A skill set called leadership

There seems to be an array of information on leadership. Are they born? Are they made? What skills and qualities do they posses or should they posses?

When I think of great leaders in recent history I think of people such as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  It seems to me that these mythological beings did not exactly set out on their journey with the thought of becoming a leader one day but instead wanted to make a difference in their communities.

These and other great leaders possess a great vision.  A vision that is not based on gain for the personal self, but a vision about having an impact on the “bigger picture” of their world or times, having a positive impact on peoples lives. With the commitment to this strong vision in mind, they set to work with the belief of making it happen, no matter what the challenges and risks at stake.

The gift of leadership is a status given to exemplary individuals and is not something that can be accomplished through acquiring a University degree.

According to what-are-good-leadership-skills.com there are ten basic skills that outstanding leaders need to posses. These comprise of integrity, vision/strategy, communication, relationship, persuasion, adaptability, teamwork, coaching and development, decision-making and planning.

I think a critical skill that leaders need to have is to be people centred. A leader can’t be an effective leader if he or she doesn’t have the confidence of the people.

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