SIGNIFICANT TRAITS AND

BEHAVIORS OF HISTORICAL

LEADERS.

RANATHUNGA P.G.K.B

1 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

DEFINING A LEADER

”A man who can persuade people to do what they don’t want to do, or do what

they’re too lazy to do, and like it.”

- Harry S. Truman, 1884-1972, Thirty-third President of the

United States, Miller, More Plan Speaking

"A leader is someone [who] leads by example and has the integrity to do

the right thing even when it is not popular. A good leader has positive influence

over others, inspiring them to become a better person and example for others

to model their life against, as well."

– Mark Little, founder and president, Diversified Funding

"A true leader is secure in creating a framework that encourages others to tap

into their own skills and ideas and freely contribute to the whole of the project

or company."

– Judy Crockett, owner, Interactive Marketing &

Communication

2 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

WHAT ARE TRAITS?

Early trait theory proposed that merely a few personality traits have the ability to

determine the success of a leader. The trait theory of leadership focuses on

identifying different personality traits and characteristics that are linked to

successful leadership across a variety of situations. Traits are external behaviors

that emerge from the things going on within our minds and it's these internal

beliefs and processes that are important for effective leadership. The trait

leadership theory believes that people are either born or are made with certain

qualities that will make them excel in leadership roles.

Stogdill /Mann identified five important traits found more in leaders than

followers.

Intelligence

self-confidence

Determination

Integrity

Sociability

3 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Traits of a good leader.

1. Honesty

Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your actions. Deceptive

behavior will not inspire trust.

2. Competent

Base your actions on reason and moral principles. Do not make decisions

based on childlike emotional desires or feelings.

3. Forward-looking Set goals and have a vision of the future. The vision must be owned

throughout the organization. Effective leaders envision what they want and

how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic

values.

4. Inspiring Display confidence in all that you do. By showing endurance in mental,

physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire others to reach for new

heights. Take charge when necessary.

5. Intelligent

Read, study, and seek challenging assignments.

6. Fair-minded Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display

empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well -being

of others.

7. Broad-minded Seek out diversity.

8. Courageous Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly

insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress.

9. Straightforward

Use sound judgment to make a good decisions at the right time.

10. Imaginative

Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods.

Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to

problems. Be innovative!

4 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

WHAT ARE BEHAVIORS?

“Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Behavior is the range of actions and mannerisms made by

organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with their environment,

which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical

environment.

Behavioral theories of leadership do not seek inborn traits or

capabilities. Rather, they look at what leaders actually do. Behavioral theories focus

on how leaders behave.

If success can be defined in terms of describable actions, then it

should be relatively easy for other people to act in the same way. This is easier to

teach and learn then to adopt the more ephemeral 'traits' or 'capabilities'. Behavioral

theory promotes the value of leadership styles with an emphasis on concern for

people and collaboration. It promotes participative decision making and team

development by supporting individual needs and aligning individual and group

objectives. Behavioral Theories of Leadership, also known as “The style approach

to leadership” focuses on the behavior of the leader and what leaders do and how

they act

Behavioral Theory of Leadership is a leadership theory that

considers the observable actions and reactions of leaders and followers in a given

situation. Behavioral theories focus on how leaders behave and assume that leaders

can be made, rather than born and successful leadership is based on definable,

learnable behavior. Behavioral theories of leadership are classified as such because

they focus on the study of specific behaviors of a leader. For behavioral theorists, a

leader behavior is the best predictor of his leadership influences and as a result, is

the best determinant of his or her leadership success.

These theories concentrate on what leaders actually do rather than

on their qualities. Different patterns of behavior are observed and categorized as

'styles of leadership'. This area has probably attracted most attention from practicing

managers.

5 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Behaviors of a good leader.

1. Inspire and Motivate Others Leaders who are effective at inspiring and motivating others have a high level of energy

and enthusiasm. The point is every leader needs to find ways to inspire their employees

to higher performance.

2. Driving for Result The drive for results is a critical behavior to success. However, some organizations are

all push (drive for results) and no pull (inspiration), which ultimately reduces

motivation. Leaders that do this well are not afraid to ask their employees for a higher

level of performance and continually remind them of their progress relative to the goal.

3. Strategic Perspective Leaders who provide their team with a definite sense of direction and purpose tend to

have more satisfied and committed employees. Employees need to see how their hard

work makes a difference, and how it helps get the organization closer to achieving

success.

4. Collaboration Leaders who promote a high level of cooperation between their work group and other

groups create a positive and productive atmosphere in the organization. When leaders

demonstrate that they can achieve objectives that require a high level of intergroup

cooperation, synergy is created and every employee enjoys the work experience.

5. Walk the Talk A key behavior in creating a satisfied and committed workforce is the very basic and

fundamental skill of being honest and acting with integrity. Leaders need to be role

models and set a good example for their work group.

6. Trust Leaders can engender trust by becoming aware of the concerns, aspirations, and

circumstances of others. Trust can also be built through knowledge and expertise.

7. Develops and Supports Others

When leaders work with employees and push them to develop new skills and abilities,

they are building higher levels of employee satisfaction and commitment.

8. Building Relationships Leaders who stay in touch with issues and concerns of individuals in the work group

have employees with higher levels of employee satisfaction and commitment

9. Courage The leaders with the highest levels of employee satisfaction and commitment are

courageous. Some leaders assume that conflicts will work themselves out and the

problems will simply disappear

6 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi is widely acknowledged as one

of the greatest leaders of the non-

violent movements the world has ever

seen. As a pioneer of Satyagraha

(Shridharani, 1939), which is

resistance through non-violent civil

disobedience, he became one of the

major political leaders of his time.

TRAITS EXAMPLES

Self Confidence Salt march-where he marched 388km to the sea at Dandhi , Gujarat

and make salt for himself

Assertiveness He did the all things in a good and correct way and achieved his

goal of, independence for India in 1947

Warmth Mahatma Gandhi was good with all religions people and

understand their feelings.

Enthusiasm In South Africa’s government came to Gandhi to stop the non-

violence and they demanded many benefits to him but he refused

Emotionally Stable From British government many influence can to stop the campaign

but he was very stable in his goal.

Trust Worthiness He always walked his talk and if he give a promise he will do it.

BEHAVIORS EXAMPLES

Determination of objectives In 1929, after successfully completing the land tax protest in

Bardoli, Gandhi literally had nothing in his hands. He must find an

issue that would arouse the whole nation. He got the determination

and started planning for a nation-wide salt satyagraha. His

objective was to give a big blow to the unjust government.

Manipulation of the means He emphatically repeated to his fellowmen that nonviolence would

be the means to achieve the goal. He asked everyone else in the

nation to wait, except those 78 volunteers in the Ashram, until he

took a pinch of salt in his own palm and declare that the salt law

was broken from that moment onwards.

Control of the instrumentality

of action

His absolute conviction on nonviolence made some 78 of the salt

satyagra his leave their ashram dwelling and shed their sweat and

slog along the 241 miles long walkway.

Stimulation of the coordinated

action

All the thousands who joined in Dandi salt satyagraha were

arrested including Gandhiji. He had strategized and planned in

such a way that the end of the salt satyagraha at Dandi must be

followed by similar such protests all over the country

7 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Mao Zedong

Mao Zedong, similarly, was the leader of the

Chinese Revolution and the founder of People’s

Republic of China, the China we see today. He

withheld the Japanese invasion, kick-started the

economy of China and helped it become the

super-power it is today. His vision for China is

what he and the people of China strived for. His

ideologies and principles of governance and

economics are now known as Maoism.

TRAITS EXAMPLES

Courageous Not afraid to speak up

Good communicator Ensured rallies were held, ensured citizens were taught

vernacular Chinese

Toughness Disliked by many but still resilient

Methodical Knows how to go to the masses and organize them to realize

these slogans.

Transformational Took a visionary position and inspired people to follow

Knowledgeable Despite not receiving proper education in his early years, Mao

educated himself by reading a variety of books.

Possesses Foresight Mao was born in a turbulent time where China was dubbed

“the sick man of Asia” and constantly suppressed by the

Japanese and Western countries.

BEHAVIORS EXAMPLES

Autocratic Led the Standing Committee and possessed total authority to

make decisions alone.

Referent power His followers respected him because they liked him and found

him charismatic.

Coercive Forced people, suppressed the intellectuals and sent whoever

who resisted him to the countryside to get ‘reformed’.

Military focused “All political power comes from the barrel of the gun”.

8 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Abraham Lincoln

Hoping to win the admiration

of his peers, Abraham

Lincoln volunteered in the

fight against Native

Americans trying to reclaim

land and was chosen as the

captain of his company.

Lincoln was one of the most

effective leaders in world

history is a notion fully supported by his extraordinary acc omplishments.

TRAITS EXAMPLES

Adaptable to situations An astute politician and proficient lawyer, he

played a vital role in unification of the states

Dominant Lincoln led the country when it faced its

greatest constitutional, military and moral

crises

Ambitious Rising from a modest and humble beginning,

it was his sheer determination and honest

effort that led him to the nation’s highest

office

BEHAVIORS EXAMPLES

Diplomatic He not only turned up victorious but also was

effective in strengthening the national

government and modernizing the economy.

Conceptually skilled He not only envisioned but actually brought

to the forefront a truly democratic

government which was led by the concept of

‘by the people, of the people and for the

people’.

Socially skilled He was a savior of the Union and an

emancipator for the slaves.

9 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

Mother Teresa

As opposed to many leaders

idealized by the business

community, Mother Teresa was

operating at a spiritual level. This

propelled her to create and lead an

organization entirely devoted to

the love and the service of the

poor. Further, she did not want to

become herself a leader. She

accepted to become one, a serving

leader. Giving her life and her comfort for the sake of others. “Loving until it hurts”,

as she liked to say.

TRAITS EXAMPLES

Adaptable to situations She was a ray of hope for many, including the

aged, the destitute, the unemployed, the

diseased, the terminally ill, and those

abandoned by their families.

Co-operative Abided by her religious faith of Roman

Catholicism to serve the unwanted, unloved

and uncared people of the world.

Responsible She led all her life serving the poorest of the

poor.

BEHAVIORS EXAMPLES

Organized Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, with

her fervent commitment and incredible

organizational and managerial skills, she

developed an international organization that

aimed towards helping the impoverished.

Knowledgeable about the work After years of service as a teacher and mentor,

Mother Teresa experienced a call within her

religious call, which changed her course of life

completely, making her what she is known as

today.

10 A leader is a dealer in hope. —Napoleon Bonaparte

REFERENCES

http://govleaders.org/one-person-at-a-time.htm

http://www.grin.com

https://hbr.org

http://regent.edu

http://www.business-leadership-qualities.com

http://www.personalbrandingblog.com

http://www.technofunc.com

https://www.mindtools.com

http://www.leadership-central.com

https://www.boundless.com

http://www.educational-business-articles.com