Five Buidling Blocks of Leadership by Joshua

Five Buidling Blocks of Leadership by Joshua - July 2013 Scholarship Essay

The best book I have read for school was “Lincoln On Leadership” by Donald T. Phillips for a leadership and decision making class I took last quarter. This book showed examples and demonstrations of how Lincoln proved to be an excellent leader during his presidency. Here are five key aspects that I believe everyone in a leadership position should implement:
 One: People will trust a leader if they know he is compassionate and forgiving of mistakes. This builds trust, which is the building block of solid relationships
 Two: A good leader does not issue orders but requests, implies, or makes suggestions. In doing that, he/she empowers people to act on their own.
Three: Always be honest and always tell the truth! Leaders who tell their subordinates the truth, even if it’s bad, gain greater respect and support for ideas
Four: Provide a clear and specific goal statement for your organization or group you are leading and make sure your actions are justified. Always reaffirm and remind everyone the basic principles of the goal statement of which the organization was founded.
Five: You know you’re a good leader that once your aim is fulfilled, your people say, “we accomplished this ourselves.”
This book has been a character-growing experience for me and I find myself learning and pursuing what it takes to be an effective leader. It offered many different applications that I now practice at my career and in my family. Applying this book’s exhortation is truly life-changing for me.