Leadership Essay 1
43 Chapter 2 Recognizing Your Traits
2.3 OBSERVATIONAL EXERCISE
Leadership Traits
Purpose
1. To gain an understanding of the role of traits in the leadership process
2. To examine the traits of selected historical and everyday leaders
Directions
1. Based on the descriptions of the historical leaders provided in the chapter, identify the three major leader- ship traits for each of the leaders listed below.
2. Select and briefly describe two leaders in your own life (e.g., work supervisor, teacher, coach, music director, business owner, community leader). Identify the three major leadership traits of each of these leaders.
Historical leaders The leader’s three major traits
George Washington: Charisma,Conscientiousness, Enthusiasm
Winston Churchill: Communication, Determination, Courage
Mother Teresa:Courage, Resourceful, Organizational
Bill Gates:Empathy, Vision, Courage
Oprah Winfrey: Encouraging, Energy, Vision
INTRODUCTION 44 TO LEADERSHIP 2.3 OBSERVATIONAL EXERCISE (continued) Everyday leaders
Leader #1: Stephanie Hernandez
Brief description: Stephanie Hernandez is a business owner where I am from, Miami Florida. She grew up very poor. And owns a business today and sells polish equipment. She is very caring towards others and determined in growing and expanding her business.
Traits 1. Maturity 2. Dominance 3. Conscientiousness
Leader #2: Michael Gomez
Brief description: Michael Gomez was a leader to me because he showed me how to be courageous and determined in whatever you do in life. Gomez also taught me to be yourself and be the best at what you do. He would work on something until it reached perfection and world not stop until it was right.
Traits 1. Courage 2. Encouraging 3. Empathy
Questions
1. Based on the leaders you observed, which leadership traits appear to be most important? The most important leadership traits is honest, forward-looking, competent, inspiring, and intelligent.
2. What differences, if any, did you observe between the historical and everyday leaders’ traits? Every leader has a unique trait,considering the circumstances leaders had exhibited different types of traits. But their final task was to accomplish their respective goal considering their abilities.
3. Based on your observations, what one trait would you identify as the definitive leadership trait? According to my observation there is no specific trait that was identified as the definitive leadership trait. Every leader has a unique trait varies upon their situation.
4. Overall, what traits do you think should be used in selecting our society’s leaders? Openness, taking responsibilities, cooperativeness and sociability are the traits which are the most important according to me in selecting our society leader.