Apparent Donald Trump example essay topic

Donald Trump: Natural Born Leader What does a leader look like? Well that's simple they are tall, handsome, intelligent, Caucasian, and rich. They have beautiful wives and spend most of their time in the Bahamas on an enormous yacht. Now look again, minus the stereotypes. What does a leader really look like?

Leaders come in all shapes, sizes, races, genders, and ages. Leaders can be found anywhere doing anything no matter how important or how routine the task. Leadership by definition is the ability to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute to the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members (McShane, S.L., & Von Glinow, M. A, 2005). This is the accepted definition created by numerous scholars from various countries, all agreeing that a true leader embodies at least one if not all of these characteristics. For the purpose of this work a well known business man will demonstrate the different ways in which leadership by definition is accomplished.

Long before, "You " re fired!" was a household phrase all over America, it was apparent Donald Trump had a gift. Donald Trump was born in Queens, New York on the 14th of June 1946. Donald was the fourth of five children of Frederick C. and Mary MacLeod Trump. Frederick Trump was a builder and real estate developer who came to specialize in constructing and operating middle income apartments in the Queens, Staten Island, and Brooklyn. Donald was an energetic, assertive child, and his parents sent him to the New York Military Academy at age 13, hoping the discipline of the school would harness his energy in a more productive manner.

Trump did well at the academy, both socially and academically, rising to be a star athlete and student leader by the time he graduated in 1964. He entered Fordham University and then transferred to the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania from which he graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics (Donald Trump Biography). After the completion of his formal schooling Donald's career path started through real estate work with his father Frederick. Here Donald sites his father for teaching the importance of business sense, "My father was my mentor, and I learned a tremendous amount about every aspect of the construction industry from him" (Donald Trump Biography). Donald worked with his father for five years making various real estate deals and was quite profitable in doing so. His father could see that his son had that spark of greatness stating, "Some of my best deals were made by my son, Donald... everything he seems to touch turns to gold" (Donald Trump Biography).

While Donald was no miracle worker, what he did have was a remarkable business sense. Donald's natural knack for business sense combined with the strong foundation of business knowledge laid by his father, it was no surprise Donald made it big. Donald went on to acquire some of the most exclusive properties in the city. Over the years, Donald has owned and sold many great buildings in New York City including the Plaza Hotel, which he renovated and brought back to its original splendor, the St. Moritz Hotel, now called the Ritz Carlton, and recently the land under the Empire State Building which allowed the land and lease to be merged together for the first time in over 50 years (Donald Trump). Buildings that adorn Trump's name today are the Trump Casino, Trump International Hotel, Trump Marina Hotel and Casino, Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort, and Trump Tower all of which are among his portfolio of real estate properties.

Currently, the most recognizable aspect of Donald Trump's career is the hit television show "The Apprentice" of which Donald produces as well as hosts. On the show highly educated and talented people compete to win a job and learn under Donald. When a member of the show is cut, Donald delivers his famous line, "You " re fired!" Donald speaks about the feel of that very famous line, "I mean, there's no arguing. There is no anything. There is no beating around the bush.

"You " re fired!" is a very strong term" (Donald Trump Biography). Aside from the numerous real estate holdings and staring in his own television show, Donald Trump also owns part of the three largest beauty pageants consisting of Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. He has also written several best selling published business books that include The Art of the Deal, The Art of Survival, and How to get Rich. Other interests of Trump's include membership to charitable organizations, politics, and generosity with wealth (Donald Trump - Nice Guy or Not? ). Donald's leadership qualities and style coincide very closely with the competency perspective of leadership.

The most recent leadership literature identifies seven competencies that are characteristic of effective leaders: emotional intelligence; integrity; drive; leadership motivation; self-confidence; intelligence; and knowledge of the business. (McShane, S.L., & Von Glinow, M. A, 2005) Trump possesses a high level of emotional intelligence. This is demonstrated by the way he always appears to keep his emotions in check in any situation. He possesses this cool demeanor that nothing can rattle him and he is always in control. An example of Donald's emotional intelligence is highlighted during an episode of 'The Apprentice" where Ms. Ve trini, a contestant on the show appeared overwhelmed as she tried to tally receipts from the Trump-branded bottled water her team had to sell. She lost her cool and she ultimately was "fired" by Donald Trump for her lack of emotional intelligence.

Since Trump specifically cited "lack of emotional intelligence", it is apparent that it is a very important quality to him for a leader to posses. A recent news article stated that several of Donald's employees from Trump Organization were fast to defend their leader's (Trump's) integrity, an act that speaks volumes concerning Trump's "in your face" management style (Donald Trump - Nice Guy or Not? ). Workers in Trump's Corporation were willing to vouch that what he says ultimately gets translated into action.

Donald sees no reward in cheap talk if it is not being directly translated into dollar signs. The next competency perspective that Trump possesses is drive, the leader's inner motivation to pursue goals. No more than five years ago Donald Trump owed debtors over $900 million dollars (Donald Trump Biography). The large debt almost ruined Trump, however he cleverly took out more loans and sold various real estate holdings to pay back the debtors and very quickly amassed a huge fortune once again.

The inner drive of Donald Trump is one of his most intense features, which stems from his extreme energy as a young boy when he used to create mischief. Donald was able to harness the energy which was used in a negative manner as an adolescent into a positive drive mechanism as an adult. Donald's leadership motivation is also at an extremely high level. The fact that Donald is running a television show where he will ultimately be hiring a young person and take him or her under his wing demonstrates high levels of leadership motivation. He then gets to shape this young brilliant mind into a successful person much like himself. Donald can teach the young worker the tricks of the trade much like his father did and help to pass on his father's legacy.

Creating success, from success, plays a very big role in leadership motivation for Donald and it is very apparent from his actions. Self-confidence in a person also is a quality found on the leadership competency list. Donald is one of the most self-confident people in all of television. He is extremely successful and he will let you know it too. He is so self-confident that he has trademarked his own name, and adorns his buildings with the huge red letters of Trump. Trump is also married to a model that is much younger in age, and also has a model for a daughter; such a situation can only further inflate his self-confidence to unimaginable levels.

After self-confidence, intelligence is cited on the list of leadership competency. It is obvious through the smooth diction, the ingenious business transactions, and rise to stardom, that Donald Trump is business genius. When he is seen on television he thinks very carefully of what his next move is going to be, much like a champion chess player, and makes his move without a shadow of a doubt. Not only does he possess high business intelligence he is also very intelligent in an academic arena. He graduated from the very prestigious Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania where he showcased his book smarts.

The seventh term in the list of leadership competency is knowledge of the business. Starting to work with his father at such a young age allowed Donald to learn the ins and outs of business. He didn't just study it in college, instead he was immersed in business from the day he graduated. Trump graduated from college in 1968 and since then he has been dealing with business everyday. When a man has over thirty-five years of business under his belt it is safe to assume that he knows what business is all about. Donald Trump is a great example of what anyone striving to be a leader should emulate.

He has been at the pinnacle of success, gone bankrupt, and then climbed back to the peak of greatness. He has seen the highs and the lows and can appreciate what he has. Not only does Donald posses all of the seven leadership competency perspectives, he possesses them in excess. If now he would only pay for a real haircut imagine how much greater a leader he truly could be!

Bibliography

Donald Trump. Retrieved April 5, 2005, from web Trump Biography.
Retrieved April 5, 2005, from web Trump - Nice Guy or Not? Retrieved April 5, 2005, from web S.
L., & Von Glinow, M.A. (2005).