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Originally Posted by birdmanx35  My question consists of several parts:
Is it possible to become a natural leader, or fake such a quality by gaining the skills required for having that quality? |
From my understanding of it, you're postulating some kind of natural leadership talent. I don't believe talent exists (I posted a link to a study claiming the same thing in the Personal Effectiveness forum). So, yes, I think it is possible to become a great leader, if not a natural one.
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Originally Posted by birdmanx35 If yes, how can one become a natural leader or at least gain the skills required for such a quality? |
As before, I believe a great leader includes some measure of charisma and confidence. And yes, you can gain at least some of the skills that would make you more charismatic and confident. How is a tricky question, but I would recommend trying out sales, and/or try dating for a while (if you're not already in a relationship...even then
). The reason why I recommend both is that you learn to a) take rejection in stride, and b) you also learn that you have a few seconds at most to make a good first impression. Rarely do people change their first impressions, and even if they claim to have, their subconscious minds hold those first impressions. Learn about body language, and follow the golden rule, and realize that "To be interesting, you must be interested".
I also believe that you can become a great leader, and while it may seem forced at first, you'll soon feeling a lot more natural about the whole thing and will become a more "natural leader".
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Originally Posted by birdmanx35 And what skills are required of a natural leader? |
I'd say the skills required of a natural leader are the same as those required of any leader. Largely, I think the willingness to learn constantly is very, very important. Because that will lead to getting better in all the areas.
As I see it, leadership has a few different aspects:
1. Getting the most out of people
2. Getting the most out of yourself
3. Getting the most out of the situation
Different skills are required in each and often times the same skills are required in more than one of the above aspects.
For example, creating a vision for what you want to accomplish is getting the most out of a situation and requires creativity, courage and the ability to continually assimilate new ideas.
Motivating people requires you to have the ability to infect people with your vision and to influence and persuade them. This is getting the most out of people.
Learning how to best use someone's specific strengths for a specific situation is partly getting the most out of yourself and the most out of people.
Never, ever, ever forget the golden rule when dealing with people and besides.
Leadership also requires the ability to keep your head above the mundanities of life, to keep an eye on the big picture and that's something you get out of yourself.
Basically, what I'm getting at is that many of the aspects of becoming a great person are embedded in becoming a great leader.
If I had a better idea of what exactly the situation was like, I may be able to offer more specific advice for what exactly to work on.
Largely though, leadership has a lot to do with people. A vision and a plan and so forth seem much more important, but most of that stuff can't be done without people. So, learn to deal with people the best way possible.
I would suggest teaching something to people. Try 1 on 1 teaching and group teaching and understand the different dynamics of the groups. Learn how to best teach people, because that is joined at the hip with motivating people and transferring your knowledge AND enthusiasm (most professors and teachers forget this) for the subject you're teaching. I've been teaching people a lot lately and not only is it really fulfilling, but it's also challenging and forces you to dynamically deal with people as the situation dictates.
The following is a short list of what I view as important things for every leader to know/do:
Flexibility and the ability to adapt rapidly to changing situations yet not lose the big picture
Create the vision and transfer the enthusiasm of the big picture
Listen to people and learn to encourage them to have ideas, take action and initiative and feel ok about failing
Training other people in the ways of leadership. Truly great leaders lead by example and leave a legacy of other great leaders.
Are NOT myopic and think and see far ahead. This is tied to what I said about the big picture, it may seem like I'm beating a dead horse, but this is ridiculously important. Make sure you understand the farreaching effects of your decisions. Zenith televisions used to be really great and really well known until their idiotic managers decided to subsitute cheaper parts and bank on their brand name for sales. People soon learned what tehy were doing and now Zenith televisions are bottom of the barrel.
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. A great leader cannot keep deferring a difficult decision.
Courage
The ability to communicate with people effectively, through whatever medium.
Empathy
Recognizing a change of perspective is sometimes very necessary. Oftentimes, disaster and opportunity are one and the same, but you need a change in perspective to truly grasp each side.
Many more.
Again, study great leaders, both in the corporate world and in the political world. One of my favourite leaders is Berkshire Hathaway's CEO Warren Buffett. He leads, ironically, by letting go. He buys companies, does what he does best and lets people do waht they do best, and he's a very wise man. Charlie Munger is another one of my leadership heros, he's sorta the quiet partner to Buffett and he's one of those people that stays in the background but are immensely important. He is also a VERY wise man.
I would also suggest reading the following blog:
Slow Leadership
While largely about the corporate world, he often talks about things and issues that are relevant everywhere.
This has been an extremely long post, but i hope you find something of use in here.