Colin L. Powell Born and raised in New York Colin Powell transcended through the ranks to retire as four-star general in the United States Army. A trailblazer, Colin Powell was the first African American to serve as Chairman Joint Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of State (Colin Powell, n.d). In this paper I will discuss why I believe Colin Powell is a visionary leader, ethical leader and how it is relevant to me by providing examples of his character through his writings and his actions when serving as Secretary of State. But first let us look at what makes a visionary leader. ( I would have an attention grabber in the introduction)
Visionary Leader There are numerous traits that make up a visionary leader; I believe that true visionary leaders have multiple traits in common that propel their followers to accept their message and embrace their vision to achieve goals that serve a purpose higher than they could have ever imagined. One trait that visionary leaders have in common is adaptability. Within the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education [BCEE] (2015) study guide on change management, adaptability is a key trait. Within adaptability there are three characteristics, for a leader to be considered adaptable, they must posses two out of three. Colin Powell possessed both cognitive flexibility and
I think about some of the events in my life that resembles his teachings and actions. His writings on 13 rules of leadership I believe impacted my life, some of the rules I come to be aware of just through trail and error in life and others just from reading his book. Throughout my career and much like any other leader in the Air Force I have always been put in the position where I would have to adapt to change, his rules and insight gave me the confidence to stick to my guns when I felt the decision I made was sound, and the propensity to always apply the golden
Leadership is portrayed at its pinnacle in William Bratton’s Turnaround, Rudolph Giuliani’s book Leadership, Oren Harari’s book The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell, and David Lipsky’s book Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point. In each of these works, the author does an exceptional job of depicting the various traits and characteristics necessary for being a powerful and effective leader.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” (BAM, 2010, p.20) These words were first written down over 2,400 years ago by a Chinese general named Sun Tzu in his famous military strategy treatise known today as The Art of War. These words, in fact the entire book, are just as valid today as they were during Sun Tzu’s lifetime. He was one of the first truly visionary and ethical military leaders in the world. Despite the fact that there is not much known about Sun Tzu today other than his writings, in this essay, I intend to extract his essence from his treatise to prove he was a visionary leader. I will then continue to prove he was also an ethical leader. Finally, I will finish by detailing how his seminal work has inspired me to self-reflect on how I can be a better visionary and ethical leader in the 21st Century Air Force. So, what exactly is a ‘visionary’ leader?
Transformational leaders exhibit personal and professional qualities that other want to emulate and follow. These leaders advance the mission in combative environments. Transformational leaders propel the growth of the team through communication. Finally, transformational leaders leave a legacy that instills pride, moral, and determination for future success.
In Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary, Juan Williams, a well-known political analysis on Fox News Channel, tells us the story of the influential American lawyer Thurgood Marshall. Williams shares with us the life events of Thurgood Marshall, along with stories and long kept secrets that are revealed to him during interviews with the experienced lawyer and his closest colleagues. Chronologically, Williams walks us through the experiences of Marshall beginning with his childhood background and schooling, then to his revolutionary career within the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and the Supreme Court, and concludes with Thurgood Marshall’s legacy and impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
He is a direct descendent of The Buffalo Soldiers formed in 1867. He shares with the graduated that Ambassador Annenberg help him to build a memorial for them right away when he requests for it. The Howard University was the same time formed with the Soldiers which both owe their success to the white military officer who serve on the civil war (504). They demonstrate that Black Americans are able to do anything as any other person. Powell motivate the students to breakdown the discrimination and encourage them to help those who are coming after them. At this point the plot is becoming honorable and sentimental. Powel said I climbed on their back of those who help me, and I stayed on their shoulder to reach the top. “Powell was the first African- American Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff” (502). Everyone may enhance their life by helping other or being
Colin Powell learned during his leadership development, Army training through Secretary of State, to employ the style that best suits the situation. He did not approach every situation in the same way. Transformational leaders restudy the situation and look for the best approach. Powell continues to inspire others to excel and they give everybody inspirational motivation, individual consideration, and idealized influence. His leadership discussions stimulate people to think in new ways. He enables the transformation of people and organizations with which they work.
In today’s organization, strategic leadership is required for the drive to the top, the leaders believe in innovation and change. Therefore, they set forth by investing their strength to achieve success. Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie discussed the three keys to becoming a more effective leader through strengths, working with the right people of equal strength, seeking the right people on the team and achieving the basic need of a leadership. The strength of a leader is in his communication, a great communicator is one who thinks ahead of time in making sure things are done thoroughly. However, a leader’s strength can be categorized as a visionary thinker. The strength of a visionary thinker is one that understands the purpose of a project and work effectively to accomplish the project in a timely manner. According to (Rath & Conchie 2009, p.13), “Leaders can learn to develop certain skills which can help them become more effective, efficient,...
General Colin Powell did the Commencement speech at Howard University on May 25, 1994. He did the speech after a cloud of controversy had happen at the university. A racist Black Muslim made a speech at Howard University. Howard policy is that anybody can express his or her freedom of speech on there campus. As you can figure out, the white community did not think of that very well. Connie Chung did a report saying that Howard University was a racist institution. All of this pressure was coming down at once. Howard said that they did not agree with the Black Muslims beliefs but will let them speak and express their opinions.
Visionary leadership as its name suggests involves having a vision. In chapter about Transformational Leadership, the author said that a transforming leader “had a clear vision of the future state of their organizations.” (Northhouse 2013) As we learn from week one, leaders are visionary, they are able to inspire their followers. In order for leaders to inspire others, they might be able to internalize the vision for themselves. First step to creating a new vision for the school, the leader must understand why there is a need for the school and he or she must agree with it. Second, the leader must be able to see the needs of the organization, the leader must be able to have a person touch (also known as Authentic Leadership) with its members in order to be be able to see the true needs of the organization. As the leader creates the vision, it should be “simple, understandable, beneficial and energy creating”. (Northhouse 2013) The author of the textbook follows to say that “vision originates from both the leaders and the followers”. (Northhouse 2013)
Throughout life, there are and have been leaders who have helped change and shape others view of the world by their charisma, strength, morals, and kindness. These particular people can help to create a vision along with intellectually stimulating people to broaden their horizons and to be successful in business and personal accomplishments. At one point of time, there was someone who I considered a leader, who motivated me by applying what is known as the Transformational Leadership Theory. Transformational leaders “inspire and empower” (LugoSantiago, 2016, p. 18) other individuals to become more well-rounded along with helping to achieving overall goals. With the Transformational
Have you ever had a leader that inspired you to develop your own leadership traits? “A leader is someone who demonstrates what’s possible” (Mark Yarnell, 2015). There are numerous leadership styles. Each of the numerous leadership styles can be beneficial if utilized in an appropriate means. I have chosen three leaders and their unique leadership styles to discuss in this paper. The unique styles that will be discussed are situational leadership, transformational leadership, and laissez-faire leadership. I will also discuss each leader’s approaches, their fundamental leadership principles, and how each leader used their style within their profession.
A visionary leader is an individual who is able to desire things about the future that others may not see, but nonetheless, the immensity of such vision is amazing that it is able to be transmitted to society(Turner, 2013). According to Patrick Morley(2015), a visionary leader possesses the qualities of “vision, innovation, sacrifice, integrity, optimism, ability, impact, relation to others, excellence and servant to others.” All of those qualities, and many more, are those of the world humanitarian known as Nelson Mandela(1918-2013).
To be a great orator, a visionary and a strategic thinker all make up a good leader, but by having all these traits doesn 't make up for the loss of the other things that a leader should have, like the ability to listen to his people 's need and the ability to think for the better of the nation instead of the power hungry attitude that ambition can led you
Transformational leaders are normally known for not only taxing the status quo but are also known for heartening inventiveness among followers. They push their followers to become genuinely innovative and creative. These transformational leaders persuade their followers to discover new ways of doing things and to explore new opportunities to learn.
The degree to which the leader articulates a vision that is appealing and inspiring followers. Leaders with inspirational motivation challenges followers with high standards, communicate optimism about future goals and provide meaning for the task at hand. Followers need to have a strong sense of purpose they are to be motivates to act. Purpose and meaning provide the energy that drives a group forward. The visionary aspects of leadership are supported by communication skills that make the vision understandable, precise, powerful and engaging. The followers are willing to invest more effort in their tasks they are encouraged and optimistic about the future and believe in their