FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE LEADERSHIP DEBATE By Matthew Oye In spite of thousands of studies carried out by researchers to pin down definite traits that one can imitate to become a great leader, none of the studies has bring up explicit traits of the best leader. In fact, the traits research has turn up endless lists. Therefore, the leadership puzzle continues. Writing in his book “The 360 degree leader-developing your influence from anywhere in the organization”, John C. Maxwell (2005:7) indicated that leadership is a decision and anyone can lead others from any level in an organization. For him, leadership is not just a title one hold, but a disposition. Leadership is not only about somebody leading an organization, but is also about the individual member of the organization, the whole members of the organization and the goals the organization is pursuing. Arthur G. Jago (1982) asserted that “The process of leadership is the use of non coercive influence to direct and coordinate the activities of the members of an organized group toward the accomplishment of group objectives”. Also, a leader must have a vision, be a risk taker, delegate authority, and be interested in the intellectual and personal development of their subordinates (Kouzes and Posner, 1990; Van Seters and Field, 1990) The debate around character traits in leadership In the early study of leadership in the 20th Century, researchers tried to find out if there are specific attributes that distinguish leaders from non-leaders. What is it that separate leaders from non-leaders? Are there some elements in the genetics of people we called leaders that differentiate them from other people? Therefore, “The great man” view of leadership was developed to identify specific qualities possessed by great leaders that differentiate them from non-leaders. The great man view suggested that leadership qualities were inherent in certain people that were called leader like Joan of Arc, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela etc. The great man view theory has its drawback being that researchers are unable to agree on a single list of traits that separate leaders from non leaders in all situations. The great man theory then advance into the trait theory, which attempt to develop a list of general traits that seek to assert that leadership qualities are different from those of non-leaders. Trait here refers to the personality of people, their ability and the way they do things Ralph Stoghill (1948) compiled and analyzed a comprehensive survey about the traits of leaders. Although Stoghill analysis was quite comprehensive in its findings, it did not come up with specific list of traits that could differential leaders from non leaders but shows leadership emergence based on participation in a group as a person demonstrate capacity to get work done in that group. In summarizing his analysis, Stoghill submitted that certain circumstances and people require certain type of leadership. Thus, a person who operates effectively as a born leader in one situation may be ineffective in another situation. According to Stoghill, some people may have traits as born leaders but, to be effective such person must be made in time and place of opportunity, development and experience. After Stoghill, research on leadership traits continues. Kirkpatrick & Locke (1991) emphasized that successful leaders are born with some traits like drive; the desire to lead and cognitive ability and these traits enhances their success as leaders. They also contended that leadership activity is demanding and those with the core traits of passion, the desire to lead, integrity, self-confidence, cognitive ability and knowledge of the business have edge over those who do not have these traits. To support the assertion that “leaders are not like other people” which is the main strength of the trait approach, I will like to cite the example of the first president of Ghana Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was said to have exhibited nationalist leadership traits of vision, ambition, cognitive ability right at his early life and despite the fact that he came from a remote village, he was able to rise to the position of leadership in the society based on his ability to cast a national vision and mobilize the people to build the post independence Ghana. Leadership can be developed Erika Andersen (2012) explained that “leadership fall along a bell curve”. According to her, while some people can be described as born leader because they start well and keep doing better, there are folks at the bottom of the ladder who were just not wired for leadership nor matter the efforts you make to get them up. According to Andersen, there is the “big middle of the curve” where the vast numbers of people that can be “made” leaders are. And they can become a leader and become better and better leader when they developed self awareness, getting feedback from subordinates and become good listeners. To validate the claim by Anderson of those who can be made leaders by developing self awareness and preparation, I will like cite the example of Ghana’s current president John Dramani Mahama. Writing in his first book “My First Coup D’état-Memories from the Lost Decades of Africa”, Mahama said he started learning leadership at a relatively tender age from his father who he described as his best friend, mentor, coach, and confidant (Mahama, 2012:38). His father was a frontline politician and cabinet minister during the Kwame Nkrumah government in the 60s. On a personal note, I began learning about leadership from my father at in the village as I watched him guide people in our village into decision making. My father was the eldest in the village and normally all discussion regarding marriage squabbles among the villagers, matters between two farmers and others were brought before him and he would call the feuding parties to a meeting. Most times these meetings were held in the evening after everyone have returned from the farm and could last for several hours. Father would listen for several hours while the parties talked and he would not say anything or give any judgment. It was after each party has spoken their minds and exhausted that he will guide them to reach a compromise. He was known to be very successful at quieting tension among members of the village. Mike Myatt (2012) submitted that although great leaders are great communicators, they are perceptive listeners since they know that the purpose of communicating is not merely the message but to engage which require listening. According to Keith Grint (2005) a leader is expected to reduce the worry of his followers, respond appropriately and be decisive in time of crisis which was what I did. Leadership also involve followership Sometime we overestimate the importance of leadership when we look at how organizations function because we think leadership is something that someone in a position of influence can give to another person, not knowing that influence must be earned. It must also be stated here that leadership do not exist without followership since the people who want to be influenced must willingly allowed themselves to be influenced by the leader and both parties need to agreed on the common goals they want to pursue. Jim Collins (2003) inferred that a great leader is someone who can “built the stage on which others played”, citing the example of Charles Coffin a relatively unknown General Electric first president who he said built America’s first laboratory and GE system management development. According to Collins, GE later successors’ CEOs like Swope, Cordiner, Jones, and Welch who became giants in their own days rode on the heels of Coffin. Looking back at my own experience and reflection on literature, I candidly believe that there are some people who are born with a natural aptitude to be leaders and these people are different from others as their leadership ability showed when they meet different opportunities and experiences in life. There are also those who could start to develop leadership skills and they too can become great leaders. I therefore agree with John Maxwell that if one desire to lead and lead himself exceptional well, take interest in people, get to know people and respect people such a person can influence other in any level of the organization and that person is also a leader. Matthew Oye, University of Leicester School of Management, United Kingdom
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 22:44:33 +0000
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