What Makes A Person A Leader?

by Stephen Meyer

Posted: 14 years ago 42 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

In another forum there is discussion about being a leader. The common thought is a leader must have a lot of experience.

Since Mike Dillard's book " Magnetic Sponsoring " almost everyone with a website has taken on the role of being a leader. My opinion, a lot of people don't have a clue and it's easy to see through the garbage. At the same time I don't believe you have to have years of experience. It's more having the desire, enthusiasm, and willingness. If you're constantly learning and growing in your business you can pass your knowledge on to others.

In your opinion, what makes a " leader"?

#leader #makes #person

Dan C. Rinnert 14 years ago

A leader is someone who leads people somewhere. I usually lead them off the cliff, but I make sure to step aside first so I don't fall myself.
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officer_iron 14 years ago

You have to be able to instill trust from your readers. If they don't trust and respect you, they won't follow.
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- Danny McConnell 14 years ago
  
  The factors that go into making a leader are probably as diverse as the people being lead.
  
  Having at least a bit of charisma probably helps.
  
  It's sure that knowledge isn't a requirement. Though pretending to know something might be.
  
  Dan
  
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davejug1 14 years ago

In your question, what is the definition of a leader?

I ask because I see two different type of leader. 1) Someone who has confidence in themselves and can direct or delegate others. 2) An innovator, one who pushes the boundaries, and pushes themself to new heights.

My theory is that both of these leaders have sheep following, one out of love and respect, the other out of fear and loathing.
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tpw 14 years ago

The "followers" make a "leader".

Without "followers", a "leader" is only such in his/her own mind.

And people only follow those in whom they trust and believe.
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- myob 14 years ago
  
  A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.
  
  - Ralph Nader
  
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  Stephen Meyer 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by myob
  
  A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.
  
  - Ralph Nader
  
  That is a great statement.
  
  The one thing that stands out the most is "trust". With out it you won't have anyone to lead.
  Thanks for your comments
  
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- wolfmanjack 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by tpw
  
  The "followers" make a "leader".
  
  Without "followers", a "leader" is only such in his/her own mind.
  
  And people only follow those in whom they trust and believe.
  
  true but they may trust and believe in a person without good reason. Many time the take charge kind of guy is the one that becomes the leader of a group even when he or she may not be the best choice.
  
  This thread reminds me of the quote.
  
  Lead, follow or get out of the way.
  
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- onSubie 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by tpw
  
  The "followers" make a "leader".
  
  Without "followers", a "leader" is only such in his/her own mind.
  
  And people only follow those in whom they trust and believe.
  
  Well said Bill. I was about to chime in that a leader needs followers - by definition.
  
  Mahlon
  
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micromike 14 years ago

I think the first requirement is demonstrated competence in something... once you get a few adherents, then the snowball can begin..but I think that's the initial snowball. In reference to OP's point, years of experience can help add credibility, but it's the competence that decides the issue for me... not necessarily how long it took them to get there
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Tobarja 14 years ago

There have been some very good interviews on the CDs that come with my SUCCESS magazine the last few months. I'll try and get the names so you can look them up. Perhaps older tracks are downloadable, I'll check that too.
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Praveen Kumar 14 years ago

In my imagination , A Leader is who help others with his abilities and skills with out leaking his status and building up a good reputation and a good relationship.

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Centurian 14 years ago

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader." -John Quincy Adams
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- Sue Bruce 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Centurian
  
  "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,
  
  you are a leader." -John Quincy Adams
  
  That says it all, really.
  
  Thanks
  
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TopKat22 14 years ago

Leadership qualites can be cultivated in oneself but what makes someone a leader or not is if people are willing to follow you.

Do you have a group of people who look for you for direction and answers when not incentivized to do so. Then you are a leader.

The extent of your leadership is then determined by the number of people who look to you for direction and answers.
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LyndaL66 14 years ago

Leadership is such a slippery thing. I think that you only have to look as far as Tim Tebow to really start asking questions about what leadership truly is. Here's a guy who is basically panned by every talking head football guy on the planet, yet he goes out there and wins games. He's got people believing in him. Personally, I don't like him or agree with his politics, but I am fascinated by how he is able to MOVE so many people. Someone who should, by rights, not win a game in the NFL has so many people believing in him.

What is it about these people that make them leaders?

I love history. Why did people follow Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon when they could have chosen to do otherwise? These men would have been nothing without that certain spark that drew people towards them. I think there is something unnamable in a great leader. I don't know that any of our current politicians have it, but I think that silly quarterback does.

God help us all.

Lynda
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paul_1 14 years ago

When you earn the respect of your people and they will follow you - That's what makes you a GOOD leader....
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- Christines Dream 14 years ago
  
  Leaders are those people who are knowledgable, secure, understanding and a possess a sense of fearlessness. They also tend to have a certain charisma. They engage their audience and make their audience feel as if they themselves have been exactly where their audience is currently and have found a way out and ... here's the pitch.
  
  Anyone can be a leader if they know what they are talking about because they have done it (or lived through it).
  
  And then, sadly, there are those few who know nothing but simply portray leadership abilities.
  
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aeri 14 years ago

While I agree with points here and there, especially the "if you do not have followers, you are not a leader" characteristic. Also, in addition to that, these leaders have to be able to persuade these followers in some way, I believe so anyway. So basically, they need credibility and trustworthiness to be a leader, even if the person may be "ethically wrong"
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- DuncanCox 14 years ago
  
  A leader, leads the people and people shows trust in him. If people doesn't show interest in him or he didn't lead people then he is not a leader.He is just a normal person.
  
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CDarklock 14 years ago

Being followed is not even remotely the same thing as leading.

Leaders try to go where they ought to be going.

It doesn't matter whether other people have gone there; they are willing to be the first, but they do not need to be.

It doesn't matter whether other people go with them; they are willing to bring followers, but they do not need to bring any.

Leadership is about not needing to guide or be guided. But the best leaders are still willing to do both.
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AMABIZ 14 years ago

Many qualities define good leaders, but none greater than an ability to gain trust and build integrity. If you are lacking these qualities, you are probably only a leader...in your own mind.
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Dann Vicker 14 years ago

His ability to make others trust him.
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nohypo 14 years ago

a leader is one who can make others believe their dream can be true.
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Hooda M Kismet 14 years ago

A good leader is someone who is experienced enough to guide their team but at the same time trusts them well enough to delegate up to the toughest tasks. Leadership is not about ability alone, it's also about responsibility. Experience is not enough, the person should have the attitude of a leader.
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Tobarja 14 years ago

Looks like you can subscribe to just the SUCCESS audio tracks, but I don't see a way to get at the archives.
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vip-ip 14 years ago

I am currently studying at the University of Maryland, where they actually have a Leadership Studies minor. There is an entire school of thought around this topic. Today, there are hundreds of variables that we could look at to try to identify qualities of a leader. Let me give you all the academic intro to how it's been conceptualized over time.

About 100 years ago, scientists began recording physical traits that they could easily observe in leaders and followers. For example, tall men tend to become bosses. Over time, counter-examples popped up everywhere. In the 60s, new approaches were introduced. Trait approach was replaced with a Situational Approach (where you judge a leader by the predicament in which they change status quo). Then, more and more research followed. Today, aspiring leaders can evaluate themselves with fun self-assessments. One such assessment is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Another is called the KBD model. There are dozens. Many are free, some are paid.

This is a really interesting topic worth digging about.

Best Regards,
vip-ip ...
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Jarrett Banned 14 years ago

A leader is someone who confidently says "I am a leader. follow me"

-that is all. hahaha
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Michael Ten 14 years ago

I suppose that the support of those around them, makes one a leader.
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Austin357 14 years ago

Lots of good definitions and quotes presented on this thread. Here's a favorite of mine...

A leader is a dealer in hope.
Napoleon Bonaparte
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Simon Ashari 14 years ago

A leader is someone who is willing to lead... to take charge.

As simple as that definition may be, there are very few people actually willing to do this.
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KGee 14 years ago

IMO a leader is someone who let's a person learn and explore on their own and provides guidance and support when needed or when asked. This is how experience is gained. The person who is being lead will never gain good experience if they are always being told what to do. Some initial basic guidance is all that is needed in the beginning.
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buckeyes09 14 years ago

A person who moves others toward a goal.
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Dawn Wise 14 years ago

I think having followers makes a person a leader. :p

I'm kind of serious. I don't think a leader necessarily has to be a willing leader.
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Randall Magwood 14 years ago

I used to tell my Calculus teacher that leaders are born and not made. But i now disagree with my notion. Leaders are created through the process of struggle and turmoil, and it's what shapes them into the person that they are today. Leaders are outspoken, and compels others to believe in what they are saying.
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- Jashandeepmax 14 years ago
  
  I leader should have patience and positive attitude. He should be like a open guide for there subordinates.
  
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- AndrewCavanagh 14 years ago
  
  Do you mean what makes a person a GOOD leader or just a leader.
  
  Hitler was a leader after all.
  
  If you want to be a good leader you should put the best interests of people who follow you first and be constantly aware of how your actions might affect them and their behavior.
  
  To lead effectively you really only need enough information or experience to benefit the people who follow you.
  
  If your experience is in a very narrow area that's fine as long as you're only leading in that area (for example if you want to learn to build a lego tower a 10 year old who'd been playing with lego a few years might make a great leader....you wouldn't ask that same 10 year old for financial advice though).
  
  If you're following someone be aware of their area of expertise so you don't start asking for or following advice that they can't really give you.
  
  The purpose of a leader should be to get people to do something they wouldn't have done without the leader's influence (without that it's pointless having a leader at all).
  
  Kindest regards,
  Andrew Cavanagh
  
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  CDarklock 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh
  
  Hitler was a leader after all.
  
  And, arguably, a rather good one. Whether you like what he did or not, it's pretty damned amazing if someone can get an entire country to twiddle its thumbs and whistle while he invades Russia and slaughters millions of people.
  
  It's not like Tony Robbins could get up on stage and say "You know what the problem with this country is? Swedes. Let's round up all the Swedish people and kill them. Then we'll invade Canada."
  
  Okay, he could probably get us on board with the Canada thing. But the Swedish part is right out.
  
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alina75 14 years ago

Hi,

A leader is someone who leads the people from somewhere.. and 2ndly you have to take take interest from your readers...
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calebharris 14 years ago

A leader is someone people look up to. People who just acquire respect when they speak and people who are followed. To be one, you should prove yourself. If you're in a company, you must act like you own the company. If the sales are low, that should over pressure you. To be a leader, you must act like one even if you are not yet
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wesker123 14 years ago

You also need to be a good listener.
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hasselcloud 14 years ago

a perfect leader is one who understands the pulse of his followers and does the co-backing, because he represents the voice of his group........should be trustworthy & sincere!!!
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