What I would like to focus on in this essay is the quality of personal leadership. What can each of us do in our personal and professional lives to assume leadership over what we do

Maresco, Peter A.

English

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author\u27s experience on the quality of personal leadership

Sacred Heart University: DigitalCommons@SHU

How Can Anyone Lead Others Until They Are Ready to Lead Themselves?

Fort Hays State University

Academic Leadership: The Online JournalVolume 5Issue 2 Summer 2007 Article 67-1-2007How Can Anyone Lead Others Until They AreReady to Lead Themselves?Peter A. MarescoSacred Heart UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/aljPart of the Educational Leadership Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the TeacherEducation and Professional Development CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by FHSU Scholars Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Academic Leadership: TheOnline Journal by an authorized editor of FHSU Scholars Repository.Recommended CitationMaresco, Peter A. (2007) "How Can Anyone Lead Others Until They Are Ready to Lead Themselves?," Academic Leadership: TheOnline Journal: Vol. 5 : Iss. 2 , Article 6.Available at: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/alj/vol5/iss2/6academicleadership.org http://www.academicleadership.org/178/how_can_anyone_lead_others_until_they_are_ready_to_lead_themselves/Academic Leadership JournalFor the past several years I have taught a graduate level leadership class that has, for the most part,focused on what are considered to be the traditional qualities that go into making or identifyingsomeone as a leader. You know, the typical definitions found in texts such as Leadership: ResearchFindings, Practice, and Skills by Andrew J. DuBrin from the Rochester Institute of Technology andpublished by Houghton Mifflin Company.Each week the class would cover a specific leadership quality or trait. These would include,charismatic and transformational leadership, attitudes and styles, ethics and social responsibility,influence tactics of leaders, communication and conflict resolution, etc.. The usual list found in anyleadership text and/or book. As we would go through these traits and qualities usually associated withleaders one or more students would invariably ask why individuals in their companies didn’t seem toexhibit the qualities that were being discussed. As is the case with most companies, there was alwaysan individual that everyone wanted to work for regardless of the department. The person would bedescribed as being patient, understanding, caring, inclusive and most importantly a communicator.Someone who knew themselves and through this understanding knew what was important to those theyled.What I would like to focus on in this essay is the quality of personal leadership. What can each of us doin our personal and professional lives to assume leadership over what we do.Not simply doing what is right but doing what is right for the right reason. Here’s what I’m referring to.For all the years, I have taught leadership I have tried to make my students understand two things; first,not everyone wants to be a leader; I respect them more than anyone, and you cannot come to leadothers unless you can take a leadership position over your own life. The question that needs to beaddressed is how anyone can assume a leadership position over others when they first of all don’tknow who they are as a person. I tell my students that they should take the time to conduct a SWATanalysis on themselves. In effect, what are their strengths, weaknesses and what are the opportunitiesand threats they see to them both personally and professionally? Leaders must know who they are asindividuals first, and leaders second.Looking back on those who I would have considered to be successful leaders in my own life are thosewho were first and foremost confident in themselves. Not conceited, arrogant, or self-righteous butknew who they were and were able to lead people through an understanding of their own innateleadership qualities and abilities. In effect, led by what they learned through an honest self examinationunderstanding that you can’t expect to lead others without first understanding themselves.So, what do I mean by personal leadership? Well, how about taking a long, hard look at who you are asa person? What makes you tick? What turns you on and what turns you off? What gets you excited andwhat do you put out off because you hate the thought of doing something? Are you patient? Are youable to transfer these qualities into a business setting. Can you get beyond someone telling you thatyou can’t be compassionate and be respected? You know the drill. I guess it really does come down to“do unto others as you would others do unto you.” If nothing else, at least in the realm of leadershipstudies it should give you something to think about.VN:R_U [1.9.11_1134]

https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1248&context=wcob_fac

How Can Anyone Lead Others Until They Are Ready to Lead Themselves?

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Sacred Heart University: DigitalCommons@SHU

Fort Hays State University