can provide. The leader can shrink in his position, while entertaining the qualities in the person that has chosen to respect his role in providing proper direction and an influence in which often proves to be significant for the duration of a lifetime. When he shrinks to that lower level, although the role still exists; he becomes one who respects his follower just as much as his follower respects him.
It's a mutual understanding with a sense of consideration that makes a leader a true hero. It's one's ability to acknowledge the skill of another and to entertain the idea that the other loves his work and the production of his skill which leads to its finished product. By balancing such a relationship each individual entertains the qualities of the other, and quietly becomes, not only a great skill, but proves to be the art of leadership.
In conclusion, the most significant action in leading is the action of observing and in the end an appreciation that only by observing can one attain. It's a skill, such as in the parent – child relationship, where one plays a role on each side of the spectrum. The parent then, teaches, and the child then learns. The child then teaches, and the parent learns. It becomes a learning experience for both parties and is a necessary part of any working relationship, whether the position is volunteering or for pay.
If I had never observed, I would never have learned. It's by that quiet observation that allows one to acquire new qualities and to use those qualities in the future. We both become experienced. That is where I have committed myself to giving someone my best by dedicating my patience and admiration in the person who is standing before me. I became a leader when I set an example and did not expect them to follow, but merely hoped. When they did, I noticed that I had made as much of an impression on them, as they had on me. They just didn't know that that influence was one in which I needed as well.
It's when I looked before me and silently said, "don't listen to me, but watch me instead. That is where true leadership derives and when I became a leader myself.
By Memory Ann Forwalt (Chadwell)
[03/05/2016]
Photo, Edward R. Mariano, M.D.,M.A.S., Clinical Research. Web. 04 Mar. 2016.http://www.edmariano.com/archives/tag/leadership>.
Leadership. (n.d.). Retrieved March 04, 2016, fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership.
