Provide a reply to a classmate from the week 1 dialogue.

As defined by Winston and Patterson," a leader is one or more people who select, equips, trains, and influences one or more follower(s) who have diverse gifts, abilities, and skills and focuses the follower(s) to the organization's mission and objectives causing the follower(s) to willingly and enthusiastically expend spiritual, emotional and physical energy in a concerted, coordinated effort to achieve the organization mission and objects" (2006). Leaders need to be able to understand people and the many personalities that they come with; it is also essential to identify different situations and effectively strategize how to guide followers along the path the leader would like them to travel. A part of leadership study includes being able to look at oneself and being able to identify one's strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and communication styles, "studying leadership is a time for personal introspection and growth" (Teague and Rispoli, 2021). By being in tune with oneself, a leader may be better able to understand their followers, helping them to be more successful as problem solvers and more understanding of the challenges associated with guiding others.

Northouse highlighted that leadership has been studied for ages, identifying definitions as early as the 1900s. Leadership has been the focus of many studies over the centuries, with thousands of books and articles published about the subject. The study of leadership helps to equip individuals with the tools they may need when guiding others; being able to identify situations and pinpoint which approach may be most appropriate to address each challenge makes for an adaptable leader, one who is skilled enough to modify their approach based on the circumstances at hand.

References Used:

References

Northouse P.G. (2022). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Ninth Edition. Sage College Publishing.

Teague L.W. & Rispoli S.L. (2021, Dec). The Study of Leadership Theories: Great Leaders are Made, Not Born. ABA.https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_practice/publications/law_practice_magazine/2021/nd21/teague-rispoli/#:~:text=The%20study%20of%20leadership%20teaches,for%20personal%20introspection%20and%20growthLinks to an external site..

Winston B.E & Patterson K. (2006), An Integrative Definition of Leadership. International Journal of Leadership Studies Issue: 2 Volume: 1`

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