Major themes
The article, “Developing Leadership Character” by Mary Crossan, Jeffrey Gandz and Gerard Seijts, provides fundamental information about the best leadership skills which one ought to uphold. The three major themes of the article include commitment, competencies and character (Crossan, Gandz & Seijts, 2018). The authors provide adequate information on how character is an important ingredient when developing sound leadership. In addition, competencies are evaluated in detail and thus one is supposed to have adequate knowledge and skills to become a stable leader. On the other hand, the article stresses why building a good character is an important ingredient in the road towards being a successful leader. Notably, the authors make their assertions by providing examples and providing diagrammatic evidence and explanation to the situation being described. Thus, the article makes use of these three aspects in order to develop and enhance the knowledge on proper leadership.
Leadership Characteristics
The piece provides some compelling characteristics of a unique leader. Primarily, the article stresses the need of having a leader with exceptional character who can efficiently practice all the leadership styles effectively. Such a leader should be able any give type of subject and also have enough knowledge and skills to provide sound leadership skills and decisions. In addition, the ability to have unique traits such as neuroticism, extroversion and agreeableness, then the leader is in a position to provide sound leadership advice. Another unique characteristic portrayed is the value the leader upholds (Crossan, Gandz & Seijts, 2018). For instance, pragmatism in a conflict is one of the significant values which the unique leader should uphold.
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Organizational Impact
The article affirms that a leader upholding the three characteristics have very positive impacts to the operations of any given organization. Consequently, their input will work to ensure that productivity is an aspect which is inevitable. One of the impacts brought by such leaders includes enhanced problem-solving skills and concrete integration between the employees in the institution (Crossan, Gandz & Seijts, 2018). In addition, with proper working skills, such leaders are in a position to nurture and tap talent that can be used to elevate the status of the institution in the long run. Hence, this implies that a leader who exhibits the described traits has the ability to enhance the productivity of any given organization positively.
Student Opinion and Position
In my opinion, the article provides a comprehensive assessment of some of the elements which a good leader should possess. The concepts in the article are easy to understand, contemplate and put into action. Essentially, the concepts are also applicable in any leadership style whether autocratic, charismatic, bureaucratic or transformational (Crossan, Gandz & Seijts, 2018). Furthermore, the article provides emphasis on the importance of concentrating on character as it helps to improve the interactions between the clients, leaders and the employees. In my position, the article is comprehensive, chronological in thoughts and has valid content pertaining to best form of leadership to adopt.
Kouzes and Posner
The contents of the article tend to resonate with the concepts upheld by Kouzes and Posner pertaining to leadership. Kouzes and Posner affirm that the best form leadership should be trait-based as it helps the leaders to connect on a personal level with the subjects. In addition, the trait-based leadership ensures that the aspect of managerial based leadership is avoided. Therefore, the article tends to echo the sentiments forwarded by Kouzes and Posner relating to the best form of leadership to adopt in any given situation (Crossan, Gandz & Seijts, 2018). For instance, Kouzes and Posner argue that effective leadership is guaranteed by traits such as competence, forward-thinking, far-mindedness and intelligence among many other factors. The same can be observed from the article where the author highlights competence and intelligence as some of the aspects which leaders need to have while undertaking their operations.
Application and Integration
There are various ways through which a person can integrate the highlighted concepts in their type of leadership. Attending of leadership seminars is a unique way through which an individual can learn the basics and how well to incorporate the basics leadership skills in their environment. In addition, by taking up leadership tasks in the workplace, one is in a position to adequately incorporate the specifics in their operations. Moreover, with continued understanding of the different forms of leadership, one is also in position to come up with new and improved techniques which can help in elevating the overall status of the institution in the long run.
Conclusion
It is apparent that the combination of traits, values and virtues is what constitutes a good character. Apart from these, there are other additional aspects that would make a leader respected and effective and include commitment and competence. Nevertheless, for a considerable number of people, traits, values and virtues remain indescribable. For the authors of this article, they not only describe these features but also, go ahead to critique and review them. While doing this, they, they manage to depict the manner in which a person’s character may fuel his/her journey in becoming a better individual in the society.
In addition, proficiency, character as well as a sense of commitment are vital in the realization of success to a leader. To realize this, one ought to be open to learning and acquiring knew knowledge to be able to enhance his/her skills as well as be in a position to help others in their growth. In the long run, the firms that they work for would benefit and be quite efficient in meeting the demands and desires of the customer base, hence uplift the general society.
Reference
Crossan, M., Gandz, J., & Seijts, G. (2018). Developing Leadership Character •. Retrieved from https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/developing-leadership-character/
