Gaining Effortless Leadership Possible?

[birdmanx35]

I would like to become a leader, politically, some day. I am not a natural leader, however, I see changes to be made and know how to act on them. In order to get power to make change, I need to become a leader. I am intelligent and have the skills required of a leader (don't mean to be immodest, but this question requires decent background), but I don't believe I have the skills required to become a leader.

My question consists of several parts:

1. Is it possible to become a natural leader, or fake such a quality by gaining the skills required for having that quality?
2. If yes, how can one become a natural leader or at least gain the skills required for such a quality?
3. And what skills are required of a natural leader?

You may think that my ends are injust, or somesuch, however, I want to make change for the better in the world and this is seemingly the only way to do such a thing.

[RT Wolf]

Study great leaders.

[skrowzdm]

Sometimes the true leaders are not the ones in the spotlight. Every leader has someone that they depend on, an advisor, someone to give them council. From my past experiences (when I had to work with a leader - on a smaller scale than you are talking) the ones behind the scenes are really the ones driving the machine. Maybe you could better put your knowledge to work from that position. Smart people are influential, so influence the right people. If this reply sounds somewhat "controling" please forgive me, I am a scorpio, and sometime this is our nature. Best wishes to you, I'm sure you do well in your pursuits.

[Hugh Hollowell]

There is no substutute for experience. Volunteer in organizations that need help. Sign up for comittes at your church or other social organizations you belong to. Call the Boy Scouts and tell them you want to help with a local troop.

The way you get to be a great leader is to lead. You will make mistakes, but remember that to do something wrong once is a mistake, twice is a habit. Learn from your mistakes, examine your decisions. As your skills grow, so will your influence.

[birdmanx35]

I appreciate all the comments, thanks for responding.

@RT Wolf - Great advice. A good way to "book learn" this skill, if it is indeed possible.

@skrowzdm - Also good advice. Advisors are indeed influential and I understand how that works...

@Hugh Hollowell - I expect to be getting some experience soon within several groups, so I will make sure to be self reflective.

I urge all of you to answer my original questions, as this is a dilemma I am quite interested in... and perhaps an interesting question to answer. While this is all good advice, I'd appreciate some reflection on the original questions. Thanks, all

[RT Wolf]

You'd have to define what a natural leader means to you. I believe the difference between a "natural" or willing leader and an unwilling one is confidence. I'll answer hte rest of your post in more detail (did it before, too, but my post got lost).

[birdmanx35]

A natural leader is a leader whose personality naturally has the talents, skills, and qualities of a leader, and naturally attracts followers.

[Wanderer]

1) Yes, it will obviously be easier if you already have some qualities of the natural leader but you can improve your leadership skills.
2) I dont know if this would appeal (its not for many people) but if you could join an officer training course in the army, do the leadership training, and then lead I think its for a minimum of 3 years in the UK, you would come out with some excellent leadership experience, a very firm foundation of what works and what doesnt, a nest egg of money that you will have been able to save as officer pay is fairly high with low outgoings and a past experience which may bind people to your cause (e.g.) many people will appreciate that you fought trying to keep this country safe
3) The most essential skill for a natural leader is charisma. My brother can often be a real prat, but when he suggests something and enthuses over it I feel myself feeling the same, he literally transfers his passion to me, and I very quickly normally move over to his cause. All I can suggest for gaining charisma is try to be likable, a person of power and influence, and dont show your weaknesses. Public speaking is also very important, you could try joining a club like Steve, or just practice reading in church etc.

Hope this helps
Good Luck

[ViceVirtue]

Originally Posted by birdmanx35

I am intelligent and have the skills required of a leader (don't mean to be immodest, but this question requires decent background), but I don't believe I have the skills required to become a leader.

I'm not sure I understand how you can distinguish between having the skills required of a leader, and having the skills required to become a leader, or that you're capable of one but not the other. Could you elaborate?

The one thing I know for sure is that "Effortless Leadership" is an oxymoron.

[Michael Chui]

There is a book... Visioncasting. I never got a chance to try out the ideas I read in it, and I... misplaced it... but you might see if you can locate a copy.

Also, to attain political leadership, you don't necessarily need to be a natural leader; how many politicians today naturally attract followers? But do they cause change? Certainly.

I agree with Wanderer about public speaking. Get good at improvisation, which means knowing a lot about anything pertinent, and then being able to put it together into a cohesive argument or explanation very quickly.

And again to echo Wanderer, get experience leading. Do community service and volunteer for leadership positions. If you work, lead committees and teams. Or if you're in school, get officer positions. They aren't perfect ways of experience, but it is experience nonetheless.

[RT Wolf]

I would suggest reading Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert Cialdini. It's not actually about learning how to persuade people, but about the reasons why people do much of what they do. I think leadership requires a keen understanding of human nature, to help you determine how best to effect change with people. Will write more later.

[birdmanx35]

@Wanderer- Thanks for the advice, and surprisingly enough, I'm a very good public speaker. I am on the debate team at my high school, and that's really helped me out. Thanks!

@ViceVirtue- I think I have the intelligence required to be a leader, and I think I'd be able to get things done, but I don't think I have the charisma to "inspire the masses"... or naturally gain followers. In order to become a leader, you need to inspire the masses with a political campaign.

@Michael- I will pick up that book. True, many politicians have gotten into office, but I think it would still be good to work on my leadership skills. I'm planning to run for a position as an officer in several of the clubs at my HS, so that will get me some experience.

@RT Wolf- I will pick up that book as well... looking forward to your replies.

Thanks to all, appreciate the help. Keep coming with advice if you have it, it's MUCH appreciated.

[RT Wolf]

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.

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".

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.

[RT Wolf]

I wanna add one or two more things. Truly great leadership is not effortless but, hell, what's worth doing in this world that's easy. And those people that look like natural leaders became naturals by lots of determination and practice. Just as when beginning to learn a new sport, you look awkward and the people who are experts make everything look so effortless and easy, leadership requires deliberate practice. Practicing what you're not good at is important.

And you can practice it everywhere. Next time you're out with a group of friends and you can't decide where to go, take the initiative and suggest a place or two. Take the lead on making sure everyone has a great time and making sure that you include shy people in the conversation and get their opinions. Leadership is, ironically, not about controlling people, but inspiring them and letting them doing their thing. Keep nudging people in the right direction and eventually you'll have nudged them up a mountain they thought they couldn't climb.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by birdmanx35

I'm planning to run for a position as an officer in several of the clubs at my HS, so that will get me some experience.

HS, huh? Good, good, you have a lot of time to get experience.

A lot of schools nowadays have student senates or governments. Most of these are understated parodies. Try finding something that you want to fix and marshalling people to help you fix it. If you can push something through, then you've got something more than the average politician. If you fail, consider it a lesson learned (and make sure you do learn something).

Oh, and the term "statesman" comes to mind.

[birdmanx35]

The Student Council at our school is a joke. I didn't join it because it would be a waste of my time. They do little or nothing except pretending they do something.

Again, Effortless Leadership as in attracting followers... I know leading is a hard thing to do, but gaining followers comes naturally to some.

RT Wolf, your post was great, thanks...

[ABlix]

I heard some wise men talking one day and they said that leadership and being a politician is all about being an actor. If you can convey voice projection, then you can be a good leader! It's about being a public speaker, and practicing your butt off! Join toastmasters. Check out theatre classes. Anything you desire to help you conqeur yourself, most importantly it is about having good values and not wanting the position due to it being a personal ego-boost. It's not going to help if you want to be a politician, to make more money and have some fun with some technology and not really lead anyone anywhere. Politics have been about deceiving the public for a long time, and it still is.

For example, the Roosevelt Corollary ( Roosevelt Corollary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ), and ( Roosevelt Corollary ), was cited as an "extension to the Monroe Doctrine," although in my personal opinion it had very little to do with the Monroe Doctrine. It was then used, to justify US intervention of Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. These wars were arguably used for personal military gain. Later, "In 1930, the Clark Memorandum stated that the U.S. did not have the right to intervene unless there was a threat by European powers, reversing the Roosevelt Corollary. In 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt further renounced interventionism and established his "Good Neighbor policy" of lessened military intervention." The Good Neighbor policy was presented as better to the public (Good Neighbor Policy) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, but according to the "Enduring Vision, edition three," the government simply used less threatening methods to intervene. For example, they would fund dictatorships in South American countries that were more aligned with their policies in order to change what was wanted.

In the movie, the "Art of War," it presents an interesting argument to how our economy is dependent on war and historically this seems very difficult to argue against.

[Brutha]

Politics have been about deceiving the public for a long time, and it still is.

To make politics it is necessary to paint a picture of where we are now and where we should be in the future.
In both you have to leave out certain facts, because all facts together are tolarge to point a picture with them.

It similar to the thing a newspaper does. A newspaper article can never cover everything about an event. So in a sense every newspaper is also deceiving the public.

[Shamou]

You may want to take this test to see if you are an Alpha... or a leader as it were... (see here)

Should you decide to take the test (it's free and they don't spam you afterward) you'll get a personal report which explain quite a bit about being an Alpha... a leader that is...

Best of luck to you

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