Leaders

** Question sparks: **

 * =====** Define "leader" **=====
 * =====** What makes a leader a good one or a bad one? **=====
 * =====** Who do you consider a leader? **=====
 * =====** Why do we need leaders? **=====

** Tasks: **

 * 1) =====** With these questions in mind, choose ONE person you consider to be a good leader, and ONE person you consider a bad leader. **=====
 * 2) =====** Research about these persons and present facts/opinions about them. **=====
 * 3) =====** Feature them in defense (i.e. say why you think he/she is a good or bad leader, what criteria do you use to make such a judgment...) **=====

** Use sub-titles, tables, etc. It's the sum-total of the class's effort that matters. **
// [Teng]: Great to see so many postings! // // I think we need to start organising and making sense and connections of all the materials here. In the spirit of a wiki and knowledge building, let's not be afraid to edit each other's work, and not be offended when it gets edited. Do signpost materials that you've clipped from various sources with quotation marks and referencing, or make a reference like "According to [source], a good leader..." More importantly, the purpose of this wiki is not a repository of things we can find online; it is a meeting place where we construct meaning together and share our perspectives on things. And I can see some of you are sharing your understanding of what a leader is. So I hope we synthesis the materials we have here by going back to the task (see instructions above). Let me get us started...(please do change it if you don't think a table is the best way to present the material). //

Facts: George Washington was the first president of the United States. He is sometimes called the “Father of United States”. During the French Revolution, which resulted in a great war between England and France, George Washington did not take in the advices of his secretary of state and his secretary of treasury fully as the former was a pro-French and the latter, a pro-British. He remained neutral until the United States was stronger. This significantly showed that he was a good leader as he was just and diligent, making decisions that neither would be of aid to France nor England, but instead, made changes for the United States to prosper and grow, and later, led to complete victory over the British. During his presidency, he always provides many prospering opportunity for his country and till today, he serves as a source of inspiration and hope for many people. The state, Washington is named after him and it is the only state in the US that is named after an American. || Zine el Abidine Ben Ali Facts: Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was the president of Tunisia for 23 years. He quit his post on 14 January this year and fled out of the country after thousands of demonstrators came together in the capital of Tunisia to demand for the resignation of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. His whereabouts is not confirmed, perhaps in Saudi Arabia. There were many cases of protest movements reported against Ben Ali earlier this year which caused the temporary closing down of schools on 10 January. Many people were killed in these movements as well. The former prime minister of Tunisia, Mohamed Ghannouchi, has currently taken over the power of the country and also declared a state of emergency and implemented curfews. In the 23 years of governance of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, there were problems such as high unemployment rates, widespread corruption, regional inequities and more. || -Simin
 * Good Leader || Bad Leader ||
 * George Washington
 * Why I consider George Washington to be a good leader: || Why I consider Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali to be a bad leader: ||
 * //To be updated.// || //To be updated.// ||

Qualities of a leader: A leader has the abilities to negotiate, communicate, influence and persuade others to do things. A good leadership is a combination of many qualities like charisma, extra ordinary intellectual skills in oratory, writing, decision making, tactful, steadfast, resourceful, sincere, committed, knowledgeable and above all with a fine memory, sense of wit and humor and a bundle of common sense. Fortunately, leaders are made, not born. One needs to learn to become a leader by doing what other excellent leaders have done before you.

**"The leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist. " ** **Eric Hoffer **

**( Credits to : ** [] [] [] )

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The basic underlying quality that a leader should have is to motivate others to do the right thing. The best qualities of a leader are motivation and vision. He must motivate people so that they do not deter from the path of achievement. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Motivational Skills** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The primary goal of a leader is to motivate his followers to achieve their results, and fulfill their goals. This can only be done through proper means of motivation. Everything else that follows is simply a way of motivating individuals or teams. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Teamwork** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leader always leads teams, or groups of individuals. So, he has to have the ability to inculcate good team spirit within the members of a team. He has to ensure that there are no problems between the various team members, and that everyone is working for the betterment of the team, and in tandem with each other. No one person can be bigger than the team and it is the leader's duty to make sure that everything is working smoothly. The qualities of a team leader should enable him to keep every member of the team happy. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Communication Skills** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The nature of the job of a leader requires him to interact and speak with many people. As a result, he should possess effective communication skills and should have the ability to get the message across. Being ambiguous is not advisable, and he should be able to clearly state what he needs to say. Delegational **Skills** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The primary task of a leader is to assign tasks to people. It will therefore be a big help if he knows his team members well. Good knowledge of his team's strengths and weaknesses will assist him in deciding who must do what. The manner in which this delegation of responsibility is carried out, will go a long way in determining the success of the team. If a person is doing a job that he is not suited to do, the leader must shift him somewhere where he will be better suited. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Take Responsibility** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A leader must know that he is responsible for the team's achievements. If the team fails in a certain endeavor, he must have the courage of taking responsibility for that, and should then take steps to remedy it. He must not blame his team members unnecessarily if they have failed. This is the only way that the members of a team can come to trust a leader. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Honesty** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There are some more qualities of a leader that are more personal in nature and take the leaders characteristics into consideration. It goes without saying that a team leader must be honest and truthful. It will be impossible to achieve the best results under a dishonest or unscrupulous leader. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Approachable** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The qualities of a good leader that make him/her likable to team members all revolve around how approachable the leader is. If any team member is experiencing some problems, or has any complaints, that person should feel free to approach the leader and talk about it. This can be achieved only if the leader encourages this quality, and only if people who have approached the leader before have received an amicable solution. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Consistency** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is one of the qualities of a leader that is often overlooked by many. A leader who constantly changes his or her tune will confuse the team members and this will lower their productivity. A leader must therefore be consistent in his actions, his words, and in his thoughts as well. Leaders who are biased never make good leaders, so he should be completely neutral and should display consistency that amazes everyone. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Professionalism** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">No one likes a slack leader. It goes without saying that the best performer, or the person who is most passionate and committed should be made the leader. This ensures that a level of professionalism is maintained, and that no one starts taking it easy at any point in time. It's easy to get carried away with a position of power, so the best leaders are those who use their power for the betterment of everyone, not abuse their power for their own personal betterment. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Personalization** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lastly, a leader must also know how to have fun. He should get to know his team members and should not appear as an overly strict and rigid personality. The team members should see that the leader is after all just human, and there is a fun side to him as well. The best leaders are those who combine these qualities of professionalism and personalization and still manage to keep their team members motivated and happy.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Qualities of a leader: **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Confidenc**e

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Confidence should exude in every word you say; in everything you do. Have the confidence to manage people and show them the right path, whenever they seek your guidance. People who see panic or uncertainty in the eyes of their leader won’t consider him/her worth depending upon, in the time of crisis.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If you want to be known as a good leader, it is very important to be patient. Be cool, calm and collected. Do not panic or loose your temper when the situation is nerve-wracking. A good leader considers crisis, emotions and tricky situations a part of his journey and never looses his composure.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Patience **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">To become a good leader, you should always remains steadfast to the goal, without wasting time in checking for the possibility of hindrances that might creep in. If you find any obstacles in this process, consider it as your moral responsibility to solve them and find better ways to make progress towards the target.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Focus **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">People will respond more openly to a leader who is dedicated towards his/her work and constantly works for the betterment of the employees as well as the organization. You should be zealous about your work and prove yourself as a source of inspiration for the people around you.
 * <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Dedication **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">~Admiral Arleigh A. Burke <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leadership is action, not position. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">~Donald H. McGannon

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Don't tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">~ George Patton

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">(Credits to: <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">:DSally

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">There are two sides of the argument. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Kim Jong Il, North Korea's dictator, likes Daffy Duck and fast cars. In 1978 he had spies kidnap his favorite South Korean actress in order to improve North Korean cinema. His agents were implicated in the 1987 bombing of a Korean Air flight, killing 135 passengers, intended to scare away tourists from the 1988 Seoul Olympics. While his famine-starved people eat tree bark to ease their hunger, he dines on steak and cognac in the company of imported blondes and Asian beauties.
 * <span style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Based on the above definitions, do we consider Kim Jong Il as a good leader? **
 * Bad Leader? **

He's also in charge of North Korea's nuclear missile program which have started since 1950s. When it was revealed that North Korea had restarted its nuclear weapons program late last year, and expelled arms inspectors, the unexpected provocation had U.S. diplomats asking a vexing question: How do you negotiate with a madman?

<span style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Dr. Kongdan Oh, coauthor of "North Korea Through the Looking Glass," insists the first step is to stop thinking of him as one. One of the West's foremost experts on Korean politics and culture, Oh gets impatient with the media's fixation on Kim Jong Il's cult of personality, and says the U.S. is focusing on all the wrong things during the current showdown. Kim is contemptible, maybe even evil as a dictator, but he's not crazy. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">He is a very bright, very daring, very bold dictator who knows how to control his society and act strategically to shock his people and the globe. He is a dictator, naturally brutal, power-hungry people with a dominating mindset. However, he definitely is a good manager, what proves this is how the country still managed to be pulled together despite a devastating economy since 1990s. Although his methods was using fear and punishment to control the population and potential opposition, he managed to prevent his population from standing against him. In fact, he has been very successful.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is he a Madman? **
 * <span style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Good Leader? **

<span style="color: #555555; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">If i refer to the above quote as mentioned in the earlier post, which stated that all good characteristics should be found in a leader, he definitely does not possess it. Personally i feel that he does not show much concern to the well-being of his people, he isn't an upright man, considering his deeds in the past, however, he is capable of holding the country together, and maintaining a strong army in North Korea, despite his harsh character.

<span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #555555; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; padding-right: 10px;">[]

__**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Attributes of a Leader **__

// "To do great things is difficult; but to command great things is more difficult." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche, german philosopher ~ //

I think being a leader is not so much about ordering people around. It is about moving people with words, with trust and with shown capabilities that make them willing, not compelled to work for you. I don't know but isn't it interesting that some people have the ability to rise above others and people listen to them? Like come on, who are they to tell you what to do? But somehow, they just seem to have the powers to make you follow them, to convince you to assist them in their goals.

And I think that is the essence of leadership. To be decisive, wise, have the foresight, great analytical powers, organisational abilities, and most importantly, the power to gather people together. Afterall, what is a leader without a team? This power could come in the form of effective communication - to convince, to assure, to motivate the team; or even in the form of leading by example. He/ She must possess the ability to get things done yet ensuring that her team members are working in harmony and happy.

Finally, I think leaders should also recognise that the project is not about you and yourself alone, but the team and the team's interest. They should be able to put aside their personal interests and look at the bigger picture to make informed decisions that would benefit the team greatly.

Sophia :)

Being a leader requires you to have many qualities. For one, you must be able to gain the general public's support, thus, the people must be looking up to the leader and respecting him/her for his qualities or works. How could leaders gain such overwhelming support?

Leaders, through the possession of various attributes, are able to channel all their qualities towards attaining a certain goal, and others support them, believing that the leader is proficient enough to be the leader. Therefore, a leader must treat all his/her people equally, be responsible and honest in all his/her words and actions, selfless, compassionate, discerning, reliable and lastly, not allow his/her own emotions or wants affect his/her decisions for the country. A leader must also be constant, not using his/her own power to his/her own whims.

As a leader, one must also be meticulous, persevering, determined, mature and knows his own limitations. One must be able to live a great life first before teaching others how to live their lives themselves. In short, leaders must be role models and inspire the followers to follow him/her.

In conclusion, one of the greatest factors in deciding a leader are the people who will be led. If they must are able to trust a certain someone to do what is best for them and bring them to greater heights, that someone would be their leader, one that they will look up to and respect.

Leaders are where faith is deposited. -me

Jocelyn(:

__** Qualities of a Leader **__

//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Men make history and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better. // <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">~ Harry S. Truman

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A leader, as defined in the dictionary, is a person who leads. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">A good leader should be: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- diligent and quick to adapt to the constant changes in his surrounding environment <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- a good listener and understanding <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- decisive and is willing to accept others’ suggestions and ideas <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- responsive and pro-active <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- responsible for his actions <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- respectable <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- practical <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- just <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- morally upright <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- humble <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">- honest

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Leaders lead us to overcome difficulties when we are not sure of handling them. They ensure that right things are done at the right times and make sure that the system runs well.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">I feel that a good leader, especially one that holds great authority, for example the president, should be morally upright and takes into mind the various challenges and needs of the citizens of the country. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Just my 2 cents worth! Feel free to edit or reorganize the info above! <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Thank you for reading!

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">-Simin

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Resources:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">(Sorry if they are not correctly formatted!) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Fernando, B.. (2010). //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Good leadership. // Available: http://ezinearticles.com/?Good-Leadership&id=5243679. Last accessed 24 January 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Hakala, D. (2008). //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Top 10 Leadership Qualities. // Available: http://www.hrworld.com/features/top-10-leadership-qualities-031908/. Last accessed 24 January 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Papa, N (eHow Contributer). (2010). //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Leadership: What Makes a Good Leader?. // Available: http://www.ehow.com/about_6640154_leadership_-good-leader_.html. Last accessed 24 January 2011.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Richard G Lowe, Jr. (2009). //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Good Leader. // Available: http://www.goodleader.org/. Last accessed 24 January 2011. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">George Washington: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[]