FACTORS OF LEADERSHIP

For a leader to be successful, he should possess the following qualities:

COOPERATION. The Successful leader must understand and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for power, and power calls for cooperation.

MASTERY OF DETAILS. Successful leadership calls for mastery of the details of the leader's position.

UNWAVERING COURAGE based upon knowledge of self, and of one's occupation. Followers don't want a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. Followers that are intelligent can't be dominated by such a leader.

SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems.

SELF CONTROL. A leader must be able to control himself for him to be able to control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one's followers for them to emulate.

DEFINITENESS OF DECISION. When a leader is taking a decision, he must be sure of himself, otherwise, cannot lead others successfully.

A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE. No leader can command and retain the respect of his followers without a sense of fairness and justice.

DEFINITENESS OF PLAN. A leader who moves by guess-work, without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder which will sooner or later 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 untidy 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.

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 this 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.