According to the American Heritage Dictionary, leadership is the ability to guide and direct. I agree in full to that definition, however, I think there is more to leadership than just that. Being able to guide and direct a person is a key element in the process of leadership, although that is just a start. I believe that a true leader well not only guide and direct, but they will also follow along throughout the development of what they began to lead. They will examine that development through and through during and after the development process and they will suggest change if needed to benefit the area being examined. The American Heritage Dictionary is a very true definition that will earn you the right to be considered a good leader, but to be a great leader it takes more than just getting something started.
There are numerous attributes of a leader, but I feel that three of the most important are as followed: respectful, altruistic, and dependable.
The Sears Tower, as seen from the Chicago lakeshor...
English: A Model of Leader Attributes and Leader P...
English: Salina KS watertower in 2006A leader should be respectful to set a good example for others. A leader is put in a situation to make a difference; if they are not respectful to others then they cannot expect to be respected by others. I feel that there is no way that you can be a successful leader if you do not have and cannot gain the respect of others. A leader has to be altruistic. There is no way that they will be nearly as much of an impact or even considered a leader if they are always trying to do what is best or seems best for them. A true leader will gain more in being satisfied by finishing something that they started then they would by gaining material possessions and not benefiting the well...