Leadership Acuity

Leadership Acuity

There has been an increase in leadership training during the past two decades. Companies are focusing more organically creating their future leaders who are perceived to be high performers. Arguable, some may believe that leadership is an inherent characteristic while others believe leadership traits can be taught. Regardless of how one becomes a leader, many believe that leaders possess integrity, honesty, and ability to inspire people. Some believe that leaders are visionaries enabling companies to move forward while working side by side with its people. Management has often been perceived as those who works with the employees, but focuses on daily tasks rather than forward thinking. Not all leaders are perfect, they may have shortcomings, but it is in their ability to work with their weaknesses that causes them to rise above others.

Leaders such as Nelson Mandela, who is known as a collaborative and forgiving leader who saved South Africans from apartheid has made an impact not only to Africans but an inspiration to other countries. Nicholas Pearce of Bloomberg Business Week (2013) states Nelson Mandela taught us that leadership is not about status, but it is collaboration and never giving up on what may seem to be an impossible goal. Many talks about the traits of a leader, but seldom do we hear about negative leadership, is that because negative trait invalidates leadership? Is it expected that leaders have to perfect to be proclaimed leader?

Being a leader is a matter of perception, it may be that people agree with specific leaders’ values and decision-making while others may disagree completely and fail to see them as a leader. A human resources director was a leader ahead of her generation, at...

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...ely knowledgeable; however, in her experience those qualities were not sufficient. She lacked the ability to express her true self for others to see. Most of her employees, peers and management failed to see her compassion and passion for others. Instead, she was judged and tried based on perception. There were leaders such as Nelson Mandela who was tried and imprisoned for what they have done, but eventually rises from the fall and becomes a leader. The director of human resources may not be a Nelson Mandela, but many leaders have gone through hardship to make them a better person. In the end, leadership must have the ability to adapt to their environment, it is the people that dictate the type of leadership they need. Leadership may not necessarily be inherent but the person’s willingness to learn from their mistakes to become a leader to their followers.