I always equated leadership with seniority. Essentially, I have always conceptualized this term as someone in authority that has power and control over others.
Do all good leaders have charisma and the ability to communicate a vision that followers can embrace?
Generally, I think personality attributes play a crucial role in one’s leadership style/skill. Precisely, one’s traits may correlate with the type of leadership that they use in a particular context. However, I do not think that traits make a person a good or bad leader. Instead, traits can influence one’s leadership style and abilities. That style or leadership approach may be effective depending on contextual variables and conversely, it may be ineffective, which means that the person would have to adopt another style or leadership strategy to achieve the set goals and outcomes.
Do you think particular individual traits define a good leader?
Arguably, leaders possess certain qualities that can influence their leadership style and abilities. I honestly do not think that there is a good or bad leader like the notion of a good or bad person. I like to focus more on the behavior and attitudes of a leader and a person. Just because someone displays or elicits negative behaviors and attitudes does not mean that they are inherently a bad person or leader. With that said, examining one’s behaviors, attitudes, emotions as well as their perspectives can help you determine if their leadership abilities/ style is effective or ineffective.
Altogether, charisma and the ability to communicate a vision that followers can embrace is merely one piece of the puzzle in the determination of effective leadership. This determination would depend on various factors that encompass personality traits and interpersonal skills like communication.