THE MAJOR ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERSHIP
From the Science of Achievement Developed by
Napoleon Hill
The following are important
factors of leadership.
- Unwavering courage
based upon knowledge of self, and
of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who
lacks self-confidence and courage. No Intelligent follower will be
dominated by such a leader very long.
- Self-control.
The man who cannot control himself can never control others. Self-control
sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will
emulate.
- A keen sense of
justice. Without a sense of
fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his
followers.
- Definiteness of
decision. The man who wavers in
his decision, shows that he is not sure of himself, cannot lead others
successfully.
- Definiteness of
plans. The successful leader
must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork,
without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a
rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks.
- The habit of doing
more than paid for. One of the
penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of
the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers.
- A pleasing
personality. No slovenly,
careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for
respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all
of the factors of a pleasing personality.
- Sympathy and
understanding. The successful
leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand
them and their problems.
- Mastery of detail.
Successful leadership calls for
mastery of the details of the leader’s position.
- Willingness to
assume full responsibility. The successful leader must be willing to
assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his
followers. If he tries to shift responsibility, he will not remain the
leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself
incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed.
- Cooperation.
The successful leader must understand and apply the principal of cooperative
effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls
for power, and power calls for cooperation.
There are two forms of leadership. The first, and by far the most effective, is
leadership by consent of, and with the sympathy of, the followers. The second
is leadership by force, without the consent and sympathy of the followers.