The U.S. Marine Corps website lists a number of principles and character traits significant to strong leadership. Two of the principles I think are most significant to being an effective leader are "discipline" and "commitment" (Marines 1). Without discipline, nothing great can be achieved. Great ideas or plans fail in the face of lack of discipline, because discipline is required to stay focused on a goal and reject any temptations or looseness of behavior that might threaten its achievement. Without being highly committed to a purpose or goal, I do not believe an individual can develop a high level of discipline. This is why commitment is very important to my idea of a great leader. A committed leader will find it easy to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed and to do what it takes to achieve a goal.
There are two traits I would like to work on developing to become a more effective leader. I have a significant issue with being an effective listener. Though I am a skilled communicator on the verbal and written level, my listening skills need work. I often interrupt others or think about what my answer might be to their query or my next point of interest while they are still talking. It is critical for a great leader to be a great communicator and great communication takes sound listening skills. Another trait I would like to develop is a greater appreciation of the numerous benefits that stem from embracing diversity as a leader. By embracing diversity a leader is able to expand the talents of his or her resource pool by recognizing the different and unique contributions people of different cultures, backgrounds, religious beliefs, or ethnic groups are able to offer.
Servant leadership is defined on the Home Page of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership website as "The servant-leader is a servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then...